Statute Details
- Title: Revised Edition of the Laws (Rectification) Order 2016
- Act Code: RELA1983-S634-2016
- Type: Subsidiary legislation (SL)
- Authorising Act: Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Cap. 275), specifically section 23(1)
- Legislation No. / Citation: No. S 634
- SL Number: SL 634/2016
- Date made: 8 December 2016
- Status: Current version as at 27 March 2026
- Commencement Date: Not stated in the extract (rectification order)
- Key Provisions (from extract): Section 1 (Citation); Section 2 (Rectification of error)
- Primary Amendment in extract: Corrects a spelling error in item (18) of the Schedule to the Declaration of Prisons (Consolidation) Notification (Cap. 247, N 3 (2001 Ed.))
What Is This Legislation About?
The Revised Edition of the Laws (Rectification) Order 2016 is a short, targeted legal instrument issued by the Law Revision Commissioners. Its purpose is not to create new legal rules or change policy, but to correct a mistake—specifically, a typographical or spelling error—found in an earlier consolidated notification within Singapore’s revised legal framework.
In practical terms, this Order ensures that the text of the law is accurate and consistent. Even minor errors can create avoidable confusion in legal interpretation, drafting, and compliance documentation. Here, the correction is limited to one word in a schedule relating to prisons.
The Order operates within the broader “revised edition” system. Singapore periodically consolidates and revises legislation to improve accessibility and coherence. During that process, errors can sometimes slip into the published text. Rectification orders are a mechanism to fix those errors without reopening the substance of the law.
What Are the Key Provisions?
Section 1 (Citation) provides the formal name of the instrument: it is the “Revised Edition of the Laws (Rectification) Order 2016.” This is standard drafting: it tells practitioners and courts how to refer to the instrument.
Section 2 (Rectification of error) is the operative provision. It identifies the exact location of the error and specifies the correction. The Order directs that, in item (18) of the Schedule to the Declaration of Prisons (Consolidation) Notification (Cap. 247, N 3 (2001 Ed.)), the word “Rehabilation” should be deleted and replaced with “Rehabilitation”.
This is a spelling correction, but it is still legally meaningful. The schedule in a declaration notification typically lists institutions or categories relevant to the legal designation of prisons. If a word is misspelled in a schedule, it can lead to uncertainty when lawyers, administrators, or regulated parties consult the text. Correcting the spelling helps ensure that the intended term is used consistently across references.
Notably, the extract does not indicate any change to the substantive content of the prisons declaration—only the spelling of a term. There is no alteration to eligibility criteria, administrative procedures, or the scope of what is declared as a prison. The correction is therefore best understood as a “clean-up” of the published legal text.
From a practitioner’s perspective, the key takeaway is that the Order is designed to maintain the integrity of the revised legal corpus. When you are citing or relying on the schedule in the Declaration of Prisons (Consolidation) Notification, you should use the corrected spelling “Rehabilitation”.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
The Order is extremely concise and follows a common structure for rectification instruments:
(1) Enacting formula—states that the Law Revision Commissioners make the Order under the powers conferred by section 23(1) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act.
(2) Section 1 (Citation)—sets out the short title.
(3) Section 2 (Rectification of error)—specifies the precise amendment: it identifies the document, the schedule item, the incorrect word, and the replacement word.
There are no parts, schedules, or complex subsections in the extract. The instrument is essentially a single-purpose amendment order.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
This rectification order applies indirectly to everyone who uses or relies on the affected legal text. While the Order itself does not impose obligations on individuals or organisations, it amends the official wording of a schedule in a prisons-related notification. Therefore, it affects:
(a) Legal practitioners who cite or interpret the Declaration of Prisons (Consolidation) Notification; and
(b) Government agencies and administrators who consult the schedule for operational or compliance purposes.
Because the change is a spelling correction, the practical impact on regulated persons is likely minimal. However, the corrected term becomes part of the authoritative legal text. In legal research and litigation, accuracy in citations and quotations matters—particularly when schedules are referenced in pleadings, affidavits, or submissions.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
Although the Order is brief, it is important for legal certainty and the reliability of the statute book. Courts and practitioners rely on the official text. A misspelling can create unnecessary disputes about meaning, especially where a term might be argued to refer to something different. Even if the intended meaning is obvious, typographical errors can still complicate research and drafting.
Rectification orders also reflect good legislative governance. They demonstrate that Singapore’s law revision process includes mechanisms to correct errors discovered after publication. This helps preserve the credibility of consolidated and revised editions, which are often treated as authoritative references by practitioners.
From an enforcement and compliance perspective, the Order’s significance lies in maintaining consistency. If “Rehabilation” appeared in the schedule, documents produced by agencies or external parties might reproduce the error, leading to inconsistent terminology across records. Correcting the spelling supports uniformity in administrative practice and legal documentation.
Finally, for lawyers conducting due diligence or preparing legal opinions, it is essential to know that the revised edition text has been rectified. When you are checking the “current version” of the law (as indicated by the status “current version as at 27 March 2026”), you should ensure that your references reflect the rectified wording.
Related Legislation
- Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Cap. 275) — section 23(1) (authorising provision for rectification orders)
- Declaration of Prisons (Consolidation) Notification (Cap. 247, N 3 (2001 Ed.)) — Schedule, item (18) (amended by this Order)
Source Documents
This article provides an overview of the Revised Edition of the Laws (Rectification) Order 2016 for legal research and educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult the official text for authoritative provisions.