Statute Details
- Title: Revised Edition of the Laws (Section 17(8)) Notification 2014
- Act Code: RELA1983-S193-2014
- Legislation Type: Subsidiary legislation notification (Gazette notification)
- Authorising Act: Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275)
- Key Provision Reference: Section 17(8) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act
- Notification Number: S 193/2014
- Date Made: 7 March 2014
- Commencement/Effective Date: 21 March 2014
- Subject Matter: Designation of the “sole and only proper Statute Book” for a specified piece of subsidiary legislation
- Specified Subsidiary Legislation: 2014 Revised Edition of the Rules of Court (R 5) (S 71/96) made under the Supreme Court of Judicature Act (Chapter 322), as in force on 7 March 2014
- Status: Current version as at 27 March 2026
What Is This Legislation About?
The Revised Edition of the Laws (Section 17(8)) Notification 2014 is a procedural but highly consequential instrument. In plain terms, it tells the legal community which printed (revised) version of a particular set of court rules is to be treated as the authoritative “Statute Book” for use in Singapore courts and for all legal purposes.
This notification is made under the Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275). The Act empowers the Law Revision Commissioners to publish revised editions of laws in a consolidated, reliable format. Where the Commissioners consider it appropriate, they can issue a Gazette notification specifying that a particular revised edition shall become the “sole and only proper Statute Book” for a given piece of subsidiary legislation.
Here, the notification concerns the 2014 Revised Edition of the Rules of Court (R 5), which is a set of procedural rules governing civil and related proceedings in Singapore courts. The notification ensures that, from the effective date (21 March 2014), practitioners and courts rely on the 2014 revised rules as the definitive reference point—rather than earlier loose-leaf or prior printed versions.
What Are the Key Provisions?
1. The notification’s legal purpose (the “whereas” clauses)
The notification begins with recitals that anchor its authority and scope. It states 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) (S 71/96). This publication is described as being made under the Supreme Court of Judicature Act (Chapter 322) and as in force on 7 March 2014.
The recitals then explain the mechanism under section 17(8): the Commissioners may, by Gazette notification, specify that the 2014 Revised Edition of the Rules of Court shall be the sole and only proper Statute Book of Singapore in respect of that piece of subsidiary legislation. This is the core legal effect: it is not merely a publication; it is a formal designation of authoritative status.
2. The operative designation: “sole and only proper Statute Book”
The operative paragraph provides that the 2014 Revised Edition of the Rules of Court shall, with effect from 21 March 2014, be the sole and only proper Statute Book of Singapore in respect of that piece of subsidiary legislation.
For practitioners, this phrase is significant. It means that when the Rules of Court are cited, interpreted, or applied in court, the reference should be to the 2014 Revised Edition as the authoritative text. The notification reduces ambiguity that can arise when multiple versions exist in circulation (for example, earlier editions, unofficial copies, or interim amendments). In litigation, where procedural compliance can be outcome-determinative, clarity on the correct rules version is essential.
3. Scope: “in all courts and for all purposes”
Although the operative text in the extract is concise, the notification’s recitals and the statutory framework it relies on indicate that the designation applies in all courts and for all purposes. This is consistent with the wording of section 17(8) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act.
Accordingly, the designation is not limited to a particular court level (e.g., High Court only) or to a particular type of proceeding. It is intended to be universal across Singapore’s court system for procedural matters governed by the Rules of Court.
4. Formalities: made by the Law Revision Commission
The notification is “made” on 7 March 2014 by the Chairman of the Law Revision Commission, Steven Chong Horng Siong, SC. The inclusion of the signature and the reference number ([AG/LLRD/RSL/275/2014/1 Vol. 1]) reflects the formal Gazette process and provides a traceable administrative record.
While this may appear administrative, it matters in legal practice: when questions arise about the validity or effective date of a revised statutory instrument, the Gazette record is the authoritative source.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
This instrument is structured as a short Gazette notification rather than a long statute with multiple parts. It contains:
(a) Title and status information (including that it is the current version as at 27 March 2026).
(b) Enacting formula and procedural interface (the platform’s display includes printing and timeline tools).
(c) Recitals (“Whereas” clauses) that explain the legal basis under section 17(5) and the power under section 17(8).
(d) Operative clause specifying the effective date and the “sole and only proper Statute Book” designation for the specified subsidiary legislation.
(e) Signature block and administrative reference identifying the maker and record number.
In practical terms, the “structure” is designed to be read quickly by legal users: it tells you (1) what revised instrument is being designated, (2) when it becomes authoritative, and (3) the legal consequence of that designation.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
The notification applies broadly to courts and to legal practitioners who must use the Rules of Court in practice. Although the notification is directed at the legal system (and is framed as a designation of the authoritative Statute Book), its real-world effect is on anyone who relies on the Rules of Court for procedural steps, filings, applications, and compliance.
Because the designation is stated to apply “in all courts and for all purposes” (as reflected in the statutory framework), it covers proceedings across Singapore’s judicial hierarchy where the Rules of Court govern procedure. This includes civil litigation and related procedural contexts that fall within the Rules of Court framework.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
At first glance, the notification may look like a technical update. However, for litigation practice, it is important because it determines which text is legally authoritative. Procedural rules are often amended, and different versions can exist in practice. Without a formal “sole and only proper Statute Book” designation, disputes could arise over which version governs a particular step or application.
This notification reduces that risk by establishing a clear reference point: from 21 March 2014, the 2014 Revised Edition of the Rules of Court (R 5) is the definitive Statute Book for that subsidiary legislation. For lawyers, this affects:
- Citation and drafting: ensuring that pleadings, submissions, and court documents refer to the correct rule numbers and wording as they appear in the 2014 Revised Edition.
- Procedural compliance: confirming that deadlines, filing requirements, and procedural mechanisms are assessed against the authoritative text.
- Interpretation: supporting arguments about the meaning of provisions by pointing to the official revised edition.
- Research reliability: improving confidence that the version consulted is the one the courts will treat as authoritative.
From an enforcement perspective, the notification’s effect is indirect but powerful. Courts apply the Rules of Court; the notification ensures that the Rules of Court applied are the designated revised edition. If a practitioner were to rely on an outdated version, the risk is not merely academic—procedural missteps can lead to adjournments, costs consequences, or adverse rulings.
Finally, the notification illustrates a broader feature of Singapore’s legal system: the Law Revision Commissioners’ role in maintaining an accessible, consolidated legal corpus. While the substantive content of the Rules of Court is not reproduced in the notification, the notification is the legal “switch” that tells the profession which consolidated text is to be treated as the official reference.
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)
- Rules of Court — specifically the 2014 Revised Edition of the Rules of Court (R 5) (S 71/96), as in force on 7 March 2014
- Timeline (legislation timeline tool referenced in the source display)
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.