Statute Details
- Title: Revised Edition of the Laws (Section 11(3)) (No. 2) Order 2013
- Act Code: RELA1983-S530-2013
- Type: Subsidiary legislation / statutory order (SL)
- Authorising Act: Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275)
- Legislative Instrument Number: SL 530/2013
- Date Made: 15 August 2013
- Commencement / Effective Date: 31 August 2013
- Status: Current version as at 27 March 2026
- Key Legal Mechanism: President’s order declaring the loose-leaf edition as the sole and only proper law for specified Acts
What Is This Legislation About?
The Revised Edition of the Laws (Section 11(3)) (No. 2) Order 2013 is a procedural but highly consequential instrument. In essence, it confirms that certain Acts—published by the Law Revision Commissioners in a loose-leaf format—are to be treated as the “sole and only proper law” of Singapore for legal purposes in all courts.
This 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 the statutory framework for producing and updating an authoritative compilation of Singapore legislation. The loose-leaf publication is not merely for convenience; it is designed to become the legally authoritative version once the President issues the relevant order.
Practically, the Order addresses a core legal question: when courts and lawyers refer to “the law”, which version is legally binding? The Order answers that question for the Acts listed in its Schedule by tying legal authority to the loose-leaf edition “as in force” on a specified date (here, 1 August 2013), and by giving it effect from 31 August 2013.
What Are the Key Provisions?
1. The “loose-leaf edition” becomes the sole and only proper law
The central operative provision is the President’s declaration 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 language is deliberately strong. It is intended to eliminate uncertainty about whether earlier printed editions, unofficial compilations, or other versions remain legally operative.
2. The legal pathway: section 10 and section 11(3) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act
The Order’s recitals explain the statutory process. First, under section 10 of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act, the Law Revision Commissioners publish Acts in loose-leaf form “as in force on 1st August 2013”. Second, under section 11(3), the Commissioners transmit copies to the President, who may then issue an order in the Gazette specifying that the loose-leaf edition is the sole and only proper law.
For practitioners, this matters because it shows that the President’s order is not discretionary in a vacuum; it is the final step in a legislated workflow. The loose-leaf edition is produced by the Commissioners, but its legal authority in courts depends on the President’s Gazette order.
3. Gazette publication and effect “in all courts and for all purposes”
The Order’s recitals (and the statutory basis they reference) emphasise that the President’s order is published in the Gazette and that the resulting loose-leaf edition is to be treated as proper law “in all courts and for all purposes”. This phrase is significant for litigation strategy and legal research. It means that the authoritative version is not limited to particular proceedings, tribunals, or contexts; it extends broadly across Singapore’s legal system.
4. The Schedule controls which Acts are covered
Although the extract provided does not reproduce the Schedule contents, the Schedule is the key to scope. The Order applies only to the Acts “set out in the Schedule”. In practice, a lawyer must consult the Schedule to determine which specific Acts are affected by the 31 August 2013 effective date and to ensure that citations and reliance are aligned with the correct authoritative edition.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
This instrument is structured in a conventional way for Gazette orders made under the Revised Edition of the Laws Act:
(a) Title and status—identifying it as the Revised Edition of the Laws (Section 11(3)) (No. 2) Order 2013, and indicating it is the current version as at 27 March 2026.
(b) Enacting formula and recitals—setting out the legal basis and the factual/legal premise: the Law Revision Commissioners have published the Acts in loose-leaf form as in force on 1 August 2013, and section 11(3) authorises the President to declare that edition as the sole and only proper law.
(c) The operative declaration—stating 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.
(d) The Schedule—listing the Acts covered. For legal research, the Schedule is the most practically important component because it determines the scope of the Order.
(e) Signature and administrative details—including the date made (15 August 2013) and the signatory (the Secretary to the Cabinet, by command), reflecting the formal constitutional/administrative process.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
The Order does not “apply” to a class of persons in the way regulatory statutes do (e.g., licensing, offences, or compliance obligations). Instead, it applies to the legal system’s determination of what the law is—that is, it governs which version of specified Acts is treated as authoritative.
Accordingly, its practical impact is felt by everyone who uses the law: judges, lawyers, litigants, government agencies, and anyone relying on statutory provisions in court or for legal purposes. Because the Order states that the loose-leaf edition is the proper law “in all courts and for all purposes”, it is effectively universal in legal effect for the Acts listed in the Schedule.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
Although the Order is short and largely declaratory, it is important because it addresses legal certainty. In statutory interpretation and litigation, the authoritative text of an Act is foundational. If different versions of legislation were treated as proper law, disputes could arise about which amendments are included, what the operative wording is, and whether a particular provision has been repealed or modified.
This Order resolves that by anchoring legal authority to a specific loose-leaf edition “as in force on 1 August 2013” and by giving it effect from 31 August 2013. For practitioners, this reduces the risk of citing outdated provisions or relying on unofficial or superseded compilations. In day-to-day practice—drafting pleadings, preparing submissions, advising clients, and conducting statutory research—the “proper law” question is not academic; it can affect outcomes.
From an enforcement and compliance perspective, the Order does not create new offences or regulatory duties by itself. However, it can indirectly affect how lawyers interpret and apply existing Acts by ensuring that the authoritative text is the loose-leaf edition specified. Where amendments have occurred between editions, the authoritative version may incorporate changes that are critical to legal analysis.
Finally, the Order illustrates a key feature of Singapore’s legislative maintenance system: the Revised Edition of the Laws Act provides a mechanism to keep legislation authoritative through periodic revisions and formal presidential orders. For legal researchers, understanding this mechanism helps explain why certain statutory texts are treated as “proper law” and how legal authority is updated over time.
Related Legislation
- Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275) — particularly sections 10 and 11(3), which govern the publication of loose-leaf editions and the President’s power to declare them as 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 2013 for legal research and educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult the official text for authoritative provisions.