Statute Details
- Title: Revised Edition of the Laws (Section 11(3)) Order 2017
- Act Code: RELA1983-S662-2017
- Type: Subsidiary Legislation (SL)
- Authorising Act: Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275)
- Key Enabling Provision: Section 11(3) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act
- Enacting Formula (Effect): Declares the “loose-leaf edition” of specified Acts to be the sole and only proper law of Singapore for those Acts
- Commencement / Effective Date: 30 November 2017
- Gazette / SL Number: No. S 662
- Date of Order: 9 November 2017
- Status: Current version as at 27 Mar 2026
- Schedule: Lists the Acts to which the Order applies (not reproduced in the extract provided)
What Is This Legislation About?
The Revised Edition of the Laws (Section 11(3)) Order 2017 is a procedural but highly consequential legal instrument. In plain language, it addresses a technical question that matters to courts and practitioners: which “edition” of the law is treated as the authoritative version for particular Acts.
Under Singapore’s Revised Edition of the Laws framework, laws may be maintained in different physical or publication formats over time—most notably, a “loose-leaf edition” used for updating and consolidation. The Order is made under section 11(3) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act, empowering the President to specify that, for certain Acts listed in a schedule, the loose-leaf edition is the sole and only proper law in all courts and for all purposes.
Accordingly, the Order does not create new substantive rights or offences. Instead, it ensures legal certainty by designating the authoritative source for the text of specified Acts. For lawyers, this affects how the law should be cited, relied upon, and applied in litigation—particularly where amendments, reprints, or different publication formats could otherwise create confusion.
What Are the Key Provisions?
1. Presidential specification under section 11(3)
The operative legal mechanism is the President’s exercise of powers conferred by section 11(3) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act. The Order states that, with effect from 30 November 2017, the loose-leaf edition of each Act set out in the Schedule is, in all courts and for all purposes, the sole and only proper law of Singapore in respect of those Acts.
This language is deliberately comprehensive. “In all courts and for all purposes” means that no court may treat any other version (for example, an earlier print version, an unofficial compilation, or a different format) as the proper legal text for the specified Acts. “Sole and only proper law” underscores that the loose-leaf edition is not merely persuasive; it is the definitive legal authority for those Acts.
2. The Schedule determines the scope
The Order’s substantive reach is defined by the Schedule, which lists the Acts to which the designation applies. While the extract provided does not reproduce the schedule contents, the schedule is central: only the Acts named there are covered by the “sole and only proper law” designation.
For practitioners, this means the first practical step is to identify whether the relevant Act you are dealing with appears in the Schedule. If it does, the loose-leaf edition is the authoritative text. If it does not, the proper-law designation may be governed by other orders or by the general operation of the Revised Edition of the Laws regime.
3. Commencement and temporal certainty
The Order specifies an effective date of 30 November 2017. This matters for cases involving events spanning the period before and after commencement. If an issue turns on the exact statutory wording, practitioners must ensure they are using the proper legal text as at the relevant time, and that the citation aligns with the authoritative edition designated by the Order.
In practice, the loose-leaf edition is typically updated to reflect amendments. The Order’s commencement date therefore helps align the legal system’s “proper law” designation with the updated publication regime.
4. Enacting formula and formal validity
The enacting formula confirms the legal basis and formal authority: the President acts “in exercise of the powers conferred by section 11(3)” and the Order is dated and signed by the Secretary to the Cabinet (by command). This formal structure is important for legal validity and for how courts interpret the instrument’s authority.
Although the extract does not show additional clauses beyond the schedule designation, the legal effect is clear: the Order is a binding specification of what constitutes proper law for the listed Acts.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
The Order is structured in a straightforward manner typical of subsidiary instruments that make a targeted legal designation. It contains:
(a) An enacting formula stating the enabling power under section 11(3) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act.
(b) The operative statement specifying that, with effect from 30 November 2017, the loose-leaf edition of each scheduled Act is the sole and only proper law in all courts and for all purposes.
(c) The Schedule listing the Acts to which the designation applies.
(d) Formal dating and authentication (including the date of the Order and the signature authority).
Notably, the extract indicates that the instrument is presented as “Revised Edition of the Laws (Section 11(3)) Order 2017” with a “THE SCHEDULE” section. There are no substantive regulatory provisions (such as duties, prohibitions, or enforcement mechanisms) because the Order’s function is to define the authoritative legal text.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
This Order applies to everyone in the sense that it governs what the law is for all courts and for all purposes. However, its practical impact is felt primarily by courts, legal practitioners, and parties to proceedings who must rely on the authoritative statutory text.
Because the Order designates the “proper law” for specified Acts, it affects how lawyers should cite legislation and how judges should interpret statutory provisions. It also affects administrative and compliance contexts where statutory text must be verified against the authoritative edition.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
Although the Revised Edition of the Laws (Section 11(3)) Order 2017 is not a substantive law-making instrument, it is essential to the integrity and certainty of legal sources. In litigation, the exact wording of a statute can determine outcomes. If different versions of an Act were treated as authoritative, it could lead to disputes about which text governs—particularly where amendments have been incorporated into one edition but not another.
By declaring that the loose-leaf edition is the “sole and only proper law” for the scheduled Acts, the Order eliminates ambiguity. This supports consistent judicial interpretation and reduces the risk of procedural or substantive errors arising from reliance on outdated or non-authoritative publications.
From an enforcement and compliance perspective, the Order also helps ensure that regulators and regulated entities work from the same authoritative statutory text. Even where the law is accessible online or in printed form, the legal system’s designation of proper law remains the anchor for legal correctness.
For practitioners, the most practical takeaway is citation discipline and verification. When preparing submissions, drafting pleadings, or advising clients, lawyers should confirm that the statutory provisions they cite correspond to the authoritative edition designated by the relevant Revised Edition of the Laws orders. This is especially important when dealing with Acts that have been recently consolidated, amended, or reissued in different formats.
Related Legislation
- Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275) — in particular, section 11(3) (the enabling provision for this Order)
- Revised Edition of the Laws (Section 11(3)) Orders (other years/orders that may designate the proper law for different editions or sets of Acts)
Source Documents
This article provides an overview of the Revised Edition of the Laws (Section 11(3)) Order 2017 for legal research and educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult the official text for authoritative provisions.