Statute Details
- Title: Order under Section 11(3)
- Act Code: RELA1983-S350-2001
- Type: Subsidiary Legislation (SL)
- Authorising Act: Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Cap. 275)
- Legislative Instrument: Presidential Order published in the Gazette
- Commencement / Effective Date: 31 July 2001
- Gazette / SL Reference: SL 350/2001
- Status: Current version as at 27 Mar 2026
- Key Provision (as referenced): Section 11(3) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act
- Schedule: Acts set out in the Schedule (not reproduced in the extract provided)
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 a legal “switch” that confirms which version of certain Acts is to be treated as the authoritative law of Singapore for use in courts and for all legal purposes.
The Order is tied to a specific revision exercise. The Law Revision Commissioners publish Acts in “loose-leaf” form, reflecting the Acts as in force at a particular cut-off date (here, 30 June 2001). The President then may—by order published in the Gazette—specify that the loose-leaf editions of those Acts shall become the sole and only proper law of Singapore in respect of those Acts.
Accordingly, the practical effect of this Order is not to create new substantive legal rights or offences. Instead, it governs legal certainty and citation: it ensures that when lawyers, courts, and government agencies refer to the specified Acts, they are referring to the correct consolidated/revised version that is legally authoritative from the effective date (31 July 2001).
What Are the Key Provisions?
1. The “whereas” recitals and the revision context. The Order begins by explaining the statutory process under 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 30th June 2001.” This matters because it frames the loose-leaf editions as a formal revision of existing legislation, rather than a set of new enactments.
2. The President’s power under section 11(3). The recitals then identify the legal basis for the Order: section 11(3) provides that the Commissioners shall transmit to the President a copy of each loose-leaf edition, and the President may, by order published in the Gazette, specify that those loose-leaf editions shall be the sole and only proper law of Singapore in respect of the Acts concerned.
3. The operative clause: “sole and only proper law”. The core operative statement is that the loose-leaf editions of the Acts in the Schedule shall, with effect from 31st July 2001, be “the sole and only proper law of Singapore” in respect of those Acts. This phrase is legally significant. It means that for the specified Acts, the loose-leaf edition is treated as the definitive legal text for all courts and all purposes—effectively displacing other competing versions (for example, earlier revised editions or other compilations) for those Acts.
4. Formalities: date and signature. The Order is dated 5 July 2001 and signed by the Secretary to the Cabinet (acting “By Command”). While these are procedural details, they are important for practitioners verifying authenticity and the instrument’s formal validity.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
Structurally, the instrument is brief and follows a standard format for Gazette orders under the Revised Edition of the Laws Act. Based on the extract, it comprises:
(a) Enacting formula / title: “Order under Section 11(3)”.
(b) Recitals (“Whereas” clauses): These set out the factual and legal background—publication of loose-leaf Acts by the Law Revision Commissioners under section 10, and the President’s power under section 11(3).
(c) The Schedule: This is where the specific Acts covered by the Order are listed. The extract provided does not show the Schedule contents, but the Schedule is central because it determines which Acts are affected by the “sole and only proper law” designation.
(d) Operative provision: The statement that the loose-leaf editions are the sole and only proper law with effect from 31 July 2001.
(e) Date and signature block: Dated 5 July 2001 and signed by the Secretary to the Cabinet.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
Although the Order is addressed to the legal system rather than to a class of persons, its effect is broad. It applies to all courts and for all purposes in Singapore in relation to the Acts listed in the Schedule. In practice, that means judges, prosecutors, defence counsel, regulators, and private litigants must rely on the specified loose-leaf editions as the authoritative legal text for those Acts.
There is no direct “personal” scope (such as “persons carrying on business” or “employees”) because the Order is about textual authority. However, every legal actor who cites or applies the covered Acts is indirectly affected, since incorrect versioning can lead to citation errors, misstatements of law, or procedural disputes about what the “proper law” is at the relevant time.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
For practitioners, the importance of this instrument lies in its role in maintaining legal certainty and uniformity in the authoritative version of legislation. Singapore’s legal system depends on accurate statutory text. When Acts are revised and republished in loose-leaf form, there must be a clear mechanism to ensure that courts treat that revised text as the definitive legal reference.
This Order provides that mechanism. By declaring the loose-leaf editions to be the “sole and only proper law” from a specified date, it reduces ambiguity about which version is controlling. This is particularly relevant in litigation where parties may argue about the correct wording of provisions, the effect of amendments, or the status of transitional text. Even where the substantive law has not changed materially, the authoritative text must be correctly identified.
From an enforcement and compliance perspective, the Order also supports consistent application by government agencies. Regulators and enforcement officers often rely on consolidated statutory materials. The “sole and only proper law” designation helps ensure that enforcement actions are grounded in the correct legislative text as at the effective date of the revised edition.
Related Legislation
- Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275) — in particular sections 10 and 11(3)
- Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Cap. 275) — general framework for law revision and publication in loose-leaf form
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.