Statute Details
- Title: Revised Edition of the Laws (Section 11(3)) (No. 2) Order 2014
- Act Code: RELA1983-S215-2014
- Type: Subsidiary Legislation (SL)
- Authorising Act: Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275)
- Legislative Instrument: Order made by the President
- Key Legal Mechanism: Designation of a “loose-leaf edition” as the sole and only proper law for specified Acts
- Effective Date (as stated): 31 March 2014
- Date Made: 13 March 2014
- Gazette Publication: Order published in the Gazette (as contemplated by section 11(3))
- Status: Current version as at 27 March 2026
- Legislation Reference in Extract: “SL 215/2014”
What Is This Legislation About?
The Revised Edition of the Laws (Section 11(3)) (No. 2) Order 2014 is a procedural but legally significant instrument. In plain language, it confirms that a particular “loose-leaf edition” of specified Acts—published by the Law Revision Commissioners—will be treated as the definitive, authoritative version of the law for use in Singapore courts and for all legal purposes.
This Order is made under the Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275). The Act provides a mechanism for law revision and consolidation: the Law Revision Commissioners prepare revised editions of legislation in loose-leaf form. 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 in respect of those Acts.
Although the extract does not list the specific Acts in the Schedule, the legal effect is clear: once the President makes the Order, the loose-leaf edition becomes the controlling legal text. This matters to practitioners because it affects what courts will treat as “the law” for interpretation, pleading, and citation—particularly where there may be differences between earlier printings, amendments, or transitional versions.
What Are the Key Provisions?
1. The statutory basis: section 11(3) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act
The Order is grounded in section 11(3) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275). The extract states that the Law Revision Commissioners have published in loose-leaf form the Acts set out in the Schedule as in force on 1 March 2014. It further states that section 11(3) empowers the Commissioners to transmit copies of the loose-leaf edition to the President, and empowers the President to issue a Gazette order specifying that the loose-leaf edition shall be the sole and only proper law of Singapore in respect of those Acts.
2. The “sole and only proper law” designation
The operative clause is the heart of the instrument. The President orders that the loose-leaf edition of the Acts in the Schedule “shall, with effect from 31st March 2014, be the sole and only proper law of Singapore in respect of those Acts.” This phrase is not merely descriptive; it is a legal designation that aims to remove ambiguity about which version of the legislation is authoritative.
For lawyers, this means that when advising clients, drafting pleadings, or preparing submissions, reliance should be placed on the loose-leaf edition as designated by the Order. If there are competing versions (for example, earlier print editions or unofficial compilations), the “sole and only proper law” designation supports the argument that the loose-leaf edition is the definitive text for the specified Acts as from the effective date.
3. Temporal effect: effective from 31 March 2014
The Order specifies a commencement/effect date: 31 March 2014. This is crucial for practitioners dealing with events spanning dates before and after that threshold. If a legal issue arises from conduct occurring before 31 March 2014, counsel may need to consider what the “proper law” was at that earlier time. Conversely, for matters after 31 March 2014, the loose-leaf edition designated by the Order is the controlling version.
4. Formalities: made by the President, dated 13 March 2014
The extract includes the making date (“Made this 13th day of March 2014”) and the signature line (“By Command, TAN KEE YONG, Secretary to the Cabinet, Singapore.”). While these are not substantive legal requirements for interpretation, they confirm the instrument’s validity as a Presidential order and provide an audit trail for practitioners who may need to verify the provenance of the legal text.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
This instrument is structured as a short Presidential order with a schedule-based mechanism. In the extract, the key structural elements are:
(a) Enacting formula / Whereas clauses — These set out the factual and legal background: publication by the Law Revision Commissioners in loose-leaf form; transmission to the President; and the President’s power to designate the loose-leaf edition as proper law.
(b) The operative order — The clause that the loose-leaf edition is the sole and only proper law, effective from 31 March 2014, for the Acts in the Schedule.
(c) The Schedule — Although the extract does not display the list of Acts, the Schedule is where the specific Acts are identified. The legal effect of the Order is limited to those Acts named in the Schedule.
(d) Status and versioning information — The document indicates that it is the “current version” as at 27 March 2026, and references a timeline showing the original version date (25 March 2014) and the instrument number (SL 215/2014). This is relevant for legal research because practitioners must ensure they are viewing the correct version of the instrument and any amendments (if any).
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
Strictly speaking, the Order applies to the legal system rather than to a class of persons. Its primary “subjects” are the Acts listed in the Schedule and the courts and legal authorities that must apply those Acts as the authoritative law.
In practice, however, the Order affects everyone who relies on the specified Acts: litigants, lawyers, government agencies, regulators, and any person who must interpret or comply with the laws contained in the Schedule. By designating the loose-leaf edition as the sole and only proper law, the Order influences how legal rights and obligations are determined, how statutes are cited, and how courts interpret statutory provisions.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
Although the Order is brief, it plays an important role in legal certainty and the integrity of statutory interpretation. Singapore’s legal system depends on accurate, authoritative versions of legislation. When laws are revised and republished in a consolidated form, there is a risk of confusion about which version is controlling—especially if amendments have occurred between earlier printings and the revised edition.
This Order addresses that risk by using the strong legal language of “sole and only proper law.” That phrase is designed to prevent disputes about whether a particular version of an Act is the legally effective one. For practitioners, it provides a clear foundation for citing the correct text and for arguing that the court should treat the designated loose-leaf edition as authoritative.
From an enforcement and compliance perspective, the Order also matters. Government agencies and regulated entities often rely on statutory text for operational decisions. If they rely on an outdated or non-authoritative compilation, they may inadvertently misstate legal requirements. By confirming the authoritative version as of 31 March 2014, the Order supports consistent application of the law across institutions.
Finally, the Order is a reminder that legal research in Singapore is not only about identifying the “right Act,” but also about identifying the “right version.” The document’s status and timeline information (including the “current version as at 27 Mar 2026”) underscores the need for practitioners to check versioning when preparing legal submissions.
Related Legislation
- Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275) — in particular section 11(3), which authorises the President to designate the loose-leaf edition as the sole and only proper law.
- Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275) — section 10 (as referenced in the extract) concerning publication of Acts in loose-leaf form by the Law Revision Commissioners.
Source Documents
This article provides an overview of the Revised Edition of the Laws (Section 11(3)) (No. 2) Order 2014 for legal research and educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult the official text for authoritative provisions.