Statute Details
- Title: Revised Edition of the Laws (Section 11(3)) (No. 2) Order 2012
- Act Code: RELA1983-S220-2012
- Type: Subsidiary Legislation (SL)
- Authorising Act: Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275)
- Instrument Number: No. S 220
- Gazette / Publication Reference: SL 220/2012
- Date Made: 17 May 2012
- Effective Date: 31 May 2012
- Status: Current version as at 27 Mar 2026
- Key Legal Mechanism: President’s order under section 11(3) to designate a loose-leaf edition as the sole and proper law for specified Acts
What Is This Legislation About?
The Revised Edition of the Laws (Section 11(3)) (No. 2) Order 2012 is a procedural but highly consequential instrument. In plain terms, it deals with which version of the law counts in Singapore courts and for all legal purposes. It does not create new substantive offences, rights, or obligations. Instead, it ensures that the “official” consolidated form of certain Acts—published in loose-leaf format by the Law Revision Commissioners—becomes the sole and only proper law.
The Order is made under the Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275). That Act provides a statutory framework for the revision and publication of Singapore legislation. Under this framework, the Law Revision Commissioners publish Acts in loose-leaf form “as in force” on a specified date. The President may then, by order published in the Gazette, specify that the loose-leaf edition is the sole and only proper law of Singapore for those Acts.
Accordingly, the practical scope of the Order is limited to the Acts listed in its Schedule. While the extract provided does not reproduce the Schedule contents, the legal effect is clear: from the effective date (31 May 2012), the loose-leaf edition designated by the Order becomes the authoritative legal text for the specified Acts in all courts and for all purposes.
What Are the Key Provisions?
1. Statutory basis and purpose (preamble)
The Order begins with a “whereas” clause that anchors its authority. It states 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 May 2012. It further notes that section 11(3) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act empowers the Commissioners to transmit copies to the President, and empowers the President to specify by Gazette order that the loose-leaf edition shall be the sole and only proper law of Singapore in respect of those Acts.
2. Designation of the loose-leaf edition as “sole and only proper law”
The operative provision is the core legal effect. The President orders that the loose-leaf edition of the Acts set out in the Schedule shall, with effect from 31 May 2012, be the sole and only proper law of Singapore in respect of those Acts. This phrase is not merely descriptive; it is intended to remove ambiguity about which text is authoritative when there are multiple published versions (for example, earlier editions, reprints, or other compilations).
3. Temporal effect and legal continuity
The Order’s effective date (31 May 2012) is significant for practitioners. It indicates that, from that date forward, courts and legal actors must treat the designated loose-leaf edition as the proper law for the specified Acts. In practice, this affects how lawyers cite legislation, how courts interpret the text, and how legal databases and printed materials should be aligned to avoid reliance on outdated or non-authoritative versions.
4. Formalities and making authority
The Order records that it is made by the President, “by Command”, and is signed by the Secretary to the Cabinet (as shown in the extract). It also includes the internal reference “[AG/LLRD/1/2009]”, which is typical of Singapore legislative instruments and assists with administrative tracking. While these details may not affect substantive interpretation, they confirm the instrument’s validity and the formal chain of authority.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
This instrument is structured in a conventional way for Singapore legislative orders under the Revised Edition of the Laws Act. It contains:
(a) Enacting formula and preamble: The preamble explains the statutory context—section 10 publication by the Law Revision Commissioners and section 11(3) presidential designation.
(b) The Schedule: The Schedule lists the specific Acts to which the Order applies. The extract provided references “Acts set out in the Schedule” but does not reproduce the list. For legal work, the Schedule is essential because it determines which Acts are covered by the “sole and only proper law” designation.
(c) Operative clause: The operative effect is contained in the main ordering paragraph: the loose-leaf edition becomes the sole and only proper law with effect from 31 May 2012.
(d) Date and signature: The “Made this 17th day of May 2012” clause and the signature block complete the instrument.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
Although the Order is addressed to the legal system rather than to a class of persons, its effect is broad. It applies to all courts and for all purposes in Singapore in respect of the Acts listed in the Schedule. That means judges, lawyers, litigants, regulators, and administrative decision-makers must treat the designated loose-leaf edition as the authoritative legal text for those Acts.
More specifically, the Order affects how the law is proved and cited. In disputes involving the specified Acts, parties cannot safely rely on unofficial or non-designated versions of the legislation. Practitioners should ensure that their citations correspond to the “sole and only proper law” edition effective from 31 May 2012.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
At first glance, the Order may appear to be a mere publication or housekeeping measure. However, it is important because it addresses a foundational issue in legal practice: the authoritative text of legislation. Singapore’s legal system depends on accurate and consistent legislative references. When multiple versions exist in circulation—whether due to reprints, amendments, or different publication formats—there is a risk of inconsistency. The “sole and only proper law” mechanism is designed to eliminate that risk.
For practitioners, the Order has immediate practical consequences:
- Legislative citation accuracy: Lawyers must cite the correct authoritative text. If a practitioner cites an outdated edition, the citation may be challenged or may create avoidable confusion about the governing wording.
- Interpretation and reliance: Courts interpret statutory language. If the authoritative version is clearly designated, interpretive disputes about “which text” should be used are reduced.
- Database and document control: Law firms and compliance teams often maintain internal libraries or rely on commercial legal databases. The Order underscores the need to align internal materials with the official “proper law” edition.
- Litigation readiness: In litigation, parties may need to produce or refer to the proper legislative text. The Order supports the proposition that the designated loose-leaf edition is the legally proper reference point.
Finally, the Order illustrates how Singapore maintains legislative coherence through the Revised Edition of the Laws Act. The Law Revision Commissioners’ role in consolidating and publishing Acts “as in force” on a particular date, combined with the President’s power to designate the loose-leaf edition as sole proper law, provides a structured and legally enforceable method for keeping the statute book reliable.
Related Legislation
- Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275) — in particular sections 10 and 11(3), which provide the statutory basis for loose-leaf publication and presidential designation of the “sole and only proper law”.
Source Documents
This article provides an overview of the Revised Edition of the Laws (Section 11(3)) (No. 2) Order 2012 for legal research and educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult the official text for authoritative provisions.