Statute Details
- Title: Order under Section 11(3)
- Act Code: RELA1983-S515-2009
- Type: Subsidiary Legislation (SL)
- Legislative Instrument Number: SL 515/2009
- Status: Current version as at 27 Mar 2026
- Commencement (effective date): 31 October 2009
- Enacting Formula / Authority: Ordered by the President
- Authorising Act: Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Cap. 275)
- Key Enabling Provision: Section 11(3) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act
- Instrument Date: Dated 13 October 2009
- Publication Mechanism: Order published in the Gazette
What Is This Legislation About?
This instrument is a presidential order made under section 11(3) of Singapore’s Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Cap. 275). In practical terms, it is not a “substantive law” that creates new rights or offences. Instead, it is a legal mechanism that determines which version of certain Acts will be treated as the authoritative “proper law” of Singapore for use in courts and for all legal purposes.
The order is linked to a law revision exercise. The Law Revision Commissioners publish selected Acts in a “loose-leaf” format, reflecting the Acts as they stand as at a specified date (here, as in force on 1 October 2009). The President then has the power—by order published in the Gazette—to specify that the loose-leaf edition of those Acts shall be the sole and only proper law of Singapore in respect of those Acts.
Accordingly, the core function of this order is to “lock in” the loose-leaf revised editions as the definitive legal text. This ensures consistency, reduces disputes about which version applies, and provides courts, practitioners, and the public with a single authoritative reference point.
What Are the Key Provisions?
1. Recognition of the loose-leaf revised edition process (preamble). The order begins with recitals explaining the statutory background. It states that, pursuant to section 10 of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act, the Law Revision Commissioners have published in loose-leaf form the Acts set out in the Schedule as in force on 1 October 2009. This establishes that the loose-leaf compilation is part of a formal revision and publication process, not an informal reprint.
2. The President’s power to designate the loose-leaf edition as “sole and only proper law”. The recitals further explain that section 11(3) empowers the Commissioners to transmit a copy of the loose-leaf edition to the President. The President may then, by order published in the Gazette, specify that the loose-leaf edition shall, in all courts and for all purposes, be the sole and only proper law of Singapore in respect of those Acts.
3. The operative designation and effective date. The operative part of the order provides that the loose-leaf edition of the Acts (as set out in the Schedule) shall, with effect from 31 October 2009, be the sole and only proper law of Singapore in respect of those Acts. This is the key legal consequence: from the effective date, courts and legal actors must treat the loose-leaf revised edition as the authoritative text.
4. Formalities and dating. The order is dated 13 October 2009 and signed “By Command” by the Secretary to the Cabinet, Singapore (LAU WAH MING). While these details may appear administrative, they confirm the instrument’s validity and the formal chain of authority required for a presidential order under the enabling statute.
Note on the Schedule. The extract provided references “THE SCHEDULE” but does not reproduce the list of Acts. For practitioners, the Schedule is essential because it identifies precisely which Acts are covered by the designation. In practice, the Schedule will be consulted to confirm whether a particular Act you are working with is included in the revised loose-leaf edition.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
This instrument is structured in a conventional format for orders made under the Revised Edition of the Laws Act:
(a) Title and status information. The document identifies itself as an “Order under Section 11(3)” and indicates it is the current version as at 27 March 2026. This matters because legal databases may consolidate amendments or provide updated versions even for instruments that are primarily historical in effect.
(b) Enacting formula. The enacting formula confirms that the President orders the designation described in the operative clause.
(c) Recitals (Whereas clauses). These explain the statutory steps: publication by the Law Revision Commissioners under section 10, transmission to the President, and the President’s power under section 11(3) to designate the loose-leaf edition as sole and only proper law.
(d) The Schedule. The Schedule identifies the Acts covered by the order. Even though the extract does not show the Schedule contents, the Schedule is the practical “scope” of the order.
(e) Operative clause. The operative clause sets the effective date (31 October 2009) and the legal effect (“sole and only proper law” in all courts and for all purposes).
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
The order applies to the Acts listed in its Schedule. It does not apply to a category of persons (such as employers, employees, or regulated industries). Instead, it applies to the legal texts themselves—determining which edition is the authoritative version.
Its practical effect is felt by courts, legal practitioners, and anyone relying on the text of the covered Acts for legal purposes. When a court interprets or applies a covered Act, it must treat the loose-leaf revised edition (as designated) as the sole and only proper law. Similarly, practitioners should ensure that citations and quotations are taken from the designated authoritative edition to avoid discrepancies.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
Although this order is procedural in nature, it is highly significant for legal certainty. In legal practice, the most dangerous errors are not merely substantive misunderstandings—they are also textual errors: citing the wrong version of an Act, relying on an outdated consolidation, or quoting provisions that have been renumbered or revised during a law revision exercise.
By declaring that the loose-leaf edition is the “sole and only proper law” for the covered Acts, the order eliminates ambiguity about which text governs. This supports consistent judicial interpretation and reduces the risk of disputes about the authenticity of statutory language.
For practitioners, the order also has a practical workflow impact. When preparing pleadings, submissions, or legal opinions, lawyers must confirm that the statutory provisions they cite correspond to the authoritative version in force. In Singapore’s legal information systems, the “current version” label may reflect consolidation and updates; however, the underlying authority for the text often traces back to orders like this one that designate the proper law editions.
Finally, the instrument illustrates the institutional architecture of law revision in Singapore: the Law Revision Commissioners publish revised loose-leaf Acts, and the President’s order ensures that the revised editions become the definitive legal texts for courts and all purposes. Understanding this mechanism helps lawyers appreciate why certain legal databases may show “revised editions” and why effective dates matter for determining which version was authoritative at a given time.
Related Legislation
- Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275) — in particular, sections 10 and 11(3)
- Law Revision Commissioners framework under the Revised Edition of the Laws Act (institutional context)
- Gazette publication requirement for presidential orders under section 11(3)
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.