Statute Details
- Title: Revised Edition of the Laws (Section 11(3)) (No. 3) Order 2013
- Act Code: RELA1983-S663-2013
- Type: Subsidiary legislation (Order)
- Authorising Act: Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275)
- Legislative Instrument No.: SL 663/2013
- Date Made: 9 October 2013
- Gazette Publication Mechanism: Order published in the Gazette
- Effective Date: 31 October 2013
- Status: Current version as at 27 March 2026
- Key Legal Function: Confers “sole and only proper law” status on specified loose-leaf editions for use in all courts and for all purposes
What Is This Legislation About?
The Revised Edition of the Laws (Section 11(3)) (No. 3) Order 2013 is an administrative-but-critical legal instrument that finalises the legal status of certain Acts in Singapore’s official law revision system. In plain terms, it ensures that once the Law Revision Commissioners have published updated “loose-leaf” versions of specified Acts, the President can formally declare those loose-leaf editions to be the only proper law to be relied upon by courts and for all legal purposes.
This Order sits within Singapore’s broader “revised edition” framework under the Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275). The system addresses a practical problem: legislation changes over time through amendments, and the official text must be kept accurate and authoritative. The loose-leaf format is designed to allow updates to be inserted and maintained without reprinting entire volumes each time. However, for legal certainty, there must be a clear rule about which version counts as the authoritative “law”.
Accordingly, the Order does not itself amend substantive rights or create new offences. Instead, it performs a legal “validation and consolidation” function: it designates the loose-leaf editions of Acts (as set out in the Schedule) as the sole and only proper law of Singapore in respect of those Acts, effective from 31 October 2013.
What Are the Key Provisions?
1. The statutory background and the President’s power (section 11(3) framework). The Order is expressly grounded on section 11(3) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act. The text explains that, pursuant to section 10 of that Act, the Law Revision Commissioners have published in loose-leaf form the Acts listed in the Schedule as in force on 1 October 2013. It then states that section 11(3) empowers the Commissioners to transmit copies of those loose-leaf editions to the President, who may—by order published in the Gazette—specify that the loose-leaf editions shall be the sole and only proper law in all courts and for all purposes.
2. The “sole and only proper law” declaration. The operative effect of the Order is the declaration that the loose-leaf edition of the Acts specified in the Schedule “shall, with effect from 31st October 2013, be the sole and only proper law of Singapore in respect of those Acts.” This phrase is the legal heart of the instrument. It means that, for the listed Acts, the loose-leaf edition is treated as the authoritative legal text for judicial and administrative use.
3. Temporal effect: effective date of 31 October 2013. The Order provides a clear commencement/effect date: 31 October 2013. Practitioners should treat this as the point from which the designated loose-leaf editions become the sole and only proper law for the specified Acts. In practice, this reduces ambiguity where earlier printed versions or earlier loose-leaf insertions might otherwise be argued to be authoritative.
4. Formalities: made by the President and signed under command. The Order includes the formal enacting formula and signature block. It states it was made on 9 October 2013, “By Command,” and is signed by the Secretary to the Cabinet, Singapore. While this is procedural, it matters for practitioners verifying the authenticity and validity of the instrument and for citation purposes.
Practical note on the Schedule. The extract provided indicates that the Schedule exists and that it lists the Acts covered by the Order. Although the extract does not reproduce the Schedule’s contents, the legal consequence is tied to that list. For legal work—especially litigation, compliance, or drafting—counsel must confirm whether the relevant Act is included in the Schedule to know whether the “sole and only proper law” status applies.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
This Order is structured as a short instrument with a standard enacting formula and a Schedule. The Schedule is the key component because it identifies the Acts whose loose-leaf editions are being designated as the sole and only proper law. The main body of the Order sets out the legal basis (section 10 and section 11(3) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act), the President’s power, and the effective date.
From a practitioner’s perspective, the structure is therefore less about “sections” with substantive requirements and more about (i) the legal authority for the revision system and (ii) the identification of the covered Acts. The Schedule functions like a scope-defining annex: if an Act is not listed, the Order does not confer the same “sole and only proper law” status for that Act.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
The Order applies to the legal system’s use of the specified Acts. Its direct “audience” is not a class of persons (such as employers, employees, or regulated entities), but rather the institutions and actors who must apply the law: courts, tribunals, government agencies, and legal practitioners.
In practical terms, it applies to any person who relies on, interprets, or is affected by the listed Acts, because those Acts’ authoritative texts are determined by the Order. If a dispute turns on the wording of a listed Act, counsel should use the loose-leaf edition designated by the Order as the authoritative version—particularly where there may be multiple historical printings or transitional versions.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
Although the Revised Edition of the Laws (Section 11(3)) (No. 3) Order 2013 is brief, it plays an essential role in legal certainty. Singapore’s legal framework depends on accurate, up-to-date, and officially recognised texts of statutes. The “sole and only proper law” mechanism prevents arguments that different versions of an Act (for example, earlier printed editions) should govern. This is especially important in litigation, where precise statutory wording can determine outcomes.
For practitioners, the Order is a reminder that legal research must be version-aware. The Order’s effective date (31 October 2013) and its status as “current version as at 27 March 2026” indicate that the revision system continues to be maintained and updated. When advising clients or preparing submissions, lawyers should ensure they are consulting the correct authoritative version of the relevant Act—typically the version reflected in the current consolidated/loose-leaf system.
From an enforcement and compliance standpoint, the Order also supports administrative consistency. Government agencies and regulators often rely on statutory provisions for licensing, enforcement actions, and policy implementation. By confirming which text is authoritative, the Order reduces the risk of inconsistent interpretations arising from outdated references.
Finally, the Order demonstrates how Singapore manages the interface between legislative amendment and legal publication. Amendments may be enacted through separate Acts or subsidiary legislation, but the “proper law” status ensures that the final, consolidated text is what courts and legal actors treat as binding. This supports the rule of law by making the authoritative legal text clear and stable.
Related Legislation
- Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275) — the authorising statute providing for publication of loose-leaf editions and the President’s power under section 11(3)
- Revised Edition of the Laws (Section 11(3)) Orders — other numbered orders that designate loose-leaf editions of specified Acts as sole and only proper law (e.g., “No. 1”, “No. 2”, etc., depending on the revision cycle)
- Acts listed in the Schedule — the substantive legislation whose authoritative text is affected by this Order
Source Documents
This article provides an overview of the Revised Edition of the Laws (Section 11(3)) (No. 3) Order 2013 for legal research and educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult the official text for authoritative provisions.