Statute Details
- Title: Revised Edition of the Laws (Section 11(3)) (No. 8) Order 2012
- Act Code: RELA1983-S638-2012
- Type: Subsidiary legislation / Order
- Enacting instrument: Order made by the person exercising the functions of the office of President
- Authorising Act: Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275)
- Key legal mechanism: Section 11(3) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act
- Gazette effect date: With effect from 31 December 2012
- Made date: 17 December 2012
- Gazette reference in timeline: SL 638/2012
- Status: Current version as at 27 March 2026
What Is This Legislation About?
The Revised Edition of the Laws (Section 11(3)) (No. 8) Order 2012 is a procedural “legal continuity” instrument. In plain terms, it confirms that a particular set of revised laws—published in loose-leaf form by the Law Revision Commissioners—will be treated as the sole and only proper law of Singapore for specified Acts, once the order takes effect.
This kind of order is not about changing substantive rights or creating new offences. Instead, it addresses a foundational question for legal practice: when courts and lawyers refer to “the law” for a given Act, which version counts as authoritative? The order resolves that by tying legal authority to the loose-leaf edition specified in the Schedule, as in force on a particular date (here, 1 December 2012).
Accordingly, the practical scope of the Order is about publication status and evidential/authoritative effect. It ensures that, from the effective date, the loose-leaf edition of the listed Acts becomes the definitive reference point “in all courts and for all purposes”. This reduces uncertainty that could otherwise arise from multiple printings, amendments, or transitional versions.
What Are the Key Provisions?
1. The statutory basis: section 11(3) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act
The Order is made pursuant to section 11(3) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275). That provision empowers the President (or the person exercising the functions of the President) to specify—by order published in the Gazette—that the loose-leaf edition of certain Acts shall become the sole and only proper law of Singapore for those Acts.
In other words, section 11(3) provides the legal “switch” that upgrades the Commissioners’ loose-leaf publication into the authoritative legal text for courts and all purposes. Without such an order, the loose-leaf edition may exist as a publication, but its status as the sole proper law could be contested or unclear.
2. The “loose-leaf edition” and the Schedule concept
The preamble explains 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 December 2012. The Schedule is therefore the key to identifying which Acts are covered.
Although the extract provided does not display the Schedule contents, the structure of these orders is consistent: the Schedule lists the specific Acts whose loose-leaf editions are being elevated to sole proper law status. For practitioners, the Schedule is where the real work lies—because it determines which Acts are affected by the “sole and only proper law” designation.
3. The operative clause: sole and only proper law from 31 December 2012
The operative effect is stated in the final “therefore” clause: the loose-leaf edition of the Acts in the Schedule shall, with effect from 31 December 2012, be the sole and only proper law of Singapore in respect of those Acts.
This language is significant. “Sole and only proper law” is designed to eliminate competing references. It means that, for the Acts listed, courts and legal practitioners should rely on the loose-leaf edition specified in the order as the authoritative legal text, rather than other versions (for example, earlier revised editions, printings, or unofficial compilations).
4. Formalities: made date and signature authority
The Order records that it was made on 17 December 2012 by the person exercising the functions of the office of President, with the signature of TAN KEE YONG, Secretary to the Cabinet, Singapore (as indicated in the extract). This is standard for presidential orders published in the Gazette under the Revised Edition of the Laws framework.
For legal practice, the formalities matter because they confirm the instrument’s validity and the correct constitutional/administrative channel. When advising on the authoritative text of an Act, lawyers often need to cite not only the Act itself but also the instrument that confers authoritative status on a particular edition.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
This Order is structured in a conventional Gazette-order format:
(a) Title and status information (including the “current version” indicator and the “as at” date);
(b) Enacting formula setting out the legal authority and the instrument’s nature;
(c) The preamble (“Whereas” clauses) explaining the background: publication by the Law Revision Commissioners under section 10, and the President’s power under section 11(3);
(d) The operative part stating the effective date and the legal consequence (“sole and only proper law”); and
(e) The Schedule (not shown in the extract) which identifies the specific Acts covered by the order.
From a practitioner’s perspective, the Schedule is the most important “substantive” component, even though the Order itself is procedural. The Schedule determines which Acts are affected by the “sole and only proper law” designation.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
The Order applies broadly to everyone who uses the law in Singapore, but its legal effect is directed at the authoritative status of the listed Acts in “all courts and for all purposes”. That phrase is intentionally expansive.
In practical terms, it binds:
• Courts when determining what the law is for the Acts listed in the Schedule;
• Lawyers and litigants when citing the text of those Acts;
• Government bodies and regulators that rely on statutory provisions for enforcement and decision-making; and
• Any person whose rights, duties, or obligations depend on the interpretation and application of the listed Acts.
Importantly, the Order does not create new obligations by itself. Rather, it ensures that the authoritative legal text for the specified Acts is the loose-leaf edition as in force on 1 December 2012, effective from 31 December 2012.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
Although the Order may appear administrative, it is crucial for legal certainty. Singapore’s legal system depends on accurate access to the authoritative statutory text. Over time, Acts are amended, and different compilations may exist. Without a mechanism like section 11(3), disputes could arise about which version is “proper law” for a given Act.
This Order eliminates that risk by declaring that, for the Acts in the Schedule, the loose-leaf edition becomes the sole and only proper law from the specified effective date. That declaration supports consistent interpretation and citation, and it reduces procedural arguments about textual authority.
For practitioners, the most immediate impact is on citation and reliance. When preparing submissions, drafting pleadings, or advising clients, lawyers must ensure they cite the correct authoritative version of the Act. The “sole and only proper law” designation means that the loose-leaf edition specified by the order should be treated as the definitive text for the covered Acts.
Additionally, the effective date (31 December 2012) is relevant for temporal questions. If a case involves events around the transition period, counsel may need to consider which statutory text applied at the material time. While this Order itself does not change the substance of the law, it can affect what text is treated as authoritative for interpretation from the effective date.
Related Legislation
- Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275) — in particular sections 10 and 11(3) (publication of loose-leaf editions and presidential orders conferring “sole and only proper law” status)
- Revised Edition of the Laws (Section 11(3)) Orders (e.g., other “(No. X) Order” instruments) — similar orders that update the authoritative loose-leaf editions for different sets of Acts
Source Documents
This article provides an overview of the Revised Edition of the Laws (Section 11(3)) (No. 8) Order 2012 for legal research and educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult the official text for authoritative provisions.