Statute Details
- Title: Revised Edition of the Laws (Section 11(3)) (No. 6) Order 2014
- Act Code: RELA1983-S487-2014
- Type: Subsidiary legislation (Order)
- Status: Current version as at 27 Mar 2026
- Legislative Instrument Number: SL 487/2014
- Date Made: 14 July 2014
- Commencement / Effective Date: 31 July 2014
- Authorising Act: Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275)
- Key Legal Mechanism: President’s order under section 11(3) to designate the loose-leaf edition as the sole and proper law for courts and all purposes
- Schedule: Refers to the Acts “set out in the Schedule” (not reproduced in the extract provided)
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 what version of certain Singapore Acts counts as “the proper law” for legal proceedings. In practical terms, it is part of Singapore’s law revision and consolidation process, ensuring that courts and practitioners rely on an authoritative, updated compilation of legislation.
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 editions of Acts in loose-leaf form. The President may then, by order published in the Gazette, specify that the loose-leaf edition of the relevant Acts shall be the sole and only proper law of Singapore in respect of those Acts. This Order is one such presidential designation.
Although the extract does not list the specific Acts in the Schedule, the legal effect is clear: for the Acts covered by the Schedule, the loose-leaf edition as published by the Law Revision Commissioners (as in force on 1 July 2014) becomes the definitive legal text for “all courts and for all purposes” from 31 July 2014.
What Are the Key Provisions?
1. The statutory “whereas” basis (section 10 and section 11(3) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act)
The Enacting Formula explains the legal pathway. First, 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 1 July 2014. Second, it notes that section 11(3) empowers the Commissioners to transmit copies of those loose-leaf editions to the President, and empowers the President to issue an order in the Gazette specifying that the loose-leaf edition shall be the sole and only proper law for courts and all purposes.
2. The President’s designation of the loose-leaf edition as “sole and only proper law”
The operative effect is contained in the core statement: the President orders that the loose-leaf edition of the Acts in the Schedule shall, with effect from 31 July 2014, be the sole and only proper law of Singapore in respect of those Acts. This language is significant. It is not merely an update or a recommended version; it is a legal designation that displaces other versions for authoritative purposes.
3. Gazette publication and “all courts and for all purposes”
The Order’s legal force is tied to the Gazette publication mechanism described in the Revised Edition of the Laws Act. The phrase “in all courts and for all purposes” is designed to eliminate ambiguity about which text governs. For practitioners, this means that when citing legislation covered by the Schedule, the authoritative text is the loose-leaf edition designated by the President, not earlier printed versions or unofficial compilations.
4. Temporal effect: effective date and reliance
The Order is made on 14 July 2014 and takes effect on 31 July 2014. This matters for transitional reliance: if a dispute arises about conduct occurring before 31 July 2014, the substantive law applicable may still be determined by the law as in force at the relevant time. However, for purposes of what text is authoritative for the relevant Acts, the Order establishes that from 31 July 2014 the designated loose-leaf edition is the sole and only proper law. In practice, lawyers should ensure they use the correct version when preparing pleadings, submissions, and statutory citations.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
This instrument is structured in a conventional format for presidential orders under the Revised Edition of the Laws Act. It includes: (i) the title; (ii) an enacting formula; (iii) a set of “whereas” recitals explaining the legal basis; and (iv) the operative provision, which is implemented through reference to THE SCHEDULE. The Schedule is the key component identifying which Acts are covered.
In the extract provided, the Schedule content is not shown. However, the structure indicates that the Order does not amend the substantive provisions of any Act. Instead, it performs a version-control function—it designates which edition is legally authoritative. This is typical of orders made under section 11(3) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
The Order applies to the Acts listed in its Schedule. It does not create obligations directed at a class of persons (such as employers, licensees, or the public). Rather, it governs the legal status of the text of those Acts for use by courts and for all purposes.
Accordingly, its practical “audience” includes lawyers, judges, legal drafters, and anyone who relies on statutory text. For legal practitioners, the Order affects how you should cite legislation and which version you should treat as authoritative. For courts, it provides a basis to treat the designated loose-leaf edition as the governing legal text for the relevant Acts.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
Although the Order is short and procedural in nature, it is important because it underpins the reliability and uniformity of Singapore’s legislative corpus. Without such designation, there could be uncertainty about which version of an Act is authoritative—especially where revised editions are published in loose-leaf form and may incorporate amendments, editorial changes, or consolidation effects.
For practitioners, the most significant impact is on statutory citation and legal research. When preparing legal documents, counsel must ensure that the statutory provisions relied upon are taken from the correct authoritative text. The “sole and only proper law” language is designed to prevent disputes over whether an outdated printed version, an earlier consolidated version, or an unofficial compilation should be used. In litigation, even small discrepancies in wording can be consequential; this Order helps ensure that the legal text used is the one Singapore law recognises as proper.
From an enforcement and adjudication perspective, the Order supports consistency across courts. Because it applies “in all courts and for all purposes,” it reduces the risk that different courts might rely on different versions of the same Act. This is particularly relevant when cases involve interpretation of provisions where amendments may have occurred between earlier printings and the revision date.
Finally, the Order reflects the broader governance of legal revision in Singapore. It demonstrates how the Revised Edition of the Laws Act operationalises law revision: Commissioners publish revised loose-leaf editions, and the President’s order confers legal authority. This helps maintain an accessible, up-to-date, and authoritative legal framework for the legal system.
Related Legislation
- Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275) — the authorising Act providing for law revision in loose-leaf form and presidential orders under section 11(3).
- Revised Edition of the Laws (Section 11(3)) Orders — other numbered orders (e.g., “No. 1”, “No. 2”, etc.) that designate loose-leaf editions as sole and 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.