Statute Details
- Title: Revised Edition of the Laws (Section 11(3)) (No. 9) Order 2014
- Act Code: RELA1983-S764-2014
- Type: Subsidiary legislation (SL)
- Authorising Act: Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275)
- Legislative Instrument: Order made by the President
- Key Legal Mechanism: Designation of a loose-leaf edition as the “sole and only proper law” for courts and all purposes
- Gazette/Instrument Reference: SL 764/2014
- Date Made: 10 November 2014
- Effective Date: 30 November 2014
- Status: Current version as at 27 Mar 2026
What Is This Legislation About?
The Revised Edition of the Laws (Section 11(3)) (No. 9) Order 2014 is a procedural but legally significant instrument. It is not a “substantive” law that creates new rights or offences. Instead, it determines which version of certain Acts counts as the authoritative law of Singapore for use in courts and for all legal purposes.
Under the Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Cap. 275), the Law Revision Commissioners publish Acts in a loose-leaf format. The President may then, by order published in the Gazette, specify that the loose-leaf edition of those Acts shall be the sole and only proper law of Singapore in respect of those Acts. This Order is one such presidential order.
In plain terms: the Order “switches on” a particular loose-leaf compilation as the definitive legal text. After the effective date, lawyers, judges, and government bodies must treat that loose-leaf edition as the only proper law for the specified Acts, ensuring consistency and reducing disputes about which printed or updated versions are authoritative.
What Are the Key Provisions?
1. The statutory basis: sections 10 and 11(3) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act
The Order’s enacting formula explains that, pursuant to section 10 of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act, the Law Revision Commissioners published in loose-leaf form the Acts set out in the Schedule as in force on 1 November 2014. It then relies on section 11(3), which provides for the Commissioners to transmit copies of the loose-leaf editions to the President. The President may subsequently issue a Gazette order specifying that the loose-leaf editions shall be the sole and only proper law of Singapore for the relevant Acts.
2. The “sole and only proper law” designation
The operative effect of the Order is contained in the central declaration: the loose-leaf edition of the Acts set out in the Schedule shall, with effect from 30 November 2014, be the sole and only proper law of Singapore in respect of those Acts. This language is crucial. It is designed to remove ambiguity and prevent arguments that an earlier printed edition, an unofficial compilation, or a different update is the “proper law” for legal proceedings.
3. Effective date and legal continuity
The Order states that the designation takes effect from 30 November 2014. Practically, this means that from that date, the loose-leaf edition becomes the authoritative reference point. For practitioners, the effective date matters when dealing with matters that span across time—e.g., when determining the correct text to cite for events occurring before and after 30 November 2014. While the substantive law may be unchanged, the authoritative “proper law” text for citation and interpretation will be the loose-leaf edition as designated.
4. The Schedule (what Acts are covered)
The extract provided indicates that the Acts covered are those “set out in the Schedule.” Although the Schedule content is not reproduced in the extract, the legal significance is that the Order does not apply to all legislation generally; it applies only to the Acts listed in the Schedule. For a lawyer, confirming the Schedule is essential to know exactly which Acts are affected by the “sole and only proper law” designation.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
This instrument is structured as a short presidential order with an enacting formula and a schedule-based mechanism. The key elements are:
(a) Enacting formula: sets out the legal “whereas” statements explaining the statutory process under the Revised Edition of the Laws Act—publication by the Law Revision Commissioners under section 10, transmission to the President, and the President’s power under section 11(3).
(b) Operative clause: declares that the loose-leaf edition of the Acts in the Schedule shall be the sole and only proper law of Singapore, effective from 30 November 2014.
(c) The Schedule: identifies the specific Acts to which the designation applies. In practice, this is the part practitioners must consult to determine coverage.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
The Order applies to courts and all legal purposes in Singapore in respect of the Acts listed in the Schedule. That includes judicial proceedings, administrative enforcement, legal advice, and any context where the “proper law” of Singapore must be cited or relied upon.
Although the Order is addressed to the legal system rather than to a particular class of persons, its practical impact is felt by lawyers, judges, government agencies, and litigants. For example, when drafting pleadings, preparing submissions, or interpreting statutory provisions, practitioners must ensure they are using the version that the law designates as the sole and only proper law—here, the loose-leaf edition as of the relevant compilation date.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
At first glance, the Order may appear administrative. However, it plays an important role in legal certainty. Singapore’s legal system depends on accurate and authoritative statutory texts. The “sole and only proper law” mechanism ensures that there is one definitive version of the Acts for court use, thereby reducing the risk of citation errors and interpretive disputes arising from competing editions.
For practitioners, the Order is particularly relevant in three situations. First, when preparing legal documents, counsel must cite the correct statutory text. If a practitioner inadvertently relies on an outdated or non-authoritative edition, it can undermine the credibility of submissions and create avoidable procedural complications. Second, for matters involving amendments or compilation updates, the effective date (30 November 2014) can affect which version is authoritative for citation. Third, when advising clients on statutory interpretation, lawyers must ensure they are interpreting the proper law—especially where the loose-leaf compilation may incorporate consolidation, editorial amendments, or updates made through the revision process.
Finally, the Order illustrates how Singapore maintains the integrity of its legislative corpus. By using a structured revision and designation process under the Revised Edition of the Laws Act, the legal system can keep statutory texts accessible and authoritative without constantly re-litigating which printed version is correct. In that sense, the Order is a cornerstone of legislative governance: it supports the reliability of statutory interpretation and the uniform application of law across courts and agencies.
Related Legislation
- Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275) — in particular sections 10 and 11(3), which provide the framework for loose-leaf publication and presidential designation of the “sole and only proper law”.
- Revised Edition of the Laws (Section 11(3)) (No. 9) Order 2014 — this instrument (SL 764/2014) designating the loose-leaf edition effective from 30 November 2014.
Source Documents
This article provides an overview of the Revised Edition of the Laws (Section 11(3)) (No. 9) Order 2014 for legal research and educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult the official text for authoritative provisions.