Statute Details
- Title: Order under Section 11(3)
- Act Code: RELA1983-OR13
- Type: SL (Subsidiary Legislation / Order)
- Enacting Formula: Order by the President
- Authorising Act: Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Cap. 275), Section 11(3)
- Gazette / Notification: G.N. No. S 539/1996
- Revised Edition: 1997 RevEd
- Commencement / Effective Date (as stated): 27 December 1996 (with effect from that date)
- Status: Current version as at 27 Mar 2026 (per provided extract)
- Key Instrument Content (from extract): Declares the loose-leaf edition of Acts set out in the Schedule to be the sole and only proper law of Singapore for those Acts
What Is This Legislation About?
This instrument is not a substantive regulatory statute governing behaviour (such as licensing, offences, or administrative procedures). Instead, it is a law revision “proper law” order made to determine which version of certain Acts is legally authoritative in Singapore courts and for all legal purposes.
In plain language, the Order addresses a practical problem: when the Laws Revision Commissioners publish Acts in a loose-leaf format (typically a revised edition), the legal system needs to know whether that loose-leaf version is merely a publication or whether it is the official, sole and only proper law to be applied by courts. This Order answers that question for the Acts listed in its Schedule.
The Order is made under Section 11(3) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act. It provides that, following the Commissioners’ publication and transmission to the President, the President may issue an order published in the Gazette specifying that the loose-leaf edition of the Acts shall become the sole and only proper law of Singapore in respect of those Acts. The instrument you provided is such an order, effective from 27 December 1996.
What Are the Key Provisions?
1. The President’s declaration of “sole and only proper law”. The central operative effect of the Order is the President’s declaration that the loose-leaf edition of the Acts set out in the Schedule shall, with effect from 27 December 1996, be the sole and only proper law of Singapore in respect of those Acts. This language is significant: it is designed to eliminate ambiguity about which text is authoritative where multiple versions exist (e.g., earlier editions, amendments, or unofficial consolidations).
2. Triggering mechanism under the Revised Edition of the Laws Act. The enacting formula explains the procedural background. It states that, pursuant to Section 10 of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act, the Law Revision Commissioners published in loose-leaf form the Acts set out in the Schedule as in force on 10 December 1996. It further states that under Section 11(3), the Commissioners transmit a copy of each loose-leaf edition to the President, and the President may then, by order published in the Gazette, specify that the loose-leaf edition shall be the sole and only proper law for those Acts.
3. Gazette publication and legal certainty. The Order emphasises that the President’s specification is made “by order published in the Gazette”. In practice, Gazette publication is a key element of legal certainty and public notice. For practitioners, this matters because it supports the proposition that the declared version is not merely an internal administrative update but a legally effective instrument that courts can rely on when determining the applicable text.
4. The Schedule governs the scope. While the extract you provided does not list the Acts in the Schedule, it is clear that the scope is limited to “the Acts set out in the Schedule”. Accordingly, the practical legal task for a lawyer is to identify which Acts are included in that Schedule for the 1997 Revised Edition (as referenced in the legislative history and timeline). The “sole and only proper law” effect applies only to those Acts, not automatically to all legislation.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
This instrument is structured in the typical format of an order under the Revised Edition of the Laws Act: it contains an enacting formula, followed by THE SCHEDULE, and then administrative elements such as legislative history and versions. The extract indicates that the document includes a “Schedule” section, which is where the relevant Acts are enumerated.
From a practitioner’s perspective, the structure is less about operational “parts” and more about identification. The Schedule is the legal gateway to determine which Acts are affected. The operative clause (as reflected in the enacting formula) is the President’s declaration that the loose-leaf edition becomes the sole and only proper law with effect from the stated date.
The legislative history and versioning information (e.g., “1997 RevEd” and the timeline reference) are also important for legal research. They help confirm that the lawyer is looking at the correct version of the order and that the “current version as at 27 Mar 2026” is consistent with the historical effective date of the revised edition.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
The Order applies indirectly to everyone who relies on Singapore legislation in legal proceedings—courts, tribunals, lawyers, government agencies, and private parties. Its direct legal effect is on the authoritative text of the Acts listed in the Schedule. Once the loose-leaf edition is declared the sole and only proper law, courts and practitioners must treat that edition as the controlling legal text for those Acts.
In terms of “persons”, the Order does not impose duties or confer rights on individuals. Instead, it governs what the law is (i.e., which version is legally proper). Therefore, its practical applicability is universal within the legal system, but its substantive reach is limited to the Acts specified in the Schedule.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
Although the Order is brief, it is highly consequential for legal practice. In litigation and advisory work, the most common research risk is not that a statute is unknown, but that a lawyer may cite or rely on the wrong version—especially where amendments have occurred, or where different compilations exist. By declaring the loose-leaf edition as the “sole and only proper law”, the Order reduces the risk of citation disputes and ensures that courts apply the correct consolidated text.
For practitioners, the Order supports a disciplined approach to statutory research: when dealing with Acts included in the Schedule, lawyers should confirm that the authoritative version is the declared revised edition (here, the 1997 Revised Edition loose-leaf edition effective from 27 December 1996). This is particularly important when drafting pleadings, preparing submissions, or advising on compliance, because the legal outcome can hinge on the precise wording of provisions.
From an enforcement and governance standpoint, the Order also strengthens the integrity of the legislative framework. It reflects a formal mechanism for law revision and publication, ensuring that the legal system maintains a single, authoritative text for each relevant Act. This is a foundational element of the rule of law: laws must be knowable and consistently applied.
Related Legislation
- Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Cap. 275) — particularly Section 10 (publication of Acts in loose-leaf form) and Section 11(3) (President’s power to declare the loose-leaf edition as sole and only proper law)
- Gazette Notification: G.N. No. S 539/1996 (as referenced in the extract)
- Revised Edition of the Laws — 1997 RevEd (as referenced in the legislative history/timeline)
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.