Statute Details
- Title: Revised Edition of the Laws (Section 11(3)) (No. 6) Order 2014
- Act Code: RELA1983-S487-2014
- Type: Subsidiary legislation (Order)
- Authorising Act: Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275)
- Enacting Formula (key basis): Made pursuant to section 11(3) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act
- Gazette mechanism: Order published in the Gazette to specify the “sole and only proper law”
- Effective date: 31 July 2014
- Date made: 14 July 2014
- Status: Current version as at 27 Mar 2026
- Legislative instrument reference: SL 487/2014
What Is This Legislation About?
The Revised Edition of the Laws (Section 11(3)) (No. 6) Order 2014 is an administrative-but-critical legal instrument that determines which version of certain Acts counts as the authoritative 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 “loose-leaf” revised editions of Acts become the sole and only proper law once the President makes the relevant order.
Under the Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275), the Law Revision Commissioners publish revised Acts in loose-leaf form. These loose-leaf editions are intended to reflect the law as at a specified cut-off date. The Order then bridges the gap between the publication of the revised loose-leaf materials and their legal status in litigation and other official settings.
Although the Order itself does not typically “change” substantive legal rules (it does not, on the face of the extract, amend offences, procedures, or rights), it has substantial legal consequences: it can affect which text judges, lawyers, and government agencies must treat as authoritative. For practitioners, this means that correct citation and reliance on the correct version of an Act is not merely a matter of convenience—it is a matter of legal validity and accuracy.
What Are the Key Provisions?
1. The statutory pathway: section 10 and section 11(3) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act
The Order’s enacting formula explains the legal foundation. First, it references section 10 of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act, under which the Law Revision Commissioners publish in loose-leaf form the Acts set out in the Schedule as in force on a specified date (here, “as in force on 1st July 2014”). This establishes the content of the revised editions.
Second, the Order relies on section 11(3) of the same Act. That provision empowers the Commissioners to transmit to the President a copy of the loose-leaf edition of each Act. 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. The Order is the President’s exercise of that power.
2. The core legal effect: “sole and only proper law”
The operative clause states that the loose-leaf edition of the Acts set out in the Schedule “shall, with effect from 31st July 2014, be the sole and only proper law of Singapore in respect of those Acts.” This phrase is the heart of the instrument. It means that, for the specified Acts, the loose-leaf revised text becomes the definitive legal authority. In court proceedings, practitioners should treat that revised text as the authoritative version for “all courts and for all purposes.”
From a litigation and compliance perspective, this can resolve ambiguity where multiple versions might otherwise be argued to be controlling (for example, earlier consolidated editions, prior amendments, or non-updated compilations). The Order effectively “locks in” the revised edition as the proper law.
3. Temporal effect: effective date of 31 July 2014
The Order specifies a commencement/effective date: 31 July 2014. This matters for transitional issues. If a dispute involves events occurring before and after that date, counsel may need to consider which version of the Act was proper law at the relevant time. While the Order makes the revised loose-leaf edition the proper law from 31 July 2014, the substantive legal rules reflected in that edition are stated to be “as in force on 1st July 2014.” Practitioners should therefore align the version used with the relevant legal period and the Act’s amendment history.
4. Formalities and provenance
The Order includes formal details: it was made on 14 July 2014 by command, signed by the Secretary to the Cabinet (TAN KEE YONG). It also includes a reference code “[AG/LLRD/RA/275/2014/1 Vol. 1]”, which is useful for archival and administrative tracing. While these elements do not alter legal effect, they support proper citation and verification.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
This instrument is structured as a short Order with an enacting formula and a schedule. The extract indicates that the operative content is contained in the enacting formula and the schedule reference, rather than in multiple substantive sections.
Key structural elements:
- Enacting formula: Explains the legal basis under the Revised Edition of the Laws Act (section 10 and section 11(3)).
- THE SCHEDULE: Identifies the Acts that are covered by the Order. (The extract provided does not list the scheduled Acts, but the schedule is essential to determine the scope.)
- Operative provision: Declares that the loose-leaf editions of the scheduled Acts become the sole and only proper law with effect from 31 July 2014.
For practitioners, the schedule is the practical “scope” mechanism: without knowing which Acts are listed, one cannot determine which areas of law are affected by the proper-law designation.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
The Order applies to the Acts listed in its schedule. Its effect is not limited to a particular class of persons (such as regulated entities or offenders). Instead, it applies to the legal system’s treatment of the specified Acts: the loose-leaf editions become the authoritative texts for “all courts and for all purposes.”
Accordingly, the Order is relevant to:
- Courts determining the proper law to apply;
- Practitioners citing and relying on the correct statutory text;
- Government agencies administering and enforcing the law;
- Members of the public indirectly, because the authoritative text governs rights, obligations, and legal outcomes.
Because the Order concerns the authoritative version of Acts rather than a new regulatory regime, its “applicability” is best understood as applicability to the legal text itself—i.e., which version is proper law.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
Even though the Revised Edition of the Laws (Section 11(3)) (No. 6) Order 2014 is short and procedural in nature, it is important for legal certainty and accuracy. Singapore’s law revision process aims to produce consolidated and updated versions of Acts. However, until the President makes an order under section 11(3), the loose-leaf revised editions may not have the same authoritative status as the proper law used in court.
1. Ensuring legal certainty and reducing citation disputes
The “sole and only proper law” language is designed to prevent arguments about which text is controlling. In practice, disputes can arise when parties cite different versions of an Act, or when amendments have been incorporated into a revised edition but not reflected in older compilations. By designating the loose-leaf edition as the proper law, the Order reduces the risk of such disputes and supports consistent judicial interpretation.
2. Practical impact on legal research and drafting
For lawyers, this Order affects how statutory research should be conducted. When preparing pleadings, submissions, advice, or contracts that reference statutory provisions, practitioners must ensure they are using the proper law version. Relying on an outdated consolidation can lead to incorrect quotations, missed amendments, or misinterpretation of the current statutory wording.
3. Enforcement and administrative consistency
Government agencies and regulators also rely on authoritative statutory texts when issuing notices, decisions, and enforcement actions. The Order supports administrative consistency by clarifying which version is legally binding. This is particularly relevant in regulated sectors where statutory interpretation can determine compliance obligations and enforcement outcomes.
Related Legislation
- Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275) (in particular, sections 10 and 11(3))
- Revised Edition of the Laws (Section 11(3)) Orders (other numbered orders that designate revised loose-leaf editions as proper law for different sets of Acts)
Source Documents
This article provides an overview of the Revised Edition of the Laws (Section 11(3)) (No. 6) Order 2014 for legal research and educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult the official text for authoritative provisions.