Statute Details
- Title: Order under Section 11(3)
- Act Code: RELA1983-OR25
- Type: Subsidiary legislation (SL)
- Status: Current version as at 27 Mar 2026
- Commencement / Effective date (as stated): 31 December 2001
- Authorising Act: Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Cap. 275), specifically section 11(3)
- Gazette / Instrument reference: G.N. No. S 640/2001
- Revised Edition reference: Revised Edition of the Laws Act, 2002 RevEd (31st January 2002)
- Key operative mechanism: Confirmation that specified loose-leaf editions are the “sole and only proper law” for Singapore courts and all purposes
What Is This Legislation About?
This instrument is an administrative-but-legal “order” made by the President of Singapore to give legal certainty to the status of certain published legal materials. In substance, it addresses a technical question that matters in litigation and legal practice: when the Law Revision Commissioners publish Acts in loose-leaf form as part of a revised edition, which version counts as the proper law of Singapore?
The order is made under section 11(3) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Cap. 275). It follows a process where the Law Revision Commissioners publish Acts in loose-leaf form “as in force” at a specified date. The President then issues an order (published in the Gazette) specifying that those loose-leaf editions shall be treated as the sole and only proper law of Singapore in respect of the Acts covered.
Although the text provided is short and largely procedural, its practical impact is significant. It ensures that courts and legal practitioners rely on a single authoritative legal text for the specified Acts, thereby reducing disputes about which edition is legally operative and preventing fragmentation between printed and loose-leaf versions.
What Are the Key Provisions?
1. The enabling framework (section 11(3) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act)
The order is grounded in section 11(3) of Cap. 275. The mechanism works as follows: (i) the Law Revision Commissioners publish Acts in loose-leaf form as they stand at a particular cut-off date; (ii) the Commissioners transmit copies to the President; and (iii) the President may then, by order published in the Gazette, specify that the loose-leaf editions are the sole and only proper law of Singapore for the relevant Acts.
In plain language, section 11(3) provides the legal “switch” that upgrades the loose-leaf publication from being merely an editorial or publishing format into being the authoritative legal text for all courts and purposes.
2. The operative declaration: “sole and only proper law”
The core operative statement in the order is that the loose-leaf edition of the Acts set out in the Schedule shall, with effect from 31 December 2001, be the sole and only proper law of Singapore in respect of those Acts.
This phrase is legally important. It is not simply saying that the loose-leaf edition is “a” proper law or “the current” version. It is stating exclusivity: for the Acts covered, the loose-leaf edition is the only proper law to be applied in court and for all purposes. That exclusivity helps prevent arguments that an earlier printed edition, a different compilation, or an unofficial copy could be treated as authoritative.
3. The effective date (31 December 2001)
The order specifies that the legal effect begins on 31 December 2001. This matters because legal rights and obligations often turn on the law “as at” a particular date. By fixing the effective date, the order clarifies when the loose-leaf edition becomes the controlling legal text.
For practitioners, this means that when researching the law for events occurring on or after the effective date, reliance should be placed on the loose-leaf edition specified by the order (subject to later amendments). For events before that date, the applicable law may be different, depending on what was in force at the relevant time.
4. Procedural recitals and the role of the Law Revision Commissioners
The enacting formula includes recitals: the Law Revision Commissioners have published in loose-leaf form the Acts set out in the Schedule as in force on 30 November 2001; and section 11(3) requires the Commissioners to transmit copies to the President, who may then issue the order.
While recitals are not always treated as operative provisions, they are crucial for interpretation. They show that the order is part of a structured legislative revision process, not an ad hoc change. The reference to “as in force on 30th November 2001” indicates the editorial cut-off used for the loose-leaf compilation, which can be relevant when determining whether a particular amendment was included in the revised edition.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
This instrument is structured as a short order with the following elements:
(a) Enacting formula — sets out the legal basis and the President’s authority under section 11(3) of Cap. 275.
(b) The Schedule — identifies the Acts covered by the order. In the extract provided, the Schedule content is not shown, but the Schedule is central because it determines which Acts are affected by the “sole and only proper law” declaration.
(c) Legislative history / timeline — indicates the instrument’s publication and revision history. The extract shows references to SL 640/2001 and the 2002 Revised Edition (31 January 2002), and it notes that the current version is as at 27 March 2026.
In practical terms, the “structure” is less about substantive rules (there are none in the extract) and more about legal status and bibliographic authority: it is a mechanism to define which text is authoritative.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
The order applies to the Acts listed in its Schedule. It does not create obligations directly on the public in the way that a typical regulatory statute would. Instead, it governs the legal status of the published text of those Acts for use in Singapore.
Accordingly, its primary “audience” is the legal system: courts, legal practitioners, and any person or body who must determine what the “proper law” is for the Acts covered. The order’s effect is “in all courts and for all purposes,” meaning it is intended to be universally binding in legal proceedings and legal interpretation.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
Even though this order is brief, it plays an important role in maintaining legal certainty. Singapore’s legal system relies on accurate and authoritative texts. When laws are republished in revised editions, there is a risk of confusion about which version should be treated as controlling. By declaring the loose-leaf edition to be the sole and only proper law (for the Acts in the Schedule), the order eliminates ambiguity and supports consistent judicial application.
For practitioners, this matters in several ways:
- Research and citation accuracy: When citing legislation, lawyers must ensure they are using the authoritative version. An order like this supports the proposition that the specified loose-leaf edition is the controlling text for the relevant Acts as from the effective date.
- Litigation readiness: In disputes about statutory interpretation, parties may challenge which text is legally operative. The “sole and only proper law” language strengthens the position that the specified edition is the correct one to rely on.
- Temporal application: The effective date (31 December 2001) helps practitioners determine which version applied at particular times, especially where amendments or revisions occurred around the cut-off dates.
Finally, the order reflects a broader legislative governance principle: law revision is not merely editorial. It is integrated into the legal framework through formal instruments that confer authoritative status. This ensures that the revision process enhances clarity without undermining legal continuity.
Related Legislation
- Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275) — particularly section 11(3)
- SL 640/2001 (as referenced in the legislative history/timeline)
- Revised Edition of the Laws Act (2002 RevEd) (31 January 2002)
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.