Statute Details
- Title: Revised Edition of the Laws (Order under section 11(3)) Order 2011
- Act Code: RELA1983-S675-2011
- Legislation Type: Subsidiary legislation / statutory order (SL)
- Enacting Instrument: Order made by the President
- Authorising Act: Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275)
- Gazette / SL Reference: S 675/2011
- Date Made: 9 December 2011
- Effective Date: 31 December 2011
- Status: Current version as at 27 March 2026
- Core Legal Effect: Confers “sole and only proper law” status on the loose-leaf editions of specified Acts
What Is This Legislation About?
The Revised Edition of the Laws (Order under section 11(3)) Order 2011 is an administrative-but-critical legal instrument that determines which version of certain Acts counts as the authoritative law for use in Singapore courts and for all legal purposes. In plain terms, it is about legal certainty: ensuring that when lawyers, judges, and government bodies refer to the “law”, they are referring to the correct, official text.
The order is made under the Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275). That Act provides a mechanism for the Law Revision Commissioners to publish Acts in a loose-leaf format (a system designed for periodic updating). Once the Commissioners publish the loose-leaf editions “as in force” on a specified date, the President may issue an order—published in the Gazette—stating that those loose-leaf editions shall be the sole and only proper law of Singapore for the specified Acts.
In this 2011 order, the President specifies that the loose-leaf editions of the Acts set out in the Schedule become, with effect from 31 December 2011, the sole and only proper law in respect of those Acts. The practical consequence is that the loose-leaf compilation becomes the definitive reference text for courts and all legal proceedings, replacing potential confusion that could arise from earlier printings, unofficial consolidations, or outdated versions.
What Are the Key Provisions?
1. The statutory “whereas” framework (purpose and authority). The order begins by explaining the legal pathway. It notes that, pursuant to section 10 of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act, the Law Revision Commissioners have published in loose-leaf form the Acts set out in the Schedule as in force on 1 December 2011. It then explains the next step under section 11(3): the Commissioners must transmit a copy of each loose-leaf edition to the President, who may then—by Gazette order—specify that the loose-leaf edition shall be the sole and only proper law.
2. The operative clause: “sole and only proper law”. The central legal effect is contained in the operative direction: the President orders that the loose-leaf editions of the Acts in the Schedule shall, with effect from 31 December 2011, be the sole and only proper law of Singapore in respect of those Acts. This phrase is not merely descriptive; it is the mechanism by which the legal system designates an authoritative text. For practitioners, this matters because it affects what text a court will treat as the proper law when interpreting provisions, applying amendments, or resolving disputes about the current wording.
3. The “Schedule” concept (scope is determined by the listed Acts). Although the extract provided does not reproduce the Schedule’s list of Acts, the legal structure is clear: the Schedule contains the Acts whose loose-leaf editions are being elevated to sole and only proper law status. The scope of the order is therefore not universal across all legislation; it is limited to the Acts enumerated in the Schedule. For a lawyer, the key task is to identify whether the relevant Act in question is included in that Schedule (or in later orders) and then rely on the loose-leaf edition as the authoritative text.
4. Temporal effect (effective date and “as in force” date). The order links two dates. First, the loose-leaf editions are published as in force on 1 December 2011 (the “snapshot” date for the content). Second, the order confers sole and only proper law status with effect from 31 December 2011. This creates a practical timeline: the content corresponds to the state of the law as at 1 December 2011, but the legal designation becomes effective at the end of December. In litigation or compliance contexts, practitioners should be alert to whether amendments between 1 December and 31 December 2011 exist and how they are reflected in the loose-leaf system.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
This instrument is structured as a short presidential order with an enacting formula and a Schedule. The main components are:
(a) Enacting formula and preamble: The “whereas” clauses set out the statutory basis under the Revised Edition of the Laws Act and the steps taken by the Law Revision Commissioners.
(b) Operative direction: The President’s order that the loose-leaf editions of the Acts in the Schedule become the sole and only proper law, effective from 31 December 2011.
(c) Schedule: The list of Acts covered by the order. The Schedule is the key determinant of scope.
(d) Formalities: The “made this 9th day of December 2011” clause and the signature/attestation by the Secretary to the Cabinet on behalf of the President.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
Although the order is not aimed at regulating conduct (unlike substantive regulatory statutes), it applies to everyone who uses the law—courts, tribunals, government agencies, lawyers, and the public—because it determines what text is the proper law for the specified Acts. In practice, its direct “audience” is the legal system: it governs what courts will treat as authoritative when interpreting the listed Acts.
Its applicability is indirect but pervasive. For example, if a practitioner is advising on a provision of an Act included in the Schedule, the practitioner should ensure that the version consulted is the loose-leaf edition designated by the order (and, where relevant, any later “current version” orders). For Acts not included in the Schedule, the order does not confer the same “sole and only proper law” status under this particular instrument.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
At first glance, the order may appear procedural. However, it is foundational to the integrity of legal interpretation in Singapore. The phrase “sole and only proper law” addresses a perennial problem in legal systems: version control. Laws change through amendments, and different compilations may exist in print, online, or in unofficial forms. Without a clear designation of the authoritative text, disputes could arise about whether a particular wording is current, whether an amendment has been incorporated, or whether a court should prefer one compilation over another.
For practitioners, the order provides a clear instruction: when dealing with Acts covered by the Schedule, rely on the loose-leaf edition designated as the sole and only proper law. This reduces litigation risk related to misquotation, reliance on outdated text, or arguments about the “correct” version of a provision. It also supports consistent judicial reasoning, because courts can anchor interpretation in the official consolidated text.
Enforcement and compliance implications follow from interpretive certainty. Many legal obligations—licensing, regulatory duties, offences, limitation periods, procedural requirements—depend on the exact wording of statutory provisions. If a practitioner uses an incorrect version, the advice may be wrong even if the underlying legal principle is sound. By ensuring that the loose-leaf editions are the authoritative text, the order helps maintain the reliability of legal advice and the fairness of enforcement.
Finally, the “current version as at 27 March 2026” status indicates that the order remains part of the legal landscape for determining the authoritative text as of that date (subject to later revisions and subsequent orders). Practitioners should therefore treat such orders as part of the legal research workflow: always check the legislation timeline and the latest “current version” designation when preparing submissions, drafting pleadings, or advising clients.
Related Legislation
- Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275) — in particular sections 10 and 11(3) (the enabling provisions for loose-leaf publication and presidential designation of “sole and only proper law”).
- Subsequent “Revised Edition of the Laws (Order under section 11(3))” orders — later orders may update which loose-leaf editions are designated as sole and only proper law for particular Acts.
- Legislation timeline / amendment instruments — amendments to the underlying Acts may be incorporated through the loose-leaf revision process and/or later amending legislation.
Source Documents
This article provides an overview of the Revised Edition of the Laws (Order under section 11(3)) Order 2011 for legal research and educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult the official text for authoritative provisions.