Statute Details
- Title: Revised Edition of the Laws (Section 17(8)) Notification 2014
- Act Code: RELA1983-S193-2014
- Legislative Instrument Type: Subsidiary legislation notification (Gazette notification)
- Gazette Number: S 193/2014
- Enacting Formula / Authority: Made by the Law Revision Commissioners under section 17(8) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act
- Authorising Act: Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275)
- Commencement / Effective Date: 21 March 2014
- Key Subject Matter: The “2014 Revised Edition of the Rules of Court (R 5)” made under the Supreme Court of Judicature Act
- Current Status: Current version as at 27 Mar 2026
What Is This Legislation About?
The Revised Edition of the Laws (Section 17(8)) Notification 2014 is a formal legal instrument that determines which version of a particular piece of subsidiary legislation is to be treated as the authoritative “Statute Book of Singapore” for use in courts. In plain terms, it answers a practical question that lawyers and courts face: when multiple printed or loose-leaf versions exist, which one should be treated as the official reference for “all courts and for all purposes”?
This notification is made under the Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275). Specifically, it relies on section 17(8), which empowers the Law Revision Commissioners to declare—by Gazette notification—that a revised edition of a particular subsidiary legislation will be the sole and only proper Statute Book for that instrument. The effect is to consolidate legal certainty by ensuring that practitioners and the judiciary consult the designated revised edition rather than earlier or alternative versions.
Here, the notification is directed at the “2014 Revised Edition of the Rules of Court (R 5)” (noted in the instrument as being made under the Supreme Court of Judicature Act (Chapter 322), as in force on 7 March 2014). The notification specifies that this revised edition becomes the sole and only proper Statute Book for that piece of subsidiary legislation with effect from 21 March 2014.
What Are the Key Provisions?
1. The statutory basis: section 17(8) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act
The notification’s operative power comes from section 17(8) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act. While the extract provided does not reproduce section 17(8) itself, the enacting formula makes clear how it operates: the Law Revision Commissioners may, by Gazette notification, specify that a particular revised edition shall be the “sole and only proper Statute Book of Singapore” for that subsidiary legislation.
For practitioners, the significance is that this is not a substantive amendment to the Rules of Court. Instead, it is a version-control mechanism. It tells courts and lawyers which printed/revised edition is authoritative for citation, interpretation, and application.
2. Identification of the subsidiary legislation covered
The notification expressly identifies the instrument being “revised” and “covered”: the “2014 Revised Edition of the Rules of Court (R 5) (S 71/96)”. The reference “(S 71/96)” indicates the original subsidiary legislation numbering or the earlier statutory instrument from which the Rules of Court are derived. The notification also states that these Rules of Court were made under the Supreme Court of Judicature Act (Chapter 322) and were “as in force on 7th March 2014.”
This matters because the revised edition is anchored to a particular “as at” date (7 March 2014). That date indicates the legal state of the Rules of Court that the revised edition reflects. The practitioner should therefore treat the 2014 Revised Edition as capturing the Rules as they stood on that date, subject to any later amendments (if any) that may have occurred after the revised edition was produced.
3. The operative declaration: sole and only proper Statute Book
The core operative sentence provides that the 2014 Revised Edition of the Rules of Court “shall, in all courts and for all purposes, be the sole and only proper Statute Book of Singapore in respect of that piece of subsidiary legislation.”
This language is broad and categorical. “In all courts” removes any doubt about whether different courts might rely on different versions. “For all purposes” indicates that the revised edition is the authoritative reference not only for adjudication but also for procedural steps, filings, and any legal reliance in litigation practice.
4. Effective date and transition
The notification states that the 2014 Revised Edition “shall, with effect from 21st March 2014” be the sole and only proper Statute Book. The effective date is crucial for practitioners dealing with matters that straddle the transition period—e.g., where procedural steps were taken before 21 March 2014 and others after that date.
In practice, the declaration typically aims to prevent arguments about which version applies. Even if earlier versions were available, once the revised edition takes effect, it becomes the proper reference for the Rules of Court as a matter of legal authority.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
This notification is structured in a conventional Gazette-notification format:
(a) Enacting formula / whereas clauses
The instrument begins with “Whereas” clauses that set out the background. It explains that, under section 17(5) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act, the Law Revision Commissioners caused to be published in loose-leaf form the 2014 Revised Edition of the Rules of Court (R 5) made under the Supreme Court of Judicature Act. It then explains that, under section 17(8), the Commissioners may specify by notification that the revised edition should be the sole and only proper Statute Book for that subsidiary legislation.
(b) Operative clause
The operative clause is a single declaratory provision: it specifies that the 2014 Revised Edition of the Rules of Court is the sole and only proper Statute Book, effective from 21 March 2014.
(c) Execution / making clause
The notification concludes with the “Made this 7th day of March 2014” clause and the signature of the Chairman of the Law Revision Commission (Steven Chong Horng Siong, SC). It also includes an administrative reference number (AG/LLRD/RSL/275/2014/1 Vol. 1).
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
Although the notification is addressed to the legal system rather than to a class of persons, its practical reach is universal within the context of court procedure. The instrument applies to all courts and for all purposes relating to the Rules of Court that it covers. This includes the Supreme Court and subordinate courts, and it governs how the Rules of Court are to be cited and relied upon in litigation.
Practically, it affects lawyers, litigants, court officers, and anyone involved in court processes that depend on the Rules of Court. For example, when drafting pleadings, filing applications, complying with procedural timelines, or interpreting procedural requirements, practitioners should consult the 2014 Revised Edition as the authoritative Statute Book as of the effective date.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
At first glance, the notification may appear procedural or administrative. However, it is important because it underpins legal certainty and consistency in court practice. The Rules of Court are central to civil procedure (and, depending on context, procedural rules in litigation more broadly). When multiple versions exist—such as earlier editions, loose-leaf publications, or subsequent compilations—there is a risk of confusion about which text is authoritative. This notification eliminates that risk by declaring a single proper Statute Book.
For practitioners, the key value is citation and reliance. Courts and counsel need a stable reference point. When a lawyer cites a provision of the Rules of Court, the citation is meaningful only if the underlying text is the proper authoritative version. By specifying that the 2014 Revised Edition is the sole and only proper Statute Book, the notification supports accurate legal research and reduces procedural disputes.
From an enforcement perspective, the notification does not create new obligations for litigants in the way that substantive amendments do. Instead, it ensures that obligations and procedural rights are understood and applied according to the designated revised edition. In other words, it affects how the Rules are accessed and applied, which in turn affects outcomes in procedural litigation—particularly where small textual differences could matter (for example, in time limits, formatting requirements, or procedural steps).
Related Legislation
- Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275) (including section 17(5) and section 17(8))
- Supreme Court of Judicature Act (Chapter 322) (under which the Rules of Court are made)
- Timeline (legislation timeline reference used to confirm the correct version as at a given date)
- Judicature Act (referenced in the metadata as part of the legislative context for the Rules of Court)
Source Documents
This article provides an overview of the Revised Edition of the Laws (Section 17(8)) Notification 2014 for legal research and educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult the official text for authoritative provisions.