Statute Details
- Title: Revised Edition of the Laws (Section 11(3)) Order 2015
- Legislation Type: Subsidiary Legislation (SL)
- Act Code: RELA1983-S309-2015
- Enacting Instrument: Order of the President
- Authorising Act: Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275)
- Key Legal Mechanism: Confirmation that a “loose-leaf” revised edition is the sole and only proper law for court and all purposes
- Publication/Instrument Reference: SL 309/2015
- Made Date: 14 May 2015
- Effective Date: 31 May 2015
- Status: Current version (as at 27 Mar 2026)
- Schedule: 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)) Order 2015 is a procedural but highly consequential legal instrument. In plain terms, it is an order by the President that “locks in” a particular revised form of specified Acts as the definitive law of Singapore for use in courts and for all legal purposes.
The Order is made under the Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275). That Act provides a mechanism for the Law Revision Commissioners to publish laws in a “loose-leaf” format. Loose-leaf editions are typically used to allow updates and replacements without reprinting entire volumes. However, for legal certainty, the legal system must clearly identify which version counts as the “proper law” when disputes arise.
This Order addresses that need. It states that, with effect from 31 May 2015, the loose-leaf edition of the Acts listed in the Schedule shall be the sole and only proper law of Singapore in respect of those Acts. In other words, once the Order takes effect, practitioners and courts should rely on the specified loose-leaf editions as the authoritative legal text.
What Are the Key Provisions?
1. The statutory “whereas” framework and the role of the Law Revision Commissioners. The Order begins by referencing section 10 of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act. Under that provision, the Law Revision Commissioners publish in loose-leaf form the Acts set out in the Schedule as they stood on 1 May 2015. This establishes the factual premise: the Commissioners have prepared a revised loose-leaf edition of the relevant Acts.
2. The President’s power under section 11(3) to designate the “proper law”. The Order then points to section 11(3) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act. That subsection provides that the Commissioners must transmit to the President a copy of the loose-leaf edition of each of the Acts. The President may then, by order published in the Gazette, specify that the loose-leaf edition shall be the sole and only proper law of Singapore for those Acts.
3. The operative clause: sole and only proper law from 31 May 2015. The core legal effect appears in the operative paragraph: it is ordered that the loose-leaf edition of the Acts in the Schedule shall, with effect from 31 May 2015, be the sole and only proper law of Singapore in respect of those Acts. This is the key provision practitioners should focus on because it determines which legal text is authoritative.
4. Formalities: “made” date and publication reference. The Order records that it was made on 14 May 2015 and signed by a senior government official (the Secretary to the Cabinet, by command). It also includes a document reference (e.g., [AG/LEGIS/RA/275/2015/1 Vol. 1]) and the instrument number SL 309/2015. While these are not substantive requirements, they are important for citation, verification, and locating the Gazette publication.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
This instrument is structured as a short presidential order with an enacting formula and a Schedule. The extract provided shows that the Schedule contains the Acts set out in the Schedule—that is, the specific Acts for which the loose-leaf edition is being designated as the sole and only proper law.
In practical terms, the “structure” is therefore less about multiple substantive sections and more about a single legal designation mechanism. The Order’s structure typically includes:
- Enacting formula (the legal basis and authority);
- Whereas clauses (explaining the Commissioners’ publication under section 10 and the President’s power under section 11(3));
- Operative paragraph (the designation of the loose-leaf edition as sole and only proper law, effective from a specified date);
- Schedule (listing the Acts covered).
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
The Order applies to the Acts listed in its Schedule. It does not create new rights or offences by itself; rather, it determines the authoritative legal text for those Acts. Consequently, its practical effect is felt by:
- Courts (which must apply the proper law);
- Legal practitioners (who must cite and rely on the correct version of the law);
- Government agencies and regulated entities (whose compliance obligations flow from the operative statutes); and
- Members of the public indirectly, through the legal certainty it provides.
Because the Order is about “proper law” status, it is relevant wherever the legal text of the specified Acts is used “in all courts and for all purposes.” That phrase is broad and is intended to eliminate ambiguity about whether earlier printings, earlier loose-leaf versions, or unofficial consolidations might be argued as authoritative.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
Although the Order is brief, it plays a critical role in maintaining legal certainty. Singapore’s legislative framework relies on accurate and authoritative consolidation of statutes. Over time, Acts are amended by various amending Acts and subsidiary legislation. The Revised Edition process is designed to produce a consolidated, updated version of the law in a controlled format.
This Order ensures that once the revised loose-leaf edition is prepared (as at 1 May 2015) and transmitted to the President, the legal system can treat that edition as the definitive text. The phrase “sole and only proper law” is particularly significant: it forecloses arguments that a different version should govern in court. For litigation and compliance work, this reduces the risk of citing an outdated or non-authoritative text.
From a practitioner’s perspective, the Order is also important for citation discipline and version control. When drafting pleadings, preparing legal opinions, or advising clients, lawyers must ensure that the statutory provisions relied upon correspond to the proper law version in force. The effective date (31 May 2015) signals when the revised loose-leaf edition becomes authoritative for the Acts in the Schedule.
Finally, the Order illustrates how Singapore’s law revision infrastructure interacts with constitutional and administrative processes. It is not merely a publishing exercise; it is a formal designation by the President, published in the Gazette, that binds courts and “all purposes” to the revised edition.
Related Legislation
- Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275) — in particular, section 10 (publication in loose-leaf form) and section 11(3) (designation of the loose-leaf edition as sole and only proper law)
- Revised Edition of the Laws (Section 11(3)) Orders in other years (similar instruments that designate revised loose-leaf editions for different consolidation dates)
Source Documents
This article provides an overview of the Revised Edition of the Laws (Section 11(3)) Order 2015 for legal research and educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult the official text for authoritative provisions.