Statute Details
- Title: Order under Section 11(3)
- Act Code: RELA1983-S567-2007
- Type: Subsidiary Legislation (SL)
- Authorising Act: Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Cap. 275)
- Legislative Instrument: Presidential Order published in the Gazette
- Legislation Status: Current version as at 27 Mar 2026
- Original Publication / Version Date: 26 Oct 2007 (SL 567/2007)
- Commencement (Effect) Date: 31 Oct 2007 (for the “sole and only proper law” effect)
- Key Mechanism: Confers legal effect on loose-leaf editions of Acts listed in the Schedule
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 part of Singapore’s legal “revision” and consolidation process. When the Law Revision Commissioners publish Acts in loose-leaf form (as part of a revised edition), this Order determines that those loose-leaf versions become the authoritative legal text for use in courts and for all legal purposes.
The Order is not a substantive law that creates new rights or offences. Instead, it is a legal validity and publication mechanism. Its practical function is to ensure that, once the revised loose-leaf editions are designated, lawyers, courts, and government bodies can rely on a single authoritative version of the law—thereby reducing uncertainty that might arise from multiple printed or earlier consolidated versions.
Although the extract provided shows the enacting formula and the operative clause, the Order’s effect depends on the Acts listed in its Schedule. The Schedule is where the specific Acts covered by the Order are identified. The Order then states that, with effect from 31 October 2007, the loose-leaf editions of those Acts shall be the “sole and only proper law of Singapore” in respect of those Acts.
What Are the Key Provisions?
1. The “sole and only proper law” designation
The core operative provision is the President’s order that the loose-leaf editions of the Acts set out in the Schedule shall, with effect from 31 October 2007, be the sole and only proper law of Singapore in respect of those Acts. This phrase is legally significant: it is designed to eliminate disputes over which version of the law is authoritative. Once the designation takes effect, the loose-leaf edition is treated as the definitive legal text for all courts and all purposes.
2. Triggering process under the Revised Edition of the Laws Act
The Order’s recitals explain the statutory pathway. First, under section 10 of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act, the Law Revision Commissioners publish in loose-leaf form the Acts set out in the Schedule as in force on 1 October 2007. Second, section 11(3) provides that the Commissioners must transmit a copy of each loose-leaf edition to the President. Third, the President may then, by order published in the Gazette, specify that the loose-leaf editions shall become the sole and only proper law.
3. Gazette publication and presidential authority
The Order emphasises that the designation is made “by order published in the Gazette.” This reflects a constitutional and procedural safeguard: the legal effect is not created informally, but through an official publication mechanism. The President’s role is central because it confers final legal authority on the revised loose-leaf editions.
4. Effective date and legal continuity
The Order specifies an effective date: 31 October 2007. This matters for practitioners because it determines when the revised loose-leaf editions become authoritative. For matters arising before that date, earlier versions may have been the proper law; for matters after, the revised loose-leaf editions are the controlling texts. In practice, lawyers should ensure that they cite the correct version relevant to the relevant time period, especially where amendments or revisions could affect interpretation.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
This instrument is structured as a short Presidential Order with a standard legal format:
(a) Enacting formula
The enacting formula sets out the legal basis and authority for the Order. It typically includes the statutory references and the President’s command.
(b) Recitals
The recitals explain the background: the Law Revision Commissioners’ publication under section 10, the transmission to the President under section 11(3), and the President’s power to designate the loose-leaf editions as authoritative.
(c) The Schedule
The Schedule is the key structural component that identifies which Acts are covered. While the extract does not list the Acts, the Schedule is essential because the operative clause applies only to the Acts “set out in the Schedule.”
(d) Operative clause
The operative clause provides the legal effect: from 31 October 2007, the loose-leaf editions of the scheduled Acts become the sole and only proper law of Singapore in respect of those Acts.
(e) Date and signature block
The Order includes the date (11 October 2007) and the signature/attestation by the relevant official (as shown in the extract).
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
In a practical sense, this Order applies to everyone who uses or relies on the law of Singapore: courts, tribunals, government agencies, legal practitioners, and the public. However, its direct legal effect is on the authoritative legal text of the Acts listed in the Schedule. It does not impose obligations on individuals in the way that regulatory or penal legislation does.
More specifically, the Order is relevant to practitioners because it determines which version of the law is the “proper law” for “all courts and for all purposes.” That means when drafting pleadings, preparing submissions, advising clients, or citing statutory provisions, lawyers should rely on the loose-leaf revised edition designated by the Order (for the Acts covered), rather than earlier consolidated or printed versions.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
1. It resolves legal authority and citation certainty
One of the most important functions of this Order is to ensure legal certainty. Singapore’s legal system relies on accurate and authoritative statutory texts. By designating the loose-leaf editions as the sole and only proper law, the Order prevents arguments that a different version is controlling. This is particularly valuable during periods of transition when multiple editions might exist in circulation.
2. It supports consistent judicial interpretation
Courts must interpret statutes based on the correct text. If different versions were treated as equally authoritative, it could lead to inconsistent outcomes. The “sole and only proper law” mechanism helps ensure that judicial interpretation is grounded in a single definitive source for the scheduled Acts.
3. It affects how practitioners should research and cite statutes
For lawyers, the practical impact is immediate: statutory research must be aligned with the authoritative version. Even if the substantive content of an Act has not changed materially, the authoritative status of the text affects how it should be cited and relied upon. Additionally, because the Order specifies an effective date (31 October 2007), practitioners should consider whether the relevant legal period for a case falls before or after that date.
4. It illustrates the governance of legal revision in Singapore
Although the Order is procedural, it reflects a broader institutional framework: the Law Revision Commissioners’ role in preparing revised editions, and the President’s role in finalising the legal effect through Gazette publication. Understanding this framework helps practitioners appreciate why certain legal texts are treated as authoritative and how legal revisions are operationalised.
Related Legislation
- Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275) — In particular, sections 10 and 11(3), which provide the mechanism for publishing loose-leaf editions and designating them as the sole and only proper law.
- Gazette publication requirements — The Order’s validity depends on being published in the Gazette (as referenced in the recitals).
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.