Statute Details
- Title: Revised Edition of the Laws (Section 11(3)) Order 2015
- Act Code: RELA1983-S309-2015
- Legislation Type: Subsidiary legislation (Order)
- Authorising Act: Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275)
- Enacting Date: 14 May 2015
- Commencement / Effective Date: 31 May 2015
- Gazette / Instrument Number: S 309/2015 (dated 25 May 2015)
- Status: Current version as at 27 Mar 2026
- Key Legal Mechanism: Designates a “loose-leaf edition” as the sole and proper law for specified Acts
What Is This Legislation About?
The Revised Edition of the Laws (Section 11(3)) Order 2015 is a procedural legal instrument that operates within Singapore’s broader legislative revision framework. Its core function is not to change substantive law on its own, but to determine which version of certain Acts is to be treated as authoritative in courts and for all legal purposes.
In plain language, the Order addresses a practical problem: over time, Acts are amended, consolidated, and republished. Singapore maintains an official “revised edition” of laws, and the Revised Edition of the Laws Act provides a mechanism for producing updated compilations in a loose-leaf format. This Order then “locks in” that loose-leaf edition as the sole and proper law for the relevant Acts, so that litigants, lawyers, and courts can rely on one definitive legal text.
The Order is made by the President, following a process involving the Law Revision Commissioners and the President’s discretion under section 11(3) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act. The effect is to ensure legal certainty: when a court applies the law, it should apply the version specified by the Order, rather than potentially conflicting or outdated printings.
What Are the Key Provisions?
1. The “loose-leaf edition” becomes the sole and proper law. The most important operative statement appears in the concluding part of the Order. It provides that the loose-leaf edition of the Acts set out 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 a strong legal designation. It means that, for the specified Acts, the loose-leaf edition is treated as the definitive legal text for all courts and all purposes.
2. The legal basis: section 11(3) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act. The Order is grounded in section 10 and section 11(3) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275). Section 10 contemplates that the Law Revision Commissioners publish Acts in loose-leaf form “as in force” on a specified date. Section 11(3) then provides that the Commissioners transmit copies of those loose-leaf editions to the President, and the President may, by order published in the Gazette, specify that the loose-leaf edition shall be the sole and only proper law.
3. Effective date and temporal certainty. The Order specifies a commencement/effective date: 31 May 2015. This matters for practitioners because it defines the point from which the designated loose-leaf edition becomes authoritative. For cases, filings, and legal advice, counsel must ensure that the version of the Act relied upon corresponds to the correct legal regime at the relevant time. Even where the substantive law is unchanged, the authoritative text matters for interpretation, citation, and the resolution of any discrepancies between versions.
4. Formalities and publication. The instrument is “made on 14 May 2015” and is published as S 309/2015. It also references the Gazette publication requirement. While these are procedural details, they are significant in legal practice: the Gazette publication is part of the statutory pathway that gives the Order its legal effect. Practitioners should therefore treat the Gazette instrument number and date as part of the citation trail when verifying the authoritative version of the law.
Note on the Schedule. The extract provided indicates that the Acts are “set out in the Schedule.” In a full legal review, a practitioner would consult the Schedule to identify exactly which Acts are covered by the Order. The operative designation applies only to those Acts listed in the Schedule. Without the Schedule, one cannot determine the precise scope of the Acts affected. However, the mechanism and legal effect are clear: the loose-leaf edition for the scheduled Acts is elevated to sole and proper law status.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
This Order is structured as a short instrument with an enacting formula and a schedule-based scope. The key elements are:
(a) Enacting formula / Whereas clauses. These clauses explain the statutory background: the Law Revision Commissioners have published Acts in loose-leaf form as in force on 1 May 2015, and the President may specify that the loose-leaf edition is the sole and proper law under section 11(3). The “Whereas” clauses are important for understanding the legislative intent and the procedural steps that must have been followed.
(b) The operative provision. The Order then states the President’s decision: 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.
(c) The Schedule. The Schedule is the scope-defining component. It lists the Acts to which the designation applies. In practice, the Schedule is what determines which statutory texts become authoritative under the Order.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
Although the Order is not directed at a particular class of persons (such as employers, employees, or regulated entities), it applies to everyone who uses the law—courts, tribunals, government agencies, lawyers, and members of the public—because it determines what text counts as the “proper law” for the scheduled Acts.
In practical terms, the Order affects legal interpretation and citation. When counsel cites an Act covered by the Order, the authoritative version is the loose-leaf edition specified by the President. Courts are expected to apply that version “in all courts and for all purposes.” Therefore, the Order indirectly governs how legal proceedings are conducted and how legal advice is framed, even though it does not impose substantive obligations or create new offences.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
For practitioners, the importance of the Revised Edition of the Laws (Section 11(3)) Order 2015 lies in legal certainty and consistency. Singapore’s legal system relies on accurate statutory texts. If multiple versions of an Act circulate—such as earlier printings, unofficial compilations, or interim amendments—there is a risk of confusion about what the law “is” at a given time. By designating a specific loose-leaf edition as the sole and proper law, the Order reduces that risk.
Second, the Order supports efficient litigation and statutory interpretation. Courts and lawyers can focus on interpreting the law rather than debating which version is authoritative. This is especially relevant where amendments have been made and consolidated. Even if the substantive content is largely the same, the authoritative text can affect the wording of provisions, cross-references, and schedules.
Third, the Order has practical implications for compliance, drafting, and advisory work. When preparing contracts, regulatory submissions, or litigation documents, counsel must ensure that references to statutory provisions are accurate and align with the authoritative version. For example, if a practitioner is advising on rights, procedures, or time limits under a scheduled Act, the practitioner should confirm that the cited provisions correspond to the loose-leaf edition designated by the Order (and, where relevant, the effective date).
Finally, this Order illustrates a key feature of Singapore’s legislative maintenance system: the Revised Edition of the Laws Act provides a structured method for producing and validating revised legal texts. While the Order itself is brief, it is part of the institutional machinery that keeps Singapore’s laws current and reliably accessible.
Related Legislation
- Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275) — in particular sections 10 and 11(3), which provide the legal mechanism for publishing loose-leaf editions and designating them as the sole and proper law.
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.