Statute Details
- Title: Revised Edition of the Laws (Section 11(3)) (No. 2) Order 2014
- Act Code: RELA1983-S215-2014
- Type: Subsidiary legislation (Order)
- Authorising Act: Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Cap. 275)
- Enacting Authority: President of Singapore
- Key Legal Mechanism: Section 11(3) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act
- Effect / Commencement (as stated): 31 March 2014
- Status: Current version as at 27 Mar 2026
- Gazette / Instrument Reference: SL 215/2014 (dated 25 Mar 2014)
- Document Form: Order specifying that certain loose-leaf editions are 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 2014 is an administrative-but-constitutionally significant instrument that finalises the legal status of certain revised law materials. In plain terms, it tells courts and legal practitioners which version of specified Acts counts as the authoritative law of Singapore, once the Law Revision Commissioners have prepared a “loose-leaf” revised edition.
Under Singapore’s law revision framework, the Law Revision Commissioners publish Acts in loose-leaf form to consolidate and revise legislation. However, those loose-leaf editions do not automatically become the sole authoritative law for all purposes. The Revised Edition of the Laws Act provides a mechanism for the President to “activate” the loose-leaf editions as the proper law—so that there is no ambiguity about what the law is in practice.
This Order is therefore best understood as a “version-control” legal instrument. It does not create new substantive offences or rights by itself. Instead, it ensures that, from the stated effective date (31 March 2014), the specified loose-leaf editions of the Acts listed in the Schedule are treated as the sole and only proper law of Singapore for those Acts in all courts and for all purposes.
What Are the Key Provisions?
1. The statutory preconditions (recitals / “Whereas” clauses)
The Order begins with recitals explaining the legal background. 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 March 2014. This matters because it anchors the revised editions to a specific “as at” date—meaning the loose-leaf versions reflect the law at that point in time.
The recitals also explain the second precondition: section 11(3) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act requires the Commissioners to transmit a copy of each loose-leaf edition to the President. 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.
2. The operative legal effect: “sole and only proper law”
The central operative provision is the President’s order that the loose-leaf editions of the Acts in the Schedule shall, with effect from 31 March 2014, be the sole and only proper law of Singapore in respect of those Acts. The phrase “in all courts and for all purposes” is crucial: it removes doubt about whether other forms of the law (for example, earlier printed editions, unofficial compilations, or other references) might be argued to be authoritative.
For practitioners, this language signals that any legal argument about the content of those Acts must be grounded in the revised loose-leaf edition that has been “activated” by this Order. If there is a discrepancy between older versions and the revised edition, the revised edition is the proper law for the specified Acts from the effective date.
3. Timing and legal certainty
The Order is made on 13 March 2014, and it is published as SL 215/2014 on 25 March 2014. Yet its legal effect is stated to begin on 31 March 2014. This separation between “made” date and “effective” date is typical for law revision orders: it allows time for distribution, implementation, and transition in court practice and legal drafting.
From a litigation perspective, the effective date can matter when determining which version of an Act applies to conduct or proceedings occurring around the transition. While the Order itself is about the authoritative form of the law, the “as in force on 1 March 2014” reference in the recitals suggests that the revised edition reflects the law at that time. Practitioners should still check the relevant dates of amendments and the effective dates of substantive changes to ensure correct application to facts.
4. The Schedule (not reproduced in the extract)
The extract indicates that the Acts are “set out in the Schedule.” Although the provided text does not list the specific Acts, the Schedule is the key to knowing exactly which statutes are covered. In practice, the Schedule determines the scope of the Order’s “sole and only proper law” effect.
Accordingly, a lawyer using this Order should consult the Schedule in the official instrument to identify the particular Acts affected. That list is essential for advising clients, preparing submissions, and ensuring that citations and statutory interpretations rely on the correct authoritative text.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
This instrument is structured in a straightforward manner typical of law revision orders:
(a) Title and status indicating it is a current version as at 27 March 2026.
(b) Enacting formula and formal legal language establishing that the President is acting under the Revised Edition of the Laws Act.
(c) “Whereas” clauses setting out the factual and legal background: publication of loose-leaf editions under section 10, transmission to the President, and the President’s power under section 11(3).
(d) The operative clause specifying the effective date (31 March 2014) and the legal consequence (“sole and only proper law” for the Acts in the Schedule).
(e) The Schedule which lists the Acts covered by the Order.
Notably, unlike substantive legislation, this Order does not contain detailed substantive provisions (e.g., definitions, offences, regulatory obligations). Its structure is designed to perform a legal “switch” that confirms which text is authoritative.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
The Order applies to the legal system—specifically, it governs what counts as the proper law of Singapore for the Acts listed in the Schedule. While the Order is not directed at a particular class of persons (such as employers, licensees, or consumers), its practical effect is felt by everyone who relies on legislation in legal proceedings: litigants, lawyers, judges, regulators, and administrative decision-makers.
In practical terms, the Order applies to all courts and for all purposes. That means that when a court interprets or applies any of the covered Acts, it must treat the loose-leaf revised edition as the authoritative legal text from the effective date. Lawyers must therefore ensure that their statutory citations and arguments align with the revised edition.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
Although the Order may appear procedural, it is important because it underpins legal certainty. Singapore’s law revision process aims to produce consolidated, updated, and reliable texts. But without an order like this, there could be disputes about which version is authoritative—especially where amendments have occurred between earlier publications and the revised edition’s “as in force” date.
This Order’s “sole and only proper law” language is a strong directive. It reduces the risk of litigation over textual authority and ensures that courts and practitioners work from the same legal baseline. For practitioners, this is not merely academic: statutory interpretation often turns on precise wording, numbering, and cross-references. If different versions are treated as authoritative, arguments about meaning can become entangled with arguments about which text is correct.
From an enforcement and compliance standpoint, the Order also affects how regulators and agencies reference statutes. Even if the substantive content of an Act has not changed in a way that affects a particular case, the authoritative text is what matters for drafting regulations, issuing guidance, and making decisions that must withstand judicial scrutiny.
Finally, the Order is part of a broader series (“No. 2” suggests multiple orders) that periodically activates revised editions. For legal research and case preparation, practitioners should always check the legislation timeline and the current version status to ensure they are using the correct authoritative text.
Related Legislation
- Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Cap. 275) — in particular:
- Section 10 (publication of Acts in loose-leaf form by the Law Revision Commissioners)
- Section 11(3) (transmission to the President and the President’s power to specify that the loose-leaf edition is the sole and only proper law)
- Revised Edition of the Laws (Section 11(3)) (No. 1) Order 2014 (if applicable in the same revision cycle)
- Other “Revised Edition of the Laws (Section 11(3))” Orders that activate subsequent revised editions
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.