Statute Details
- Title: Revised Edition of the Laws (Section 11(3)) (No. 5) Order 2013
- Act Code: RELA1983-S783-2013
- Legislation Type: Subsidiary legislation / statutory order (SL)
- Document Number: SL 783/2013
- Status: Current version (as at 27 Mar 2026)
- Key Authorising Provision: Revised Edition of the Laws Act, s 11(3)
- Effective Date (as stated): 31 December 2013
- Enacting Formula (summary): President specifies that the loose-leaf editions are the sole and only proper law for specified Acts
- Published/“Made” Date: 17 December 2013
- Enacting Body: President of Singapore (made by command)
- Schedule: 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. 5) Order 2013 is an administrative but legally significant instrument. In plain language, it confirms that a particular “loose-leaf” revised edition of specified Acts—prepared by the Law Revision Commissioners—will be treated as the sole and only proper law of Singapore for those Acts. This matters because, in legal practice, the “proper law” is the authoritative text that courts and lawyers rely on when interpreting and applying legislation.
The Order is made under section 11(3) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act. That framework exists to support periodic law revision and consolidation. The Law Revision Commissioners publish Acts in loose-leaf form “as in force” at a specified date. The President then issues an order (published in the Gazette) specifying that the loose-leaf edition is the proper law for all courts and for all purposes. This reduces uncertainty that could arise if multiple versions of the text were treated as authoritative.
Although the extract does not list the specific Acts in the Schedule, the legal effect is clear: from the effective date stated in the Order (31 December 2013), the loose-leaf revised editions identified in the Schedule become the authoritative legal texts. For practitioners, this is a “version control” mechanism with real consequences for statutory interpretation, citations, and litigation strategy.
What Are the Key Provisions?
1. The “sole and only proper law” declaration. The central operative provision is the President’s order that the loose-leaf edition of the Acts set out in the Schedule “shall, with effect from 31st December 2013, be the sole and only proper law of Singapore” in respect of those Acts. The phrase “sole and only proper law” is deliberately strong. It signals that, for the specified Acts, the loose-leaf revised edition is not merely persuasive or convenient—it is the definitive legal text for courts and all purposes.
2. Link to the Law Revision Commissioners’ publication. The preamble explains that, pursuant to section 10 of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act, the Law Revision Commissioners published in loose-leaf form the Acts set out in the Schedule “as in force on 1st December 2013.” This is important because it ties the authority of the loose-leaf edition to a specific “as at” date. Practitioners should therefore understand that the revised edition reflects the law as it stood on 1 December 2013, subject to later amendments that may be incorporated through subsequent revision orders or other legislative instruments.
3. Mechanism under section 11(3) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act. The Order is made because section 11(3) provides that the Commissioners shall transmit a copy of the loose-leaf edition of each of these Acts to the President, and the President may then, by order published in the Gazette, specify that the loose-leaf edition shall be the sole and only proper law. This procedural architecture matters in legal research: it confirms that the President’s order is not discretionary in the sense of changing substantive law; rather, it is a formal step that determines which textual version is legally authoritative.
4. Effective date and practical consequences. The operative effect begins on 31 December 2013. For cases, filings, and legal opinions, the effective date can be crucial. If a dispute concerns events occurring around the revision cut-off, lawyers must consider whether the relevant statutory provisions were amended between 1 December 2013 and 31 December 2013, and whether any later amendments after 31 December 2013 affect the interpretation. While the Order itself does not change the content of the Acts, it changes which text is treated as the proper law for those Acts from that date.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
This instrument is structured as a short presidential order with an enacting formula and a schedule. The extract indicates:
(a) Enacting formula and preamble: It sets out the legal basis (section 10 and section 11(3) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act) and the factual premise (publication of loose-leaf Acts as in force on 1 December 2013).
(b) The Schedule: The Schedule contains the list of Acts covered by the Order. Although the extract does not reproduce the Schedule contents, the Schedule is the key to determining which Acts are affected.
(c) Operative provision: The operative effect is the declaration that the loose-leaf edition of the scheduled Acts becomes the sole and only proper law with effect from 31 December 2013.
(d) Formalities: The Order records the “made” date (17 December 2013) and the signatory (acting secretary to the cabinet by command), reflecting the constitutional and administrative process for presidential orders.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
The Order applies indirectly to everyone who uses or relies on the specified Acts in legal proceedings—courts, tribunals, government agencies, lawyers, and litigants. Its primary legal impact is on the authoritative status of the text of the Acts listed in the Schedule. In other words, it does not impose obligations on the public by itself; instead, it determines which version of the Acts is the legally proper text.
Practically, the Order is relevant to any practitioner who must cite legislation accurately, interpret statutory provisions, or verify the current authoritative text. Because the Order is tied to a revision date (1 December 2013) and an effective date (31 December 2013), lawyers should treat it as part of the “legislation history” that affects how statutory texts are researched and referenced.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
1. It ensures textual certainty and uniformity. Singapore’s legal system depends on reliable access to authoritative statutory text. Revision orders like this one prevent disputes about which version of an Act is legally binding. By declaring the loose-leaf edition as the sole and only proper law for the scheduled Acts, the Order promotes consistency across courts and legal practitioners.
2. It affects legal research, citation practice, and litigation readiness. In practice, lawyers often encounter multiple sources: consolidated online versions, print editions, and historical versions. While these may be similar, the “proper law” concept is the benchmark for what courts will treat as authoritative. When preparing pleadings, drafting submissions, or advising clients, practitioners must ensure they are relying on the correct authoritative text for the relevant period. This Order is therefore a key reference point when verifying the status of statutory provisions.
3. It interacts with amendments and later revision cycles. The Order’s effect is anchored to the loose-leaf edition “as in force on 1 December 2013.” If subsequent amendments occur after that date, those amendments may be incorporated into later revised editions or reflected through other legislative instruments. Accordingly, practitioners should not assume that the revised edition is “frozen” forever; rather, it is the proper law text as of the revision cycle, subject to later changes. This is particularly important in fast-moving regulatory areas.
4. It is a procedural instrument with substantive consequences for interpretation. Although the Order does not itself amend substantive legal rules, it can still influence outcomes indirectly. If a revised edition corrects errors, updates formatting, or reorganises provisions (without changing meaning), the authoritative text can affect how provisions are read, cited, and applied. Moreover, if there are any differences between versions, the “proper law” designation determines which differences matter legally.
Related Legislation
- Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Singapore) — in particular sections 10 and 11(3), which provide the legal basis for the Law Revision Commissioners’ loose-leaf publication and the President’s “proper law” order.
- Revised Edition of the Laws (Section 11(3)) Orders — other numbered orders that similarly designate revised loose-leaf editions as the sole and only proper law for specified Acts.
Source Documents
This article provides an overview of the Revised Edition of the Laws (Section 11(3)) (No. 5) Order 2013 for legal research and educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult the official text for authoritative provisions.