Statute Details
- Title: Revised Edition of the Laws (Section 11(3)) (No. 5) Order 2013
- Legislation Type: Subsidiary legislation / statutory order (SL)
- Act Code: RELA1983-S783-2013
- SL Number: SL 783/2013
- Gazette / Document Reference: “No. S 783” (as shown in the legislation record)
- Status: Current version (as at 27 Mar 2026)
- Authorising Act: Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275)
- Enacting Formula (key mechanism): President’s order under section 11(3) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act
- Made Date: 17 December 2013
- Effective Date: 31 December 2013
- Commencement: Effective from 31 December 2013 (for the specified Acts)
- Parts / Key Sections: Not applicable in the extract; operative effect is in the order and the schedule
- Schedule: Refers to Acts “set out in the Schedule” as published in loose-leaf form as at 1 December 2013
What Is This Legislation About?
The Revised Edition of the Laws (Section 11(3)) (No. 5) Order 2013 is an administrative-but-critical legal instrument that determines which version of certain Acts is to be treated as the “sole and only proper law” of Singapore for use in courts and for all legal purposes. In practical terms, it is part of Singapore’s ongoing law revision and consolidation process, ensuring that the authoritative text of legislation is updated and that legal practitioners and courts rely on the correct version.
The order is made under the Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275). That Act provides a framework for the Law Revision Commissioners to publish revised Acts in loose-leaf form. Once the Commissioners have published the relevant Acts “as in force on 1st December 2013,” the President may—by order published in the Gazette—declare that the loose-leaf edition of those Acts will become the sole and only proper law for courts and all purposes.
Although the extract provided does not reproduce the full Schedule listing the specific Acts, the structure and wording make the purpose clear: the order “switches” the authoritative legal text for the specified Acts from the earlier consolidated/printed versions to the newly published loose-leaf edition, effective 31 December 2013. This reduces ambiguity about which legislative text governs, particularly where amendments have been made and incorporated into the revised edition.
What Are the Key Provisions?
1. Reliance on the Law Revision Commissioners’ loose-leaf publication (preamble). The order begins with “Whereas” clauses explaining the statutory 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 1st December 2013.” This matters because the President’s order is not made in a vacuum; it is tied to a specific revision exercise and a specific “as at” date.
2. The President’s power to designate the loose-leaf edition as authoritative (section 11(3) mechanism). The second “Whereas” clause highlights the legal trigger: section 11(3) provides that the Commissioners shall transmit to the President a copy of the loose-leaf edition of each of these Acts. The President may then, by order published in the Gazette, specify that the loose-leaf edition shall be the sole and only proper law of Singapore in respect of those Acts. This is the core legal effect of the order: it converts the loose-leaf publication into the definitive legal text for legal proceedings and general legal reliance.
3. Operative declaration: “sole and only proper law” with effect from 31 December 2013. The operative part provides: “Now therefore it is hereby ordered by the President that the loose‑leaf edition of these Acts 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 significant. It indicates that, for the Acts listed in the Schedule, there should be no competing “proper” versions (for example, earlier printed editions or other compilations) for purposes of interpretation, citation, and application in court.
4. Formalities: date of making and authority. The order states it was “Made this 17th day of December 2013” and is signed “By Command” by the Acting Secretary to the Cabinet, Singapore. While this is procedural, it is important for validity and for practitioners who may need to confirm the authenticity and proper execution of the order when relying on it in legal submissions or when verifying the authoritative text.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
This instrument is structured as a short presidential order with an enacting formula and a schedule-based approach. The key elements are:
(a) Enacting formula and preamble: It explains the statutory basis (sections 10 and 11(3) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act) and the factual premise (publication of Acts in loose-leaf form as at 1 December 2013).
(b) The Schedule: The Schedule contains the list of Acts to which the order applies. Even though the extract does not show the Schedule content, the legal effect is expressly limited to “the Acts set out in the Schedule.” For practitioners, the Schedule is therefore the practical “scope” document: it tells you which Acts have their authoritative text updated by this order.
(c) Operative clause: The operative declaration is contained in a single sentence: the loose-leaf edition becomes the sole and only proper law, effective 31 December 2013.
(d) Dates and signature block: The “Made” date and the signature provide the formal record of enactment.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
On its face, the order does not “apply” to a class of persons in the way regulatory statutes do (e.g., employers, licensees, or consumers). Instead, it applies to the legal system’s use of legislative texts. Its direct effect is on how the Acts listed in the Schedule are to be treated in “all courts and for all purposes.” That means the order binds the judiciary, legal practitioners, government agencies, and any party relying on the specified Acts in legal proceedings.
In practical terms, the order affects everyone who must interpret or apply the specified Acts—because the authoritative text is what governs rights, duties, offences, procedures, and remedies. For lawyers, the most immediate impact is ensuring that citations and arguments are grounded in the correct version of the law as designated by the President’s order.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
Although the order is brief, it plays an essential role in legal certainty. Singapore’s legislative framework is dynamic: Acts are amended over time, and revised editions are periodically published to consolidate amendments and improve accessibility. Without a mechanism like section 11(3) and the President’s orders, there could be disputes about which version of an Act is the “proper” one—especially where amendments have been incorporated into a revised edition but not yet reflected in older printed materials.
The phrase “sole and only proper law” is particularly important for litigation. Courts must apply the law as it stands in the authoritative source. If a party were to rely on an outdated version, the opposing side could challenge the accuracy of the text cited. By designating the loose-leaf edition as the sole and only proper law for the specified Acts, the order reduces the risk of such disputes and supports consistent judicial interpretation.
For practitioners, this order also has a practical workflow implication: when preparing pleadings, drafting submissions, or advising clients, lawyers should verify that they are using the correct authoritative version of the relevant Acts. Many legal research platforms and official publications update their databases, but the legal basis for the update is ultimately anchored in instruments like this order. In other words, the order is a legal “switch” that confirms which text is authoritative as of the effective date.
Finally, the order demonstrates the governance of legal publication in Singapore. It shows how the Revised Edition of the Laws Act delegates technical publication work to the Law Revision Commissioners, while reserving the final authoritative designation to the President through a Gazette-published order. This separation of roles supports both accuracy (through expert revision work) and legitimacy (through formal presidential designation).
Related Legislation
- Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275) — the authorising Act providing for loose-leaf publication and the President’s power under section 11(3).
- Revised Edition of the Laws Act, section 10 — provision relating to publication of Acts in loose-leaf form by the Law Revision Commissioners.
- Revised Edition of the Laws Act, section 11(3) — provision empowering the President to designate the loose-leaf edition 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.