Statute Details
- Title: Revised Edition of the Laws (Section 11(3)) (No. 7) Order 2014
- Act Code: RELA1983-S551-2014
- Type: Subsidiary legislation (Order)
- Authorising Act: Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275)
- Legislative Instrument No.: SL 551/2014
- Date Made: 18 August 2014
- Commencement / Effective Date: 31 August 2014
- Status: Current version as at 27 Mar 2026
- Core Mechanism: Confers legal status on a “loose-leaf edition” of specified Acts as the sole and only proper law for Singapore
What Is This Legislation About?
The Revised Edition of the Laws (Section 11(3)) (No. 7) Order 2014 is an administrative-but-critical legal instrument that finalises the status of a set of revised laws for use in Singapore courts. In plain language, it tells the legal system that a particular “loose-leaf edition” of specified Acts—published by the Law Revision Commissioners—should be treated as the authoritative version of the law for all legal purposes.
The Order is made under section 11(3) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275). That provision empowers the President, by order published in the Gazette, to specify that the loose-leaf edition of the Acts set out in the Schedule shall become the sole and only proper law of Singapore in respect of those Acts. The Order therefore does not amend substantive law in the way a typical legislative amendment would. Instead, it “locks in” the revised compilation as the legally operative text.
Practically, this kind of Order matters because legal practitioners and courts must rely on the correct version of statutory text. Where multiple versions exist (for example, earlier printings, loose-leaf updates, or later amendments), disputes can arise about which text is authoritative. This Order is designed to eliminate that uncertainty by designating the loose-leaf edition as the sole and only proper law from a specified date.
What Are the Key Provisions?
1. The statutory “whereas” basis (sections 10 and 11(3)). The Order begins by referencing section 10 of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act. Under section 10, the Law Revision Commissioners publish Acts in loose-leaf form as they stand on a specified “as at” date (here, the Schedule indicates the Acts are as in force on 1 August 2014). This is the compilation step: the Commissioners prepare a consolidated, revised edition.
2. Presidential designation of the loose-leaf edition as “sole and only proper law”. The central operative effect is contained in the “Now therefore” clause. The President orders that the loose-leaf edition of the Acts set out in the Schedule shall, with effect from 31 August 2014, be the sole and only proper law of Singapore in respect of those Acts. This phrase is legally significant: it is intended to prevent reliance on any other version as “proper law” for court and other legal purposes.
3. Legal effect “in all courts and for all purposes”. Although the operative clause in the extract is phrased as “sole and only proper law,” the Order’s reasoning explicitly ties back to section 11(3), which contemplates that the loose-leaf edition becomes the sole and only proper law “in all courts and for all purposes.” For practitioners, this means that arguments about statutory wording, numbering, or consolidation should be anchored to the designated loose-leaf edition once the effective date has passed.
4. Formalities: made by the President, Gazette publication, and effective date. The Order states it is made on 18 August 2014, and it takes effect from 31 August 2014. It also includes the enacting formula and reference to the Gazette publication mechanism. These formalities matter for validity and for determining when the revised text becomes authoritative. In litigation, the effective date can be crucial if events occurred before and after 31 August 2014.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
This instrument is structured as a short presidential order with an enacting formula and a schedule. In the extract provided, the key elements are:
(a) Enacting formula—the formal statement that the President orders the legal effect described.
(b) The Schedule—the Schedule is where the specific Acts covered by the Order are listed. Although the extract does not show the Schedule contents, the legal effect is limited to the Acts enumerated there.
(c) Procedural recital (“whereas” clauses)—these explain the legislative pathway: publication by the Law Revision Commissioners under section 10, followed by presidential designation under section 11(3).
(d) Effective date—the Order specifies that the loose-leaf edition becomes the sole and only proper law with effect from 31 August 2014.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
The Order applies to the Acts listed in its Schedule. It does not apply to a particular class of persons (such as employers, licensees, or offenders). Instead, it applies to the legal system’s treatment of statutory text: it governs which version of the specified Acts is to be treated as the authoritative “proper law” of Singapore.
Accordingly, its practical reach extends to all courts and all legal purposes involving those Acts. That includes criminal proceedings, civil litigation, administrative law challenges, statutory interpretation in pleadings and submissions, and any legal reliance on statutory wording. For practitioners, the key takeaway is that once the effective date has passed, the designated loose-leaf edition is the correct reference point for the “proper law” of the specified Acts.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
Although the Order is brief, it plays an essential role in legal certainty. Singapore’s legal framework relies on accurate statutory text. The Revised Edition of the Laws process is intended to consolidate, revise, and present Acts in a coherent form. However, consolidation alone does not automatically settle which version is legally binding. The Order provides that settlement by designating the loose-leaf edition as the sole and only proper law.
For lawyers, the Order is important because it affects statutory interpretation and citation practice. When drafting submissions, preparing affidavits, or advising clients, practitioners must ensure that the statutory provisions relied upon correspond to the authoritative text. If a practitioner cites an outdated or non-designated version, opposing counsel may challenge the accuracy of the quotation or the legal effect of the wording. The “sole and only proper law” language is designed to prevent such disputes.
It is also relevant for temporal issues. If a case concerns conduct or events occurring around the effective date (31 August 2014), counsel may need to determine which statutory text applied at the material time. While the Order designates the revised loose-leaf edition as proper law from 31 August 2014, the underlying substantive provisions may have been “as in force on 1 August 2014” at the time of compilation. Practitioners should therefore cross-check the relevant amendments and commencement dates of the underlying Acts to ensure that the substantive law applicable to the facts is correctly identified.
Finally, the Order illustrates a broader governance function: it demonstrates how Singapore maintains the integrity of its legislative corpus through formal revision and presidential designation. This helps ensure that the law remains accessible, consistent, and authoritative for judicial and administrative use.
Related Legislation
- Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275) — particularly sections 10 and 11(3), which provide the mechanism for publishing loose-leaf editions and for presidential designation of the sole and only proper law.
- Revised Edition of the Laws (Section 11(3)) Orders (e.g., other “(No. X) Order” instruments) — similar orders that designate different sets of Acts as proper law based on revised loose-leaf editions.
Source Documents
This article provides an overview of the Revised Edition of the Laws (Section 11(3)) (No. 7) Order 2014 for legal research and educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult the official text for authoritative provisions.