Statute Details
- Title: Revised Edition of the Laws (Order under section 11(3)) Order 2012
- Act Code: RELA1983-S107-2012
- Type: Subsidiary Legislation (Order)
- Enacting Formula / Authority: Ordered by the President
- Authorising Act: Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275)
- Key Legal Mechanism: President’s order making a “loose-leaf edition” the sole and proper law for specified Acts
- Gazette / Instrument Number: S 107/2012
- Date Made: 9 March 2012
- Effective Date: 31 March 2012
- Status: Current version as at 27 March 2026
- Parts: Not applicable (instrument is structured around a Schedule)
- Schedule: Lists the Acts covered by the order (the extract provided references “Acts set out in the Schedule”)
What Is This Legislation About?
The Revised Edition of the Laws (Order under section 11(3)) Order 2012 is a procedural but highly consequential instrument. In plain terms, it confirms that a particular “loose-leaf edition” of specified Acts—published by the Law Revision Commissioners—becomes the authoritative legal text for use in Singapore courts and for all legal purposes.
The order is made under section 11(3) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275). The Revised Edition of the Laws Act provides a statutory framework for how Singapore’s laws are revised, compiled, and published in a consolidated form. Once the Commissioners publish the revised Acts in loose-leaf form, the President may issue an order (published in the Gazette) specifying that the loose-leaf edition is the “sole and only proper law” of Singapore for those Acts.
Practically, this instrument addresses a core legal certainty issue: when multiple versions of a statute exist (for example, earlier printings, amendments, or different publication formats), the legal system needs a single authoritative text. This order supplies that certainty by designating the loose-leaf edition as the proper law from the effective date.
What Are the Key Provisions?
1. The statutory basis: section 11(3) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act
The extract makes clear that the order is grounded in section 11(3). Under that provision, the Law Revision Commissioners transmit to the President a copy of the loose-leaf edition of each Act set out in the Schedule. The President then has the power to specify—by order published in the Gazette—that the loose-leaf edition shall be the sole and only proper law in respect of those Acts.
2. The “sole and only proper law” effect
The most important legal phrase in the instrument is that the loose-leaf edition “shall, in all courts and for all purposes, be the sole and only proper law of Singapore” in respect of the Acts listed in the Schedule. This language is designed to eliminate disputes about which version of the law is authoritative. For practitioners, it means that when citing statutory text, the operative question is not merely “what the law says” in some general sense, but “what the sole and proper law text is” as designated by the relevant order and its effective date.
3. The effective date: 31 March 2012
The order states that the loose-leaf edition shall take effect “with effect from 31st March 2012.” This matters for transitional issues. If a case involves conduct occurring before and after that date, counsel must consider whether the relevant statutory provisions changed as part of the revised edition process (or whether the revision was primarily consolidation and re-publication). Even where substantive changes are not intended, the authoritative text for citation and judicial reference becomes the designated loose-leaf edition from the effective date.
4. The Schedule and the scope of Acts covered
Although the extract does not reproduce the Schedule contents, it repeatedly refers to “the Acts set out in the Schedule.” The Schedule is therefore the scope-determining element. For a lawyer, the key task is to identify which Acts are listed in the Schedule to S 107/2012, and then confirm whether those Acts are the ones relevant to the matter at hand. The order’s legal effect is limited to the Acts specified in the Schedule; it does not automatically extend to all legislation.
5. The publication and formalities
The order is “made” on 9 March 2012 by the President, with the Secretary to the Cabinet signing “By Command.” It also references the Gazette publication requirement. These formalities are not mere ceremony: they are part of the statutory condition for the order to have the designated legal effect. In practice, this means that the instrument’s validity and enforceability depend on compliance with the Revised Edition of the Laws Act’s process.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
This instrument is structured as an order with an enacting formula and a Schedule. The enacting formula sets out the “whereas” clauses explaining the legislative background: the Law Revision Commissioners published the Acts in loose-leaf form as at 1 March 2012, and section 11(3) requires transmission to the President. The President’s order then specifies the legal consequence—designation of the loose-leaf edition as the sole and only proper law.
The Schedule is the operative list. It identifies the Acts to which the order applies. From a practitioner’s perspective, the Schedule is the primary reference point for determining applicability. The remainder of the instrument is essentially the mechanism that gives the Schedule’s listed Acts their authoritative status as of the effective date.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
The order applies to the Acts listed in its Schedule and, by extension, to everyone who relies on those Acts in Singapore. That includes courts, government agencies, private parties, and legal practitioners. The phrase “in all courts and for all purposes” indicates broad applicability: the designation is not limited to particular proceedings or categories of users.
While the order does not impose regulatory duties on individuals in the way substantive legislation does, it affects legal practice by determining which version of the law is authoritative. Therefore, its practical “audience” is the legal system itself—especially litigators and those preparing pleadings, submissions, and legal opinions that must cite the correct statutory text.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
Although the Revised Edition of the Laws (Order under section 11(3)) Order 2012 is not a substantive law reform measure, it is crucial for legal certainty and citation accuracy. Singapore’s legal system depends on authoritative texts. When courts interpret statutory provisions, they must rely on the correct version of the law. By declaring the loose-leaf edition to be the “sole and only proper law,” the order reduces the risk of argument over which publication is controlling.
For practitioners, the order has immediate workflow implications. When drafting documents, counsel must ensure that statutory references align with the authoritative text as at the relevant time. In many cases, the revised edition may involve consolidation, formatting, and updating of references rather than major substantive changes; however, even non-substantive revisions can affect section numbering, cross-references, and the precise wording that courts will treat as proper law.
The order also supports consistency across time. The effective date (31 March 2012) provides a clear temporal anchor. Where a matter spans the effective date, lawyers must consider whether the authoritative text changed and how that might affect interpretation, pleading, or the presentation of statutory provisions. Even if the substantive content is unchanged, the authoritative publication matters for the court’s reference and for the credibility of citations.
Finally, the instrument illustrates the broader governance of law revision in Singapore. The Revised Edition of the Laws Act establishes a formal process for revising and publishing laws. Orders under section 11(3) are the bridge between publication and legal authority. Without such orders, the revised loose-leaf editions would not necessarily have the same controlling status as the proper law in court.
Related Legislation
- Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275) — in particular section 11(3), which empowers the President to designate the loose-leaf edition as the sole and only proper law.
- Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275) — provisions governing the Law Revision Commissioners’ publication process (including the publication of Acts “as in force” at a specified date).
- Gazette notices relating to the publication and commencement/effective dates of revised editions (as referenced in the order’s “published in the Gazette” language).
Source Documents
This article provides an overview of the Revised Edition of the Laws (Order under section 11(3)) Order 2012 for legal research and educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult the official text for authoritative provisions.