Statute Details
- Title: Revised Edition of the Laws (Section 11(3)) (No. 3) Order 2013
- Act Code: RELA1983-S663-2013
- Type: Subsidiary legislation / Order (SL)
- 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 Hook: Section 11(3) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act
What Is This Legislation About?
The Revised Edition of the Laws (Section 11(3)) (No. 3) Order 2013 is a procedural but legally significant instrument. It is not a “substantive” law that creates new rights or offences. Instead, it determines which version of certain Acts counts as the “sole and only proper law of Singapore” for use in courts and for all legal purposes.
In Singapore’s legal system, Acts are periodically consolidated and published in a “loose-leaf” format by the Law Revision Commissioners. This loose-leaf edition is intended to reflect the Acts as in force at a particular cut-off date. However, for the loose-leaf edition to become the authoritative legal text in practice, the President must make an order under the Revised Edition of the Laws Act. This Order is one such Presidential order.
In plain terms: the Order “switches on” the loose-leaf edition of the Acts listed in the Schedule, so that—once effective—courts and legal practitioners must treat that loose-leaf edition as the definitive legal text for those Acts. The Order therefore matters for litigation, statutory interpretation, and compliance, because the “proper law” text is what lawyers cite and what judges apply.
What Are the Key Provisions?
1. The statutory basis: section 11(3) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act
The Order is made pursuant to section 11(3) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275). The preamble explains the legislative pathway: under section 10 of the Act, the Law Revision Commissioners publish Acts in loose-leaf form as in force on a specified date (here, “1st October 2013”). Section 11(3) then provides that the Commissioners transmit copies of these 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 of Singapore in respect of those Acts.
For practitioners, this is the key legal mechanism: it is not merely a publication exercise. It is a legal validation step that ensures there is one authoritative text for judicial and administrative use.
2. The “sole and only proper law” effect
The operative effect of the Order is stated clearly: “the loose-leaf edition of these Acts shall, with effect from 31st October 2013, be the sole and only proper law of Singapore in respect of those Acts.” This language is designed to eliminate uncertainty. Once the effective date arrives, other versions (for example, earlier printings or other compilations) should not be treated as the proper law for the specified Acts.
From a litigation perspective, this provision can affect:
- Statutory citation accuracy (ensuring the cited text matches the proper law version);
- Interpretation disputes (where amendments or reprints may have altered wording); and
- Compliance documentation (where organisations rely on the “current” statutory text).
3. The cut-off date for the loose-leaf edition
The preamble indicates that the loose-leaf Acts were published “as in force on 1st October 2013.” This cut-off date is crucial. It means the loose-leaf edition reflects the law at that point in time, including amendments that had taken effect by 1 October 2013. Any later amendments (after 1 October 2013 but before 31 October 2013, or thereafter) would not be captured in that loose-leaf edition unless subsequently incorporated through later revision orders or amendments.
Practitioners should therefore treat the Order as confirming the authoritative text for a defined revision cycle, not as freezing the law permanently. The “proper law” status is tied to the loose-leaf edition and its in-force date, and subsequent legislative changes may require reference to later versions.
4. The effective date and practical transition
The Order specifies an effective date of 31 October 2013. This means that between the date of making (9 October 2013) and the effective date, there may be a period where the loose-leaf edition exists but has not yet been designated as the sole and only proper law. After 31 October 2013, the designation takes effect.
In practice, this matters for:
- Time-sensitive disputes (e.g., whether a statutory provision applies as at a particular date);
- Document control (ensuring that internal legal manuals and forms are updated); and
- Litigation readiness (ensuring that pleadings and submissions cite the correct proper law text).
How Is This Legislation Structured?
This instrument is structured as a short Presidential order with an enacting formula and a schedule reference. The key components are:
- Preamble (Whereas clauses): sets out the background under the Revised Edition of the Laws Act, including the Commissioners’ publication of loose-leaf Acts as in force on 1 October 2013 and the President’s power under section 11(3).
- Operative provision: designates the loose-leaf edition of the Acts listed in the Schedule as the “sole and only proper law” with effect from 31 October 2013.
- Making clause: records the date made (9 October 2013) and the signatory (the Secretary to the Cabinet, by command).
- Schedule: identifies the specific Acts covered by the order. (In the extract provided, the Schedule content is not reproduced, but it is central to determining which Acts are affected.)
Because the Order is primarily a designation instrument, it does not contain detailed substantive rules. Its legal work is done through the “proper law” designation and the linkage to the Schedule.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
The Order applies to the Acts listed in its Schedule. It does not target a particular class of persons (such as employers, employees, or regulated industries). Instead, it governs how the law is to be treated in all courts and for all purposes in respect of those Acts.
Accordingly, its practical reach is broad: it affects judges, lawyers, litigants, government agencies, and private parties who must rely on the authoritative statutory text. Even though the Order is procedural, it becomes part of the legal foundation for statutory citation and interpretation.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
Although the Order is short, it plays an important role in legal certainty. Singapore’s legal system depends on accurate, consolidated statutory texts. Without a formal mechanism to designate an authoritative version, courts could face difficulties in determining which text is controlling—particularly where amendments have been made and where different publication formats exist.
This Order provides that certainty by converting the loose-leaf edition into the “sole and only proper law” for the specified Acts. For practitioners, this means that when drafting submissions, preparing advice, or arguing statutory interpretation, the lawyer should ensure that the text being relied upon is aligned with the proper law version designated by such orders.
From an enforcement and compliance standpoint, the “proper law” designation can also influence how regulators and regulated entities interpret statutory obligations. While the underlying obligations stem from the Acts themselves, the authoritative wording matters—especially where amendments have changed definitions, procedural steps, penalties, or exceptions. Using an outdated or non-authoritative version can lead to citation errors, misinterpretation, and potentially flawed compliance advice.
Finally, the effective date and the in-force cut-off date are critical. A lawyer advising on events occurring around the revision cycle must consider which statutory wording applied at the relevant time. The Order helps define the authoritative text for the revision period, but it does not replace the need to check subsequent amendments and the temporal application of legislative changes.
Related Legislation
- Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275) — in particular section 10 (publication by Law Revision Commissioners) and section 11(3) (President’s order designating the loose-leaf edition as proper law)
- Revised Edition of the Laws (Section 11(3)) Orders — subsequent or prior “No.” orders that designate other loose-leaf revision cycles (e.g., other SL instruments under section 11(3))
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.