Statute Details
- Title: Revised Edition of the Laws (Section 11(3)) (No. 9) Order 2014
- Act Code: RELA1983-S764-2014
- Type: Statutory Instrument (SL)
- Status: Current version as at 27 Mar 2026
- Authorising Act: Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275)
- Key Legal Mechanism: President’s order under section 11(3) to designate a loose-leaf edition as the sole and proper law
- Gazette/Instrument Reference: SL 764/2014
- Made Date: 10 November 2014
- Effective Date: 30 November 2014
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. In essence, it confirms that a particular “loose-leaf edition” of specified Acts—published by the Law Revision Commissioners—will become the authoritative version of the law for use in Singapore courts and for all legal purposes.
Singapore’s legal system relies on accurate, consolidated, and up-to-date statutory texts. The Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Cap. 275) provides a framework for producing revised editions of legislation. Under that framework, the Law Revision Commissioners publish Acts in loose-leaf form as at a specified cut-off date. The President may then, by order published in the Gazette, declare that the loose-leaf edition is the sole and proper law of Singapore in respect of those Acts.
This Order is the “No. 9” in a series of similar President’s orders. It does not itself amend substantive provisions of the Acts listed in its Schedule. Instead, it performs an authoritative “versioning” function: it designates which published text is legally binding as the proper law for courts and practitioners.
What Are the Key Provisions?
1. Legal basis: section 10 and section 11(3) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act
The Order is grounded in two steps under the authorising Act. First, section 10 allows the Law Revision Commissioners to publish Acts in loose-leaf form “as in force” on a particular date. In the recitals to this Order, the Commissioners are said to have published in loose-leaf form the Acts set out in the Schedule as in force on 1 November 2014.
Second, section 11(3) empowers the President to transmit a copy of each loose-leaf edition to the President, and then—if satisfied—publish an order in the Gazette specifying that the loose-leaf edition shall be, for all courts and all purposes, the sole and only proper law of Singapore in respect of those Acts. This Order is precisely that presidential designation.
2. The “sole and only proper law” designation
The operative effect of the Order is contained in its concluding provision: the President orders that the loose-leaf edition of the Acts 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 phrase is crucial for legal practice. It means that, once effective, the loose-leaf edition designated by the Order is the authoritative text that courts must treat as the proper law. In practical terms, it reduces ambiguity about which version of the statutory text should be relied upon—particularly where earlier printed editions, amendments, or unofficial consolidations might exist.
3. Timing and cut-off logic
The Order contains two important dates that lawyers should track. The loose-leaf edition is based on the law “as in force on 1 November 2014.” However, the legal designation takes effect on 30 November 2014. This gap reflects administrative and publication timelines: the text is prepared to reflect the state of the law up to the cut-off date, and then the President’s order confers legal authority from the effective date.
For practitioners, this matters when dealing with events occurring around the cut-off and effective dates. If a question arises about the correct statutory text to apply to conduct or proceedings, counsel should consider whether the relevant legal change occurred before or after the cut-off date, and whether the designated “proper law” version was in force at the time the issue is being adjudicated.
4. Formalities: made date and presidential instrument style
The Order is “made on 10 November 2014” by command, signed by the Secretary to the Cabinet (TAN KEE YONG). While this is not substantive law, it confirms the instrument’s formal validity and ties it to the Gazette publication process. The citation “[AG/LLRD/RA/275/2014/1 Vol. 1]” indicates the administrative record used for the revision and designation process.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
This instrument is structured in a relatively simple way, typical of “designation” orders under Cap. 275. It comprises:
(a) An enacting formula and recitals explaining the legal background and the Commissioners’ publication of loose-leaf editions under section 10 of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act.
(b) The operative provision (in the concluding paragraph), which orders that the loose-leaf edition is the sole and only proper law with effect from 30 November 2014.
(c) A “Schedule” that identifies the Acts covered by the Order. Although the provided extract does not reproduce the Schedule contents, the Schedule is the key to determining which specific Acts are affected by the designation.
(d) Procedural metadata such as the instrument number (SL 764/2014), the made date, and the effective date.
For legal research, the Schedule is the practical starting point: it tells you which Acts have been designated through this particular “No. 9” order. Once you know the Acts, you can rely on the loose-leaf edition text as the proper law for those Acts from the effective date.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
The Order applies to courts and all persons dealing with the Acts listed in its Schedule. The designation “in all courts and for all purposes” is broad. It is not limited to government agencies, licensed practitioners, or particular categories of litigants.
In practice, the Order affects anyone who must ascertain the correct statutory text—lawyers drafting pleadings, counsel advising clients, judges interpreting provisions, and researchers verifying the authoritative wording of legislation. It also affects how statutory citations are approached: once the designated loose-leaf edition is in force, reliance on that edition is the safest route for accurate legal interpretation.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
Although the Order does not change substantive legal rules, it is important because it determines which text is legally authoritative. In statutory interpretation and litigation, the exact wording of provisions can be decisive. Even minor discrepancies between versions—such as typographical differences, consolidation errors, or differences in amendment status—can lead to disputes about meaning.
By designating the loose-leaf edition as the “sole and only proper law,” the Order supports legal certainty. It helps ensure that courts and practitioners use a single, official version of the law for the covered Acts. This reduces the risk of arguments based on competing unofficial compilations or outdated printed editions.
From an enforcement and compliance perspective, the Order also has downstream effects. Agencies, regulated entities, and legal advisers often rely on consolidated statutory texts for compliance frameworks. When the proper law version changes, compliance documentation, internal policies, and legal opinions may need updating to reflect the authoritative text—particularly if the revised edition includes amendments or corrections that were incorporated up to the cut-off date.
Finally, the instrument is a reminder that Singapore’s legislative landscape is maintained through structured revision processes. For practitioners, understanding these mechanisms is part of good legal research practice: always verify the “proper law” status and the effective date of the authoritative edition when quoting or interpreting statutory provisions.
Related Legislation
- Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275) — in particular sections 10 and 11(3) (the legal basis for loose-leaf publication and presidential designation)
- Revised Edition of the Laws (Section 11(3)) (No. 1–No. 8 and subsequent orders) — related designation orders that cover different sets of Acts
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.