Statute Details
- Title: Order under Section 11(3)
- Act Code: RELA1983-S429-2006
- Type: Subsidiary Legislation (SL)
- Enacting Formula: Presidential order made under section 11(3) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Cap. 275)
- Authorising Act: Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275)
- Key Legal Mechanism: Designates a “loose-leaf edition” of specified Acts as the sole and only proper law of Singapore
- Gazette / Publication: Order published in the Gazette (as indicated by the enacting formula)
- Commencement / Effective Date: 31 July 2006
- Document Identifier: SL 429/2006
- Status: Current version as at 27 Mar 2026
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 certain Acts in a loose-leaf format (reflecting the law “as in force” on a specified date), the President may order that those loose-leaf editions become the sole and only proper law of Singapore for the listed Acts.
The practical effect is to remove ambiguity about which version of the law is authoritative for use in courts and for all purposes. Once the order takes effect, lawyers and courts should treat the designated loose-leaf editions as the definitive legal text for the specified Acts, rather than relying on older printed editions or other unofficial compilations.
Although the extract provided does not reproduce the full Schedule contents (the Acts listed), the structure of the order makes clear that the Schedule contains the Acts that were published in loose-leaf form by the Law Revision Commissioners. The order is therefore best understood as a legitimising and updating mechanism for the authoritative legal corpus.
What Are the Key Provisions?
1. The “loose-leaf edition” designation mechanism (section 11(3) framework). The enacting formula 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 1st July 2006”. The order then relies on section 11(3), which empowers the Commissioners to transmit copies of these loose-leaf editions to the President, and empowers the President—by order published in the Gazette—to specify that the loose-leaf editions shall be the sole and only proper law of Singapore in respect of those Acts.
For practitioners, the key legal consequence is the phrase “sole and only proper law”. This is not merely a recommendation or a publication preference; it is a legal designation intended to ensure that the authoritative text is the one that has been revised and issued in the specified format. In disputes about what the law “is”, the order supports the argument that the loose-leaf edition is the controlling source.
2. Effective date and retrospective legal certainty. The order provides that the loose-leaf editions shall, with effect from 31st July 2006, be the sole and only proper law of Singapore in respect of the Acts in the Schedule. This matters because the law revision process often involves a cut-off date for “as in force” status (here, 1 July 2006) and a separate date for when the revised edition becomes authoritative (here, 31 July 2006).
In practice, counsel may need to consider whether the relevant events in a case occurred before or after the effective date. While the order is about the authoritative text, not about changing substantive law by itself, it can affect how the law is cited, how amendments are reflected, and which version of statutory wording is treated as proper law. For litigation strategy, this can influence the precision of statutory interpretation arguments and the reliability of quotations from the statute.
3. The Schedule-driven scope. The order is not universal; it applies only to the Acts set out in the Schedule. The Schedule is therefore the scope-limiting feature. The enacting formula indicates that the Law Revision Commissioners published the Acts in loose-leaf form “as in force on 1st July 2006” and that the President’s order covers those Acts. The Schedule is thus the definitive list for determining which Acts are affected by the “sole and only proper law” designation.
For a lawyer, the immediate task is to identify the Acts relevant to the matter and confirm whether they are included in the Schedule to this order (SL 429/2006). If an Act is included, the loose-leaf edition designated by the order is the proper law source. If an Act is not included, other sources (such as other revised editions or subsequent amendments) may govern.
4. Formalities: Presidential order and Gazette publication. The order is made “by the President” and is dated “10th day of July 2006”, with the effective date being 31 July 2006. The enacting formula emphasises that the President may specify the proper law “by order published in the Gazette”. This formal requirement reinforces that the designation is an official legal act, not merely an administrative publication.
From an evidential and procedural standpoint, the Gazette publication requirement supports the reliability of the order as an authoritative legal instrument. In submissions, counsel can cite the order to justify reliance on the revised loose-leaf text as the proper law.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
This instrument is structured in a straightforward manner typical of orders made under the Revised Edition of the Laws Act. It contains:
(1) Enacting formula setting out the legal basis and the factual premise (publication by the Law Revision Commissioners under section 10, transmission to the President, and the President’s power under section 11(3)).
(2) The operative provision in the form of the key sentence: the loose-leaf editions of the Acts in the Schedule shall, with effect from 31 July 2006, be the sole and only proper law of Singapore in respect of those Acts.
(3) The Schedule (not reproduced in the extract you provided) which lists the Acts covered by the order.
(4) Dating and signature by the relevant official (here, the Secretary to the Cabinet acting “By Command”), reflecting the formal nature of the Presidential order.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
Although the order is addressed to the legal system rather than to a particular class of persons, its practical application is broad. It applies to courts and to all purposes where the proper law of Singapore must be identified for the Acts listed in the Schedule. In other words, it governs how the law is treated and cited in legal proceedings and legal transactions.
Lawyers, judges, government agencies, and private parties all benefit from the clarity that the designated loose-leaf editions are the authoritative versions. The order does not directly regulate conduct (such as licensing, offences, or regulatory obligations). Instead, it regulates the status of the legal text itself.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
The importance of this order lies in its role in ensuring legal certainty and textual authority. In any legal system, disputes can arise not only about the meaning of a statute but also about which version of the statute is authoritative—especially where amendments, revisions, and reprints occur over time. By designating the loose-leaf editions as the “sole and only proper law”, the order reduces the risk of citation errors and interpretive confusion.
For practitioners, this matters in at least three ways. First, it affects statutory citation and the reliability of quotations. When drafting pleadings, submissions, or advice, counsel must ensure that the statutory wording relied upon is the proper law. Second, it can affect interpretation arguments. Even minor differences in wording can influence statutory construction, particularly where courts apply principles such as purposive interpretation, textual analysis, or reliance on legislative history. Third, it supports litigation readiness: when a court is asked to determine the applicable law, the order provides a clear basis for what text should be treated as authoritative.
Finally, the order demonstrates the institutional architecture of Singapore’s law revision process. The Law Revision Commissioners publish revised Acts in loose-leaf form; the President then confirms their authoritative status. This helps maintain an up-to-date and coherent body of law, which is essential for both public administration and private legal practice.
Related Legislation
- Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275) — particularly sections 10 and 11(3) (the statutory basis for the Law Revision Commissioners’ publication and the President’s designation of proper law)
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.