Statute Details
- Title: Order under Section 11(3) (Order under Section 11(3))
- Act Code: RELA1983-OR17
- Type: Subsidiary legislation / Order (SL)
- Authorising Act: Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Cap. 275), section 11(3)
- Enacting formula (summary): President’s order giving legal effect to the loose-leaf revised edition
- Gazette instrument: G.N. No. S 300/1998
- Key effective date: 30 May 1998
- Revised Edition: Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Cap. 275), 2000 RevEd (31 January 2000)
- Status: Current version as at 27 Mar 2026
- Parts / Key sections: Not applicable (order is procedural/administrative; operative effect is in the enacting terms and schedule)
What Is This Legislation About?
This instrument is a Singapore legal “order” made under section 11(3) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Cap. 275). In plain language, it is not a substantive regulatory statute that creates new rights or offences. Instead, it is an administrative/legal mechanism that determines which version of certain Acts counts as the sole and only proper law of Singapore for use in courts and for all legal purposes.
The order is connected to the process of producing a loose-leaf edition of Acts. The Laws Revision Commissioners publish Acts in loose-leaf form as at a specified date (here, as in force on 1 May 1998). The President may then, by order published in the Gazette, specify that the loose-leaf editions are the authoritative versions to be applied in all courts and for all purposes.
Accordingly, the practical “subject matter” of this order is legal certainty and version control. It ensures that when lawyers argue a point of law, the court applies the correct consolidated/updated text of the relevant Acts—namely, the loose-leaf edition specified in the schedule to the order.
What Are the Key Provisions?
1. Authority under section 11(3) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act
The order is grounded in section 11(3) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act. That provision empowers the Laws Revision Commissioners to publish Acts in loose-leaf form, and then requires the Commissioners to transmit copies to the President. The President may then issue a Gazette order specifying that the loose-leaf editions shall be treated as the sole and only proper law of Singapore in respect of those Acts.
For practitioners, the key takeaway is that the President’s order is the legal “switch” that elevates the loose-leaf edition from a publication format into the authoritative legal text for judicial and administrative use.
2. The “sole and only proper law” effect
The operative legal effect is expressed in the enacting terms: the President orders that the loose-leaf edition of the Acts set out in the Schedule shall, with effect from 30 May 1998, be the sole and only proper law of Singapore in respect of those Acts.
This phrase is significant. It is designed to prevent disputes about which version of an Act should be applied—whether earlier printed editions, interim amendments, or other compilations. Once the order takes effect, the specified loose-leaf edition becomes the definitive legal text.
3. Timing: effect from 30 May 1998
The order specifies a clear commencement/effect date: 30 May 1998. This matters in practice for transitional questions. If a legal issue arises between the date the loose-leaf edition was “as in force on 1 May 1998” and the date the order takes effect, counsel may need to consider whether the substantive law changed during that interval and how the authoritative text is applied.
While the order itself is procedural, the effective date can affect how quickly courts and practitioners adopt the revised text. In litigation, this can influence the accuracy of citations and the correct identification of the current statutory wording.
4. Relationship to the Revised Edition process (loose-leaf publication)
The enacting formula explains the background: pursuant to section 10 of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act, the Laws Revision Commissioners published in loose-leaf form the Acts set out in the Schedule as in force on 1 May 1998. The President’s order then confirms that those loose-leaf editions are the authoritative versions.
For lawyers, this is a reminder that the “revision” is not merely editorial. It is a formal legal process that culminates in an order giving the revised text its authoritative status. When drafting pleadings, preparing advice, or conducting statutory interpretation, practitioners should ensure they rely on the version that is “proper law” as at the relevant time.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
This instrument is structured in a way typical of Gazette orders made under a parent enabling statute.
Enacting formula: It begins with “Whereas” clauses describing the legal steps taken under the Revised Edition of the Laws Act—publication by the Commissioners and transmission to the President.
Operative part: The President’s order then states the legal consequence: the loose-leaf edition of the Acts in the Schedule becomes the sole and only proper law of Singapore for those Acts, effective from 30 May 1998.
Schedule: The Schedule is referenced as containing the Acts to which the order applies. In the extract provided, the Schedule content is not shown; however, the Schedule is central because it defines the scope of Acts covered by the “sole and only proper law” effect.
Legislative history / versions: The instrument is shown as having a timeline including SL 300/1998 and a later 2000 Revised Edition (31 January 2000). The “current version as at 27 Mar 2026” indicates that the order remains in force in the consolidated legislative database, even if no further amendments are apparent from the extract.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
Although the order is directed at the legal status of Acts, its practical application is broad. It affects all courts and all persons who rely on the text of the Acts covered by the Schedule, because the order states that the specified loose-leaf editions are the sole and only proper law of Singapore in respect of those Acts.
In practice, this means the order applies to:
- Judges and court officers determining the authoritative statutory text for interpretation and application;
- Lawyers citing statutory provisions in pleadings, submissions, and advice;
- Government agencies applying legislation in enforcement and administrative decision-making;
- Members of the public indirectly, because the authoritative text governs rights, duties, and legal outcomes.
Importantly, the order does not itself create substantive obligations. Instead, it governs which version of the substantive Acts is legally authoritative.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
This order is important because it underpins legal certainty in Singapore’s legislative framework. Statutory interpretation depends on the exact wording of provisions. If multiple versions of an Act could be argued as “current,” litigation would become more complex and outcomes less predictable. By declaring the loose-leaf edition as the sole and only proper law for specified Acts, the order reduces version disputes and supports consistent judicial application.
For practitioners, the order is also a practical citation and research tool. When advising clients or preparing court documents, lawyers must ensure they are working from the correct authoritative text. The order’s effect date (30 May 1998) and the fact that it is tied to a specific loose-leaf publication as at 1 May 1998 can be relevant when determining the correct statutory wording for events occurring around that period.
Finally, the order illustrates how Singapore maintains the integrity of its legislative corpus through formal revision mechanisms. The Revised Edition of the Laws Act provides the framework, while orders under section 11(3) operationalise the transition from published loose-leaf editions to the legally authoritative “proper law” status. This is a foundational aspect of legislative governance, even if the order itself is procedural.
Related Legislation
- Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275) — in particular sections 10 and 11(3)
- Gazette notification: G.N. No. S 300/1998
- Revised Edition of the Laws Act — 2000 RevEd (31 January 2000)
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.