Statute Details
- Title: Order under Section 11(3)
- Act Code: RELA1983-S429-2006
- Type: Subsidiary Legislation (SL)
- Enacting Formula / Instrument: Presidential Order
- Authorising Act: Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Cap. 275)
- Key Legal Basis: Section 11(3) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act
- Instrument Number: No. S 429
- Gazette / Publication Date (as shown): 31 Jul 2006
- Commencement / Effective Date: 31 July 2006
- Status: Current version as at 27 Mar 2026
- Schedule: “Acts set out in the Schedule” (not reproduced in the extract)
What Is This Legislation About?
This instrument is a Presidential Order made under section 11(3) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Cap. 275). In plain terms, it is not a substantive regulatory law that creates new rights or offences. Instead, it is a legal “switch” that determines which version of certain Acts will be treated as the sole and only proper law of Singapore for use in courts and for all legal purposes.
The Order is tied to the Law Revision Commissioners’ work of preparing a revised edition of Acts in a loose-leaf format. The extract states that, pursuant to section 10 of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act, the Commissioners published in loose-leaf form the Acts set out in the Schedule as in force on 1 July 2006. The Presidential Order then authorises those loose-leaf editions to become the authoritative legal text.
Accordingly, the practical “subject matter” of this legislation is legislative authority and citation: it governs how lawyers, courts, and government bodies should identify and rely on the correct statutory text. For practitioners, this is crucial because the “proper law” concept affects interpretation, pleading, and proof of legislation.
What Are the Key Provisions?
1. The legal preconditions (recitals / “Whereas” clauses). The Order begins with recitals explaining the statutory pathway. It notes that, under section 10 of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act, the Law Revision Commissioners published in loose-leaf form the Acts listed in the Schedule as at 1 July 2006. It further states that section 11(3) provides for the Commissioners to transmit copies of those loose-leaf editions to the President.
The recitals also explain the mechanism: the President may, by an order published in the Gazette, specify that the loose-leaf editions shall be the sole and only proper law of Singapore in respect of those Acts. This is the core legal concept underpinning the instrument: the Order is the formal act that converts the loose-leaf publication into the authoritative legal text.
2. The operative clause: “sole and only proper law”. The operative part of the Order states that it is hereby ordered by the President that the loose-leaf edition of the Acts in the Schedule shall, with effect from 31 July 2006, be the sole and only proper law of Singapore in respect of those Acts.
This language is significant. “Sole and only proper law” is designed to prevent uncertainty about which version of the Acts should be treated as legally authoritative. In practice, it means that when courts determine the content of the law, and when parties cite statutory provisions, they should rely on the loose-leaf revised edition as the definitive text for the specified Acts as at the effective date.
3. Effective date and formalities. The Order specifies an effective date: 31st July 2006. It also includes the date of signing: “Dated this 10th day of July 2006.” The signature block shows it was signed by command, with LAU WAH MING, Secretary to the Cabinet, Singapore.
While these details may appear administrative, they matter for practitioners who need to determine when the revised edition became authoritative. The effective date can affect transitional issues such as whether a particular amendment is reflected in the revised text, and which statutory wording applies to events occurring before or after the effective date.
4. The Schedule (not reproduced in the extract) and its legal effect. The extract references “the Acts set out in the Schedule” but does not list them. The Schedule is therefore the key determinant of scope. The Order’s legal effect is limited to those Acts included in the Schedule. Practitioners should consult the full instrument to identify which Acts are covered, because the “sole and only proper law” status applies only to the specified Acts.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
Structurally, this instrument is concise and follows a typical pattern for Presidential orders under the Revised Edition of the Laws Act:
(a) Title and status information (including “Current version as at 27 Mar 2026”).
(b) Enacting formula and the recitals (“Whereas” clauses) that set out the statutory basis and the factual/legal background (publication by the Law Revision Commissioners under section 10, transmission to the President, and the President’s power under section 11(3)).
(c) The operative provision (the key command that the loose-leaf edition is the “sole and only proper law” with effect from 31 July 2006).
(d) The Schedule (the list of Acts to which the Order applies). In the extract, the Schedule is indicated but not displayed; in the full legal document, it would enumerate the Acts.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
This Order applies to the Acts specified in its Schedule, and therefore indirectly applies to everyone who relies on those Acts—courts, lawyers, government agencies, and members of the public—when determining the content of the law.
Because the instrument is about the authoritative legal text rather than substantive regulation, its “direct addressees” are not regulated persons in the usual sense. Instead, it governs legal recognition of the revised editions. In litigation and legal practice, the practical effect is that the revised loose-leaf edition becomes the definitive statutory authority for the covered Acts as at the effective date.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
Although the Order is short, it is highly important for legal certainty. Singapore’s legal system depends on accurate statutory text. When the Law Revision Commissioners publish revised editions, there can be multiple versions in circulation (for example, earlier editions, amendments, or consolidated versions). The Presidential Order resolves that by declaring that the loose-leaf edition is the sole and only proper law for the specified Acts.
For practitioners, this affects several day-to-day tasks:
- Citation and pleading: Lawyers must cite the correct statutory wording. If the revised edition is the “proper law,” citations should align with that authoritative text.
- Statutory interpretation: Courts interpret the law as it appears in the proper authoritative version. Ensuring the correct version reduces interpretive disputes.
- Proof of law: In some contexts, the content of legislation may be treated as a matter of law requiring proper identification. The “sole and only proper law” declaration supports reliance on the revised edition.
- Research and version control: Legal research platforms and practitioners must ensure they are using the correct version “as at” the relevant date. The instrument’s effective date (31 July 2006) is central to that analysis.
Enforcement implications are indirect but real. While the Order does not create offences or impose duties, it ensures that enforcement bodies and courts apply the correct statutory provisions as reflected in the revised edition. In other words, it underpins the legitimacy and consistency of legal application.
Finally, the instrument illustrates an important feature of Singapore’s legislative maintenance framework: the Revised Edition of the Laws Act provides a structured method for keeping statutory texts current and authoritative through revision and formal presidential confirmation.
Related Legislation
- Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275) — in particular:
- Section 10 (publication of Acts in loose-leaf form by the Law Revision Commissioners)
- Section 11(3) (President’s power to declare the loose-leaf edition as the sole and only proper law)
- Revised Edition of the Laws Act (general framework) — for the broader process of law revision and authoritative publication
Source Documents
This article provides an overview of the Order under Section 11(3) for legal research and educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult the official text for authoritative provisions.