Statute Details
- Title: Revised Edition of the Laws (Section 11(3)) (No. 6) Order 2012
- Act Code: RELA1983-S523-2012
- Legislative Type: Subsidiary legislation / Order (President’s Order)
- Authorising Act: Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275)
- Key Legal Mechanism: Designation of a “loose-leaf edition” as the sole and only proper law of Singapore for specified Acts
- Gazette / Order Date (Made): 15 October 2012
- Effective Date: 31 October 2012
- Current Status: Current version as at 27 March 2026
- Legislation Identifier (as shown in timeline): SL 523/2012
What Is This Legislation About?
The Revised Edition of the Laws (Section 11(3)) (No. 6) Order 2012 is a procedural but highly consequential instrument. In plain terms, it tells the legal system which published version of certain Acts should be treated as the authoritative “proper law” of Singapore for use in courts and for all legal purposes.
Under Singapore’s Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Cap. 275), the Law Revision Commissioners periodically publish Acts in a “loose-leaf” format. These loose-leaf editions are intended to consolidate and update the law as at a particular cut-off date. However, until the President makes an order under section 11(3) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act, the loose-leaf edition may not automatically become the sole and only proper law for all purposes.
This Order therefore bridges the gap between (i) the Commissioners’ publication of the loose-leaf Acts and (ii) the legal system’s need for a single, definitive text. The Order accomplishes this by specifying that, with effect from 31 October 2012, the loose-leaf edition of the Acts set out in its Schedule shall be the sole and only proper law of Singapore in respect of those Acts—meaning courts and practitioners should rely on that edition as the authoritative legal text.
What Are the Key Provisions?
1) The statutory “loose-leaf” foundation (pursuant to section 10 of Cap. 275). The Order’s recitals explain 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 listed in the Schedule. The recitals further state that these Acts are “as in force on 1st October 2012.” This date matters: it indicates the legal position captured by the loose-leaf edition at the time of compilation.
2) The President’s power under section 11(3) (the core operative effect). The Order relies on section 11(3) of Cap. 275. That provision contemplates a specific process: the Commissioners must 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.
3) The operative designation: “sole and only proper law”. The operative clause provides that the loose-leaf edition of the Acts in the Schedule shall, with effect from 31 October 2012, be “the sole and only proper law of Singapore” in respect of those Acts. This language is not merely descriptive. It is designed to eliminate uncertainty about which version of the law should be treated as authoritative. For practitioners, this means that when citing or relying on the content of the specified Acts, the loose-leaf edition designated by the President is the correct reference point for the legal text “for all courts and for all purposes.”
4) Publication and timing (made on 15 October 2012; effective 31 October 2012). The Order is “made” on 15 October 2012 by the Secretary to the Cabinet (by command). It takes effect on 31 October 2012. The gap between the making date and the effective date is typical for administrative and publication logistics: it allows the legal community to transition to the newly designated authoritative texts.
Practical note: The extract provided does not reproduce the Schedule listing the specific Acts. In practice, the Schedule is essential because it identifies which Acts are covered by the “sole and only proper law” designation. A lawyer should consult the full Order (including the Schedule) to determine the exact Acts affected.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
This instrument is structured as a short Presidential Order with a conventional legal architecture:
(a) Title and status information. It identifies the instrument as the “Revised Edition of the Laws (Section 11(3)) (No. 6) Order 2012” and indicates it is the current version as at 27 March 2026.
(b) Enacting formula and recitals. The recitals explain the legal background: section 10 publication by the Law Revision Commissioners and the President’s power under section 11(3). These recitals are important for interpretation because they confirm the cut-off date (“as in force on 1st October 2012”) and the legal consequence of the President’s order.
(c) The Schedule. The Schedule contains the list of Acts to which the Order applies. The Schedule is the key to scope.
(d) Operative clause. The operative clause states the effective date (31 October 2012) and the legal effect (“sole and only proper law”).
(e) Signature / making clause. It records the date the Order was made (15 October 2012) and the authority (Secretary to the Cabinet, Singapore, by command).
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
Although the Order is addressed to the legal system rather than to a particular class of persons, its effects are universal in the sense that it governs what counts as the authoritative text of specified Acts. Accordingly, it applies to:
(i) Courts and tribunals when determining the law applicable to disputes involving the specified Acts; and
(ii) Practitioners and parties when researching, drafting, advising, and citing the law in relation to those Acts.
More specifically, the Order applies to the Acts listed in its Schedule. It does not create new substantive rights or offences by itself. Instead, it determines which version of the Acts is legally authoritative from the effective date. Therefore, its “audience” is the entire ecosystem of legal interpretation and application—lawyers, judges, government agencies, and litigants—whenever the specified Acts are in issue.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
At first glance, the Order may appear to be a routine administrative step. However, it is crucial for legal certainty. In a system where legislation is amended over time, practitioners must be able to identify the correct consolidated text. The “sole and only proper law” designation ensures that there is one authoritative reference point for the specified Acts, reducing the risk of citing outdated or inconsistent versions.
1) It supports legal certainty and uniformity. Without such orders, different sources (e.g., earlier printed editions, loose-leaf updates, or unofficial compilations) could lead to discrepancies. By designating the loose-leaf edition as the sole and only proper law, the President’s order helps ensure that courts interpret the law based on the same authoritative text.
2) It affects litigation strategy and legal research. For lawyers, the practical impact is immediate. When preparing pleadings, submissions, or advice, counsel must ensure that the statutory provisions relied upon are taken from the correct authoritative edition. This is particularly important when amendments have occurred between the cut-off date and the time of the dispute. The Order’s effective date (31 October 2012) marks the point from which the designated loose-leaf edition becomes the authoritative text for the listed Acts.
3) It interacts with the broader legislative revision framework. The Order is part of a continuing process under Cap. 275. It reflects the institutional mechanism by which the Law Revision Commissioners publish consolidated versions and the President confirms their authority. For practitioners, understanding this framework helps explain why “revised editions” exist and how they become binding references in court.
Related Legislation
- Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275) — in particular sections 10 and 11(3), which provide for loose-leaf publication and the President’s power to designate the loose-leaf edition as the sole and only proper law.
- Revised Edition of the Laws (Section 11(3)) Orders — other “No. X” orders that similarly designate loose-leaf editions for different sets of Acts (consult the legislation timeline for the relevant sequence).
Source Documents
This article provides an overview of the Revised Edition of the Laws (Section 11(3)) (No. 6) Order 2012 for legal research and educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult the official text for authoritative provisions.