Statute Details
- Title: Revised Edition of the Laws (Section 11(3)) (No. 2) Order 2013
- Act Code: RELA1983-S530-2013
- Type: Subsidiary legislation / Order (SL)
- Authorising Act: Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Cap. 275)
- Legislative Instrument No.: SL 530/2013
- Date Made: 15 August 2013
- Commencement / Effect Date: 31 August 2013
- Status: Current version as at 27 March 2026
- Core Legal Effect: Confirms that specified loose-leaf editions of Acts are the “sole and only proper law” for use in all courts and for all purposes
What Is This Legislation About?
The Revised Edition of the Laws (Section 11(3)) (No. 2) Order 2013 is an administrative-but-legal instrument that determines which version of certain Acts counts as the authoritative “proper law” of Singapore for legal proceedings and other official purposes. In practical terms, it is part of Singapore’s law revision and consolidation process: the Law Revision Commissioners prepare updated “loose-leaf” editions of Acts, and the President may then, by order published in the Gazette, declare that those loose-leaf editions are the sole and only proper law.
This Order is not a substantive reform statute that changes policy or creates new legal rights and duties. Instead, it addresses legal certainty and the hierarchy of legal texts. When multiple versions of an Act exist (for example, earlier printed editions, amendments, and loose-leaf revisions), courts and practitioners need a clear rule for which text is authoritative. This Order provides that rule for the Acts listed in its Schedule.
Accordingly, the scope of the Order is tied to the Acts “set out in the Schedule” and to the mechanism in section 11(3) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act. The key question it answers is: once the Law Revision Commissioners have published the loose-leaf edition of specified Acts as at a particular date, what is the legal status of that loose-leaf edition? The Order answers: it becomes the sole and only proper law from the specified effective date.
What Are the Key Provisions?
1. The statutory pathway under the Revised Edition of the Laws Act
The Order’s enacting formula explains the legal basis. It refers to section 10 of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act, under which the Law Revision Commissioners publish Acts in loose-leaf form “as in force” on a specified date (here, 1 August 2013). It then refers to section 11(3), which provides that the Commissioners shall transmit to the President a copy of the loose-leaf edition of each Act. The President may then issue an order in the Gazette specifying that the loose-leaf edition shall be the sole and only proper law of Singapore in respect of those Acts.
For practitioners, the significance is that the President’s order is the final legal step that converts the loose-leaf revision into the authoritative legal text for courts and all purposes. Without such an order, there may be ambiguity about whether the loose-leaf edition is merely a revision tool or whether it has full legal status as “proper law.”
2. Declaration of “sole and only proper law”
The operative declaration in the Order is that the loose-leaf edition of the Acts set out 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 important. It means that, for the specified Acts, the loose-leaf edition is not one of several competing versions; it is the definitive text that courts must treat as the proper law. In litigation, this can affect how pleadings are drafted, how statutory interpretation is conducted, and how counsel cites the relevant provisions. If an earlier printed edition differs (even due to consolidation, formatting, or incorporation of amendments), the “sole and only” rule directs reliance to the loose-leaf edition as declared by the President.
3. Gazette publication and effect date
The Order is made by the President “by command” and is tied to publication in the Gazette. The enacting formula indicates that the President may specify the loose-leaf edition as proper law “by order published in the Gazette.” This ensures formal promulgation and public accessibility.
The effect date—31 August 2013—is also crucial. It determines from when the loose-leaf edition becomes the authoritative text. For matters involving events occurring before that date, practitioners may need to consider whether the substantive law applicable at the relevant time differs from the consolidated text. However, the “proper law” declaration generally governs the authoritative text for interpretation and application, while the substantive content should reflect the “as in force” position at the revision cut-off date (here, 1 August 2013), subject to any later amendments not captured in the loose-leaf edition.
4. The Schedule as the limiting mechanism
The Order’s legal effect is limited to the Acts listed in its Schedule. Although the extract provided does not reproduce the Schedule contents, the structure of these Orders typically means that the Schedule enumerates the specific Acts whose loose-leaf editions are being declared proper law.
For a lawyer, the Schedule is therefore the practical “scope” document. When advising on statutory interpretation, citation, or compliance, counsel must confirm whether the relevant Act is included in the Schedule of this Order (and whether later orders have superseded it). This is especially important where an Act has undergone multiple revision cycles or where amendments after the cut-off date may have been incorporated through subsequent legislation.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
This instrument is structured as a short presidential order with an enacting formula and an operative clause, followed by a Schedule. The enacting formula sets out the legal rationale and the statutory authority under the Revised Edition of the Laws Act—namely, sections 10 and 11(3). The operative part then declares the legal status of the loose-leaf editions.
The Schedule is the central component for scope. It identifies the Acts that have been published in loose-leaf form by the Law Revision Commissioners and transmitted to the President. The Schedule effectively answers: “Which Acts are covered by the ‘sole and only proper law’ declaration?”
In terms of drafting style, this Order is typical of law revision declarations: it is concise, procedural, and focused on legal status rather than substantive regulation. It is designed to be used alongside the substantive Acts themselves, which remain the primary sources of rights, duties, offences, procedures, and remedies.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
On its face, the Order applies to the legal system rather than to a particular class of persons. It governs how the law is treated “in all courts and for all purposes” in respect of the Acts listed in the Schedule. Therefore, its direct beneficiaries are courts, litigants, legal practitioners, and government agencies that rely on authoritative statutory texts.
Indirectly, it affects everyone who is subject to the laws contained in the specified Acts. For example, if an Act included in the Schedule contains regulatory obligations, offences, or licensing requirements, then the authoritative text for those obligations and offences is determined by this Order. However, the Order does not itself impose obligations; it determines the authoritative version of the underlying Acts.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
Although the Revised Edition of the Laws (Section 11(3)) (No. 2) Order 2013 is not a substantive reform measure, it is highly important for legal practice because it addresses textual authority. In statutory interpretation, the exact wording of provisions matters. Consolidation and revision processes can incorporate amendments, correct drafting issues, and standardise formatting. When a court is deciding a case, it must rely on the proper law. This Order ensures that the loose-leaf edition is the definitive legal text for the covered Acts.
From an enforcement and compliance perspective, the “sole and only proper law” declaration reduces uncertainty for regulators and regulated entities. Agencies drafting circulars, guidance, or enforcement notices must ensure they refer to the correct statutory wording. Similarly, regulated parties preparing compliance documentation or responding to enforcement actions need to cite and interpret the correct provisions.
For litigation strategy, the Order can also affect how counsel handles statutory citations. If a practitioner cites an outdated printed version or an unofficial compilation, the opposing party may challenge the authority of the text. By contrast, where the Act is covered by this Order, counsel can rely on the loose-leaf edition as the proper law from the effective date. This can be particularly relevant in disputes about transitional provisions, amendments, or the precise elements of an offence or statutory test.
Finally, the Order underscores the importance of checking the legislation timeline and version history. The metadata indicates that the “current version” is as at 27 March 2026, but the effect date of this specific Order is 31 August 2013. Practitioners should therefore confirm whether later revision orders or amendments have updated the authoritative text for the same Acts.
Related Legislation
- Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Cap. 275) — in particular sections 10 and 11(3) (the enabling provisions referenced in the Order)
- Revised Edition of the Laws (Section 11(3)) Orders — other “No. (x)” orders that declare subsequent loose-leaf editions as sole and only proper law for specified Acts (consult the legislation timeline for the relevant sequence)
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.