Statute Details
- Title: Revised Edition of the Laws (Section 11(3)) (No. 3) Order 2013
- Act Code: RELA1983-S663-2013
- Legislation Type: Subsidiary legislation / Order (SL)
- Authorising Act: Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275)
- Key Legal Mechanism: Presidential order under section 11(3) to designate a “loose-leaf edition” as the sole and proper law
- Gazette Instrument Reference: SL 663/2013
- Date Made: 9 October 2013
- Effective Date: 31 October 2013
- Status: Current version as at 27 March 2026
- Schedule: Refers to the Acts “set out in the Schedule” (not reproduced in the extract)
What Is This Legislation About?
The Revised Edition of the Laws (Section 11(3)) (No. 3) Order 2013 is a procedural but highly consequential instrument. In plain terms, it is a Presidential order that confirms which version of certain Acts is to be treated as the authoritative law of Singapore for use in courts and for all legal purposes.
Under the Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275), the Law Revision Commissioners publish selected Acts in a “loose-leaf” format. These loose-leaf editions are intended to consolidate and update the law as at a specified date. The Order then designates that loose-leaf edition as the “sole and only proper law” of Singapore in respect of the Acts listed in its Schedule.
Although the extract does not list the specific Acts in the Schedule, the legal effect is clear: once the Order takes effect, courts and practitioners must treat the designated loose-leaf edition as the definitive legal text for those Acts. This reduces ambiguity about which printed or earlier consolidated versions should be relied upon, especially where amendments and revisions have occurred over time.
What Are the Key Provisions?
1. The “Whereas” clauses set the statutory foundation. The Order begins by referencing section 10 of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act. That provision authorises the Law Revision Commissioners to publish Acts in loose-leaf form “as in force” on a particular date. In this Order, the loose-leaf editions are described as being published as at 1 October 2013.
2. The Order is made under section 11(3) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act. The key statutory step is that the Commissioners must transmit copies of the loose-leaf editions to the President. The President may then, by order published in the Gazette, specify that the loose-leaf edition of each Act shall become the sole and only proper law of Singapore for that Act.
3. The operative clause designates the loose-leaf edition as the sole and only proper law. The Order provides that the loose-leaf editions of the Acts set out in the Schedule shall, with effect from 31 October 2013, be “the sole and only proper law of Singapore” in respect of those Acts. This phrase is legally significant. It is not merely a statement of preference; it is a designation of legal authority. In practice, it means that for the Acts covered by the Schedule, the loose-leaf edition is the definitive text to be applied “in all courts and for all purposes.”
4. Formalities: date made and signature. The Order states it was made on 9 October 2013 and is signed by the Secretary to the Cabinet on behalf of the President (as indicated by the “By Command” formula). While this is standard for Singapore legislative instruments, it confirms the instrument’s validity and proper enactment process.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
This instrument is structured as a short Presidential order with an enacting formula and a Schedule. The extract shows the “THE SCHEDULE” heading, indicating that the substantive identification of the covered Acts is contained in that Schedule.
In practical terms, the structure is:
- Enacting formula and preamble (“Whereas” clauses): explains the statutory basis under sections 10 and 11(3) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act.
- Operative provision: states that the loose-leaf editions of the Acts in the Schedule become the sole and only proper law with effect from 31 October 2013.
- Schedule: lists the specific Acts to which the designation applies.
Because the Schedule is not included in the extract provided, a practitioner would normally consult the full instrument text to identify exactly which Acts are covered. That identification is essential for determining whether the “sole and only proper law” designation affects a particular matter.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
The Order applies to the Acts listed in its Schedule. It does not create new substantive rights or offences by itself. Instead, it governs the authoritative legal text for the specified Acts.
Its practical reach is broad: it affects all courts and all purposes in Singapore. That means judges, lawyers, litigants, and administrative decision-makers must rely on the designated loose-leaf editions when interpreting and applying the covered Acts. In other words, the Order is directed at the legal system’s use of the law, ensuring uniformity and certainty about what constitutes the “proper law” for those Acts.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
Although the Order is short, it plays a critical role in legal certainty. Singapore’s legislative framework is dynamic: Acts are amended over time, and consolidated versions may be updated periodically. Without a mechanism to designate an authoritative text, disputes could arise about which version should govern—particularly where amendments have been made but not yet reflected in a particular publication format.
This Order resolves that issue for the Acts in its Schedule by designating the loose-leaf edition as the sole and only proper law from a specified effective date. For practitioners, this has immediate consequences for:
- Legal research and citation: ensuring that references to statutory provisions are made using the authoritative version.
- Interpretation and argumentation: avoiding reliance on outdated or non-authoritative texts.
- Litigation readiness: reducing the risk that a court might treat a cited text as incorrect or non-authoritative for the relevant Act.
From an enforcement and compliance perspective, the Order supports consistent application of legislation. Even though it does not change the substance of the Acts, it ensures that the legal system uses the intended consolidated text. This is particularly important in areas where precise wording matters—such as procedural requirements, definitions, and cross-references within Acts.
Finally, the instrument’s “current version as at 27 March 2026” status indicates that the Order remains part of the active legislative landscape. While the effective date for the designation is in 2013, the continued availability of the instrument and its designation continues to matter for how the covered Acts are treated in legal proceedings.
Related Legislation
- Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275) — in particular sections 10 and 11(3), which provide the legal basis for the publication of loose-leaf editions and the President’s power to designate 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. 3) Order 2013 for legal research and educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult the official text for authoritative provisions.