Statute Details
- Title: Notice under Sections 10(6) and 17(6) for the Issue of Revised Loose-leaf Pages of Subsidiary Legislation Issue 1/97
- Act Code: RELA1983-N11
- Type: Subsidiary Legislation (SL) / Notice
- Authorising Act: Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275), Sections 10(6) and 17(6)
- Legislative History (as shown): Revised Edition 1998 (15 June 1998); original notice dated 1 January 1998
- Commencement: 1 January 1998 (appointed as the date the revised loose-leaf pages come into force)
- Key Subject Matter: Revised loose-leaf pages for the Rules of Court (Chapter 322, R 5), incorporating amendments up to 31 December 1997
- Publication / Gazette Reference: G.N. No. S 563/1997
- Status: Current version as at 27 Mar 2026 (per the platform display)
What Is This Legislation About?
This “Notice” is not a substantive law that creates new rights or offences. Instead, it is an administrative instrument issued under the Revised Edition of the Laws Act to formalise when revised “loose-leaf pages” of subsidiary legislation take effect. In practical terms, it tells lawyers and the public that an updated compilation of the law—incorporating specified amendments—has been prepared and is now legally operative.
The Notice specifically concerns Issue 1/97 of revised loose-leaf pages for the Rules of Court (Chapter 322, R 5). The Notice states that the Law Revision Commissioners have prepared and published loose-leaf pages that incorporate all amendments to the Rules of Court made up to 31 December 1997. It then appoints 1 January 1998 as the date these revised pages come into force.
For practitioners, the key value of this Notice is certainty and version control. Court procedure is highly sensitive to amendments: changes to rules can affect pleadings, timelines, affidavits, case management, and procedural steps. By fixing a commencement date for the revised loose-leaf pages, the Notice helps ensure that the correct version of the Rules of Court is applied in litigation after the stated date.
What Are the Key Provisions?
1. The enabling framework (Sections 10(6) and 17(6) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act)
The Notice is issued “pursuant to” Sections 10(6) and 17(6) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275). While the extract provided does not reproduce those provisions, their function is clear from the Notice’s wording: they empower the Law Revision Commissioners to prepare and publish revised loose-leaf pages that incorporate amendments, and they provide the mechanism for bringing those revised pages into force by notice.
2. Incorporation of amendments up to a specified cut-off date
The Notice recites that the Commissioners have prepared and published loose-leaf pages “incorporating all amendments up to 31st December 1997 made to the Rules of Court (Chapter 322, R 5).” This is a critical legal detail. It means that the revised loose-leaf pages are not merely reprints; they are an authoritative consolidation reflecting the law as amended through the stated cut-off date.
3. Appointment of the commencement date for the revised pages
The operative part of the Notice states that the Commissioners have appointed 1st January 1998 as the date the revised loose-leaf pages in this Issue shall come into force. This appointment resolves a common practical question: when does the updated procedural regime begin to apply? For court practice, the answer can determine which procedural steps are compliant and which are not.
4. “For general information” and the legal effect of the compilation
The Notice is framed as being “hereby notified for general information.” However, the legal effect is not merely informational. By appointing the date of coming into force, it gives the revised loose-leaf pages the status of the operative version of the subsidiary legislation from that date. In litigation, this can affect arguments about the applicable procedural rules, especially where amendments are transitional or where parties act between the publication of amendments and the commencement of the revised compilation.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
Structurally, this instrument is concise. The platform extract shows a typical format for notices under the Revised Edition of the Laws Act:
(a) Title and heading identifying the subject matter (revised loose-leaf pages, Issue 1/97).
(b) Enacting formula referencing the authorising provisions (Sections 10(6) and 17(6)).
(c) The Schedule (as indicated in the extract), which is where the revised loose-leaf pages are set out or referenced.
(d) The operative “Whereas/Now, therefore” narrative that explains the preparation of the revised pages and then appoints the commencement date.
(e) Legislative history and status metadata indicating the version and timeline (e.g., Revised Edition 1998 dated 15 June 1998, and the commencement date of 1 January 1998).
For practitioners, the structure matters less than the content, but it helps explain why the Notice is short: it is designed to trigger the legal effect of a revised compilation rather than to amend the substantive Rules of Court itself.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
This Notice applies to anyone who must use or rely on the Rules of Court—primarily litigants, lawyers, court officers, and the judiciary. Although the Notice is directed “for general information,” its practical reach is broad because it determines the operative procedural rules for court proceedings from the commencement date.
In terms of legal scope, the Notice does not create obligations by itself. Instead, it updates the authoritative version of the Rules of Court. Therefore, its applicability is best understood as applying to all proceedings and procedural actions that occur on or after 1 January 1998, insofar as the procedural steps are governed by the Rules of Court as consolidated in the revised loose-leaf pages.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
Although the Notice is brief, it is important because it supports the integrity of the legal system’s “versioning” of subsidiary legislation. Court procedure depends on the precise text of the Rules of Court. If a lawyer uses an outdated version, the risk is not theoretical: it can lead to procedural non-compliance, missed deadlines, defective filings, or arguments being rejected on technical grounds.
From an enforcement and litigation perspective, the Notice helps establish a defensible position on what the Rules of Court required at a given time. When disputes arise about whether a procedural step complied with the rules, parties often need to identify the correct version in force. By appointing a specific commencement date for the revised loose-leaf pages, the Notice provides a clear anchor for determining the applicable procedural framework.
Finally, the Notice illustrates a broader administrative function of Singapore’s legislative consolidation process. The Law Revision Commissioners prepare revised loose-leaf pages to incorporate amendments. Notices like this ensure that the consolidated text is not merely a reference document but becomes legally operative on the appointed date. For practitioners conducting research, drafting submissions, or preparing affidavits and pleadings, understanding these mechanisms can be as important as reading the substantive rules themselves.
Related Legislation
- Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275) — particularly Sections 10(6) and 17(6) (authorising the issuance of notices for revised loose-leaf pages)
- Rules of Court (Chapter 322, R 5) — the subsidiary legislation whose revised loose-leaf pages are the subject of this Notice
Source Documents
This article provides an overview of the Notice under Sections 10 (6) and 17 (6) for the Issue of Revised Loose-leaf Pages of Subsidiary Legislation Issue 1/97 for legal research and educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult the official text for authoritative provisions.