Statute Details
- Title: Revised Edition of the Laws (Section 11(3)) (No. 2) Order 2013
- Act Code: RELA1983-S530-2013
- Type: Subsidiary legislation (Order)
- Authorising Act: Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275)
- Legislative Instrument Number: SL 530/2013
- Enacting Date: 15 August 2013
- Commencement / Effective Date: 31 August 2013
- Status: Current version as at 27 March 2026
- Key Mechanism: President’s order confirming that specified loose-leaf editions become the “sole and only proper law” for courts and all purposes
What Is This Legislation About?
The Revised Edition of the Laws (Section 11(3)) (No. 2) Order 2013 is not a “substantive” law that creates new rights or offences. Instead, it is a legal instrument that performs an important administrative-legal function: it determines what version of the law is to be treated as authoritative by courts and for all legal purposes.
In Singapore’s legislative system, the Law Revision Commissioners periodically publish a “loose-leaf” revised edition of Acts. These loose-leaf editions are intended to consolidate and present the law in an updated, usable form. However, for them to become the definitive legal text—rather than merely a compilation—the Revised Edition of the Laws Act provides a mechanism for the President to designate them as the “sole and only proper law” of Singapore in respect of the specified Acts.
This Order is made under section 11(3) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act. It confirms that, with effect from 31 August 2013, the loose-leaf editions of the Acts set out in the Schedule are to be treated as the sole and only proper law in all courts and for all purposes. In practical terms, it resolves questions about which text is authoritative when there are multiple versions (e.g., earlier printed editions, loose-leaf updates, or subsequent amendments).
What Are the Key Provisions?
1. The statutory “Whereas” framework
The Order begins with recitals explaining the legal basis for the President’s action. 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 August 2013. This recital is crucial: it ties the loose-leaf edition to a specific “as at” date, which helps practitioners understand the temporal scope of the revised compilation.
2. The section 11(3) designation power
The Order then recites that section 11(3) requires the Commissioners to transmit to the President a copy of the loose-leaf edition of each of these Acts. It further states that the President may, by order published in the Gazette, specify that the loose-leaf edition shall be the sole and only proper law of Singapore in respect of those Acts.
3. The operative clause: “sole and only proper law”
The operative effect is contained in the central “Now therefore” paragraph. It provides that the loose-leaf edition of the Acts in the Schedule shall, with effect from 31 August 2013, be the sole and only proper law of Singapore in respect of those Acts. This phrase is legally significant. It means that, for the specified Acts, the designated loose-leaf edition is treated as the definitive legal text for all courts and all purposes.
4. Date of making and formal execution
The Order is “made” on 15 August 2013 by command, signed by the Secretary to the Cabinet (TAN KEE YONG). While this is procedural, it is relevant for practitioners who may need to confirm the instrument’s validity, publication, and effective date.
Note on the Schedule: The extract provided does not include the Schedule listing the Acts covered. In practice, the Schedule is essential because the “sole and only proper law” designation applies only to the Acts enumerated there. A lawyer should therefore obtain the full text (including the Schedule) when relying on the Order for authoritative-text purposes.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
This instrument is structured in a conventional format for presidential orders under the Revised Edition of the Laws Act. It contains:
(a) An enacting formula (the formal legal basis and authority);
(b) Recitals (“Whereas” clauses) explaining the background and the statutory steps taken by the Law Revision Commissioners and the President;
(c) The operative provision stating the effective date and the legal consequence (“sole and only proper law”); and
(d) The Schedule (not shown in the extract) listing the Acts to which the designation applies.
From a practitioner’s perspective, the structure is less about substantive interpretation of sections and more about confirming (i) the Acts covered, (ii) the effective date, and (iii) the legal effect on authoritative texts.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
The Order applies to courts and all persons dealing with the specified Acts for “all purposes”. Although it is addressed to the legal system rather than to a particular class of regulated persons, its practical reach is broad: it affects how lawyers plead, how judges interpret, and how legal compliance is assessed, because it determines which version of the law is treated as proper.
More specifically, the Order applies to the Acts listed in its Schedule. For those Acts, once the effective date (31 August 2013) is reached, the designated loose-leaf edition becomes the authoritative legal text. For Acts not included in the Schedule, the Order has no direct effect.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
Even though the Order does not change policy or create new legal duties, it is important because it governs legal certainty about the text of the law. In litigation and legal advice, the authoritative version of an Act matters. If a party relies on an outdated or non-authoritative compilation, the risk is that the court may treat the cited text as incorrect or incomplete. By designating the loose-leaf edition as the “sole and only proper law,” the Order reduces ambiguity and supports consistent judicial and practitioner use of the law.
For practitioners, this Order is particularly relevant in three recurring contexts:
(1) Drafting and citation: When preparing submissions, affidavits, or legal opinions, lawyers must cite the correct version of statutory provisions. The “sole and only proper law” designation helps ensure that citations align with the authoritative text for the covered Acts.
(2) Transitional and amendment issues: The Order is tied to an “as at” date (1 August 2013) for the loose-leaf compilation and an effective date (31 August 2013) for the designation. Where amendments occur after the compilation date, practitioners must still check whether subsequent amending legislation has altered the provisions. The Order does not freeze the law; it designates the authoritative compilation at the time of designation, subject to later amendments.
(3) Court reliance on statutory text: Courts require a reliable basis for interpreting statutory provisions. By establishing the authoritative text, the Order supports the integrity of statutory interpretation and reduces disputes about which version is “proper.”
Finally, the Order illustrates a broader feature of Singapore’s legislative maintenance system: the Revised Edition of the Laws Act provides a structured pathway for updating and consolidating legislation, while the President’s designation ensures that the revised compilation is legally effective as the proper law.
Related Legislation
- Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275) — in particular, sections 10 and 11(3) (the statutory basis for the loose-leaf publication and the President’s designation power).
Source Documents
This article provides an overview of the Revised Edition of the Laws (Section 11(3)) (No. 2) Order 2013 for legal research and educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult the official text for authoritative provisions.