Statute Details
- Title: Revised Edition of the Laws (Section 11(3)) Order 2015
- Act Code: RELA1983-S309-2015
- Type: Subsidiary Legislation (SL)
- Legislative Instrument No.: S 309/2015
- Enacting Formula / Authority: Made by the President pursuant to section 11(3) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act
- Commencement / Effective Date: 31 May 2015
- Status: Current version as at 27 Mar 2026
- Schedule: Refers to Acts “set out in the Schedule” as published in loose-leaf form as at 1 May 2015
- Key Legal Mechanism: Designation of the loose-leaf edition as the “sole and only proper law” of Singapore for specified Acts
What Is This Legislation About?
The Revised Edition of the Laws (Section 11(3)) Order 2015 is a procedural but highly consequential instrument in Singapore’s legislative framework. In plain terms, it is an order by the President that confirms which version of certain Acts counts as the authoritative “proper law” for use in courts and for all legal purposes. It does this by elevating the “loose-leaf edition” of specified Acts—published by the Law Revision Commissioners—into the definitive legal text for Singapore.
Singapore’s laws are periodically revised and consolidated to improve accuracy, coherence, and accessibility. The Revised Edition of the Laws Act provides a mechanism for producing revised editions of Acts in a loose-leaf format. The loose-leaf format is then transmitted to the President, who may issue an order (published in the Gazette) specifying that the loose-leaf edition is the sole and only proper law of Singapore for the relevant Acts.
This Order is therefore not a substantive law reform measure that changes rights, offences, or regulatory obligations. Instead, it is a “versioning” and “legal authority” measure: it determines which text judges, lawyers, government agencies, and litigants must treat as the legally correct version of the specified Acts. For practitioners, this matters because the authoritative text affects statutory interpretation, pleading, statutory compliance, and the outcome of disputes where wording is critical.
What Are the Key Provisions?
1. The statutory basis: section 11(3) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act
The Order is made under section 11(3) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act. The operative idea is that the Law Revision Commissioners publish Acts in loose-leaf form “as in force” on a specified date (here, 1 May 2015). The Commissioners then transmit copies of these loose-leaf editions to the President. The President may then, by Gazette order, specify that the loose-leaf edition is the sole and only proper law of Singapore for those Acts.
2. The “sole and only proper law” designation
The Order states 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 phrase is legally significant. It means that, for the specified Acts, the loose-leaf edition is the definitive authoritative text. Other versions—such as earlier printed editions, unofficial compilations, or superseded amendments—should not be treated as the proper law for court and legal purposes once the effective date has passed.
3. The temporal effect: commencement on 31 May 2015
The Order provides a clear effective date. This is crucial for practitioners dealing with transitional issues. If a dispute arises about events occurring before and after 31 May 2015, lawyers must consider which statutory text was the proper law at the relevant time. While the Order itself is about authoritative text rather than substantive change, the effective date governs which version is legally binding for interpretation and application.
4. Gazette publication and presidential action
The Order is framed in the standard enacting formula style: it “whereas” sets out the legal preconditions (publication by the Commissioners and transmission to the President) and then “now therefore” authorises the President’s order. The instrument is made on 14 May 2015 and published as S 309/2015. The reference to Gazette publication underscores that the designation of proper law is a formal public act, ensuring transparency and certainty for the legal community.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
This instrument is structured as a short order with an enacting formula and a Schedule. The Schedule is the key structural element because it identifies the specific Acts whose loose-leaf editions are being designated as the sole and only proper law. In the extract provided, the Schedule content is not reproduced, but the legal effect is tied to “the Acts set out in the Schedule as in force on 1 May 2015.”
Beyond the Schedule, the Order contains the essential operative statement: the loose-leaf edition of the scheduled Acts becomes the sole and only proper law with effect from 31 May 2015. There are no complex parts or detailed subsections in the extract; instead, the instrument functions as a formal legal bridge between (i) the Law Revision Commissioners’ publication and (ii) the President’s Gazette order that finalises the authoritative text for courts and legal purposes.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
The Order applies to the legal system—meaning it binds how courts and legal actors must treat the specified Acts. Practically, it affects judges, lawyers, government agencies, and members of the public insofar as they rely on statutory provisions. Although the Order does not directly impose obligations on individuals, it determines the authoritative statutory text that underpins obligations, permissions, offences, procedures, and remedies contained in the scheduled Acts.
Its scope is also defined by the Acts listed in the Schedule. Therefore, it does not apply to all legislation generally; it applies only to those Acts whose loose-leaf editions have been published and transmitted under the Revised Edition of the Laws Act process. For practitioners, the key task is to identify whether the relevant Act in a matter is among those scheduled in the 2015 Order, and then to use the loose-leaf edition as the proper law from 31 May 2015 onward.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
Although the Order is brief, it is important because it supports legal certainty and authoritative statutory interpretation. In litigation, the exact wording of statutory provisions can determine outcomes—especially where courts must interpret ambiguous terms, reconcile provisions, or apply statutory tests. By designating a single proper law text, the Order reduces the risk of disputes about which version of an Act is legally binding.
For practitioners, the Order is also a reminder that “current law” is not just about substantive amendments; it is also about the correct legal text. When advising clients, drafting pleadings, or preparing submissions, lawyers must ensure they cite the proper authoritative version. Using an outdated or non-authoritative text can lead to avoidable errors, including misquotations, incorrect references to section numbering, or reliance on provisions that have been consolidated or renumbered in the revised edition.
Finally, the Order illustrates the institutional architecture of Singapore’s law revision process. The Law Revision Commissioners publish revised Acts in loose-leaf form as at a cut-off date (1 May 2015). The President’s order then gives those texts the force of being the sole and only proper law. This ensures that the revised edition is not merely a reference compilation but becomes the legally authoritative source for courts and all purposes.
Related Legislation
- Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Singapore) (Act Code: RELA1983) — provides the mechanism for publishing revised Acts in loose-leaf form and for the President to designate the loose-leaf edition as the sole and only proper law under section 11(3).
- Revised Edition of the Laws (Section 11(3)) Orders (other years) — similar Gazette orders that designate the proper law status of loose-leaf editions for different revision cycles.
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.