Statute Details
- Title: Order under Section 11(3)
- Act Code: RELA1983-OR7
- Type: Subsidiary legislation (SL)
- Authorising Act: Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275), section 11(3)
- Enacting Formula: President’s order giving effect to the “sole and only proper law” status of specified revised booklets
- Commencement / Effective Date: 15 March 1993
- Status: Current version as at 27 March 2026 (per the legislation portal)
- Key Schedules: First Schedule and Second Schedule (Acts specified by the Law Revision Commissioners)
- Legislative History (as shown): SL 7/1994; Revised Edition of the Laws Act (1994 RevEd) (15 March 1993)
What Is This Legislation About?
This instrument is a Presidential order made under section 11(3) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275). In plain terms, it is a legal “switch” that confirms that certain published revised law booklets—prepared by the Law Revision Commissioners—are to be treated as the sole and only proper law of Singapore for the Acts listed in the order.
The order is connected to the process of law revision and consolidation. The Law Revision Commissioners publish Acts in separate booklets under two different pathways: one set under section 10(1)(a) and another set under section 10(1)(b) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act. The booklets are published “as in force on 31 December 1992”. The Presidential order then gives those booklets authoritative status in court and for all legal purposes.
Practically, the legislation addresses a common problem in legal systems: when laws are revised, renumbered, reformatted, or otherwise republished, lawyers and courts need certainty about which text is legally authoritative. This order provides that certainty by declaring that the specified revised booklets are the only proper law for the listed Acts, effective from 15 March 1993.
What Are the Key Provisions?
1. Authority and purpose under section 11(3)
The enacting formula explains the statutory chain. First, the Law Revision Commissioners published separate booklets containing Acts listed in the First Schedule and Second Schedule. Second, the Revised Edition of the Laws Act provides that the Commissioners must transmit copies of each booklet to the President. Third, the President may then issue an order published in the Gazette specifying that the booklets shall be the sole and only proper law of Singapore in respect of those Acts.
This order is therefore not a substantive reform of policy or rights; it is an authoritative legal status mechanism. It ensures that the revised texts are treated as the definitive legal versions.
2. “Sole and only proper law” effect
The operative effect is expressed in the final paragraph of the order: the President orders that the booklets shall, with effect from 15 March 1993, be the sole and only proper law of Singapore in respect of the Acts set out in the schedules.
For practitioners, this language is crucial. It means that when a court is determining the law for the specified Acts, it should rely on the revised booklets identified by the order, rather than earlier versions or alternative publications. The phrase “sole and only proper law” is designed to eliminate ambiguity about which text controls.
3. Schedules as the scope-limiting device
Although the extract provided does not reproduce the contents of the First Schedule and Second Schedule, the structure indicates that the schedules list the Acts covered by the order. The order’s scope is therefore determined by what is included in those schedules.
In practice, a lawyer should treat the schedules as the definitive index of which Acts are affected. If an Act is listed, the revised booklet text becomes the controlling legal text for that Act. If an Act is not listed, the order does not confer the same “sole and only proper law” status for that Act.
4. Temporal effect and version control
The order states an effective date: 15 March 1993. This matters for legal research and litigation strategy. If a dispute concerns events occurring before that date, counsel may need to consider whether the revised edition text is still relevant for interpretation, or whether earlier versions apply to the historical facts. However, the order’s “sole and only proper law” declaration is aimed at the legal text to be used in courts and for all purposes from the effective date.
Additionally, the portal indicates that the “current version” is as at 27 March 2026, and it references SL 7/1994 and a 1994 RevEd. This suggests that the order has been carried forward in later legislative compilations. Practitioners should therefore verify the correct version through the legislation timeline when relying on the instrument.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
The structure is typical of a law revision-related Presidential order. It contains:
(a) Enacting formula—explains the background and the statutory basis under the Revised Edition of the Laws Act, including the publication of booklets under section 10(1)(a) and section 10(1)(b), and the President’s power under section 11(3).
(b) Schedules—the First Schedule and Second Schedule identify the Acts covered by the order. These schedules are the key to determining the scope of the “sole and only proper law” effect.
(c) Legislative history / timeline metadata—the portal view includes a timeline entry showing 15 March 1993 and SL 7/1994, as well as the “1994 RevEd” reference. This is important for research, because the authoritative text may be republished or consolidated in later revised editions.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
This order applies to the legal system in Singapore—specifically, it governs how the listed Acts are treated in all courts and for all purposes. That means it affects judges, lawyers, litigants, and any decision-maker who must apply the law of Singapore as to the Acts listed in the schedules.
It does not directly regulate a class of persons (such as employers, employees, or regulated industries). Instead, it regulates legal authority: it determines which published text is the proper law for the specified Acts. Accordingly, its practical impact is felt in legal research, pleadings, statutory interpretation, and evidencing the applicable law.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
First, it provides certainty and uniformity. When laws are revised and republished, different versions may exist in circulation. Without a mechanism like this, disputes could arise over which text is authoritative—particularly where numbering, drafting style, or minor editorial changes occur during revision. By declaring the revised booklets as the “sole and only proper law,” the order reduces the risk of argument over textual control.
Second, it supports efficient litigation and legal research. Lawyers rely on consolidated and revised editions to cite statutory provisions accurately. This order underpins the reliability of those revised editions by confirming their legal status. In practice, it encourages counsel to cite the revised booklet text (as carried forward in the current legislation database) rather than older printings.
Third, it has interpretive consequences. While the order is procedural/administrative in nature, the “sole and only proper law” declaration can affect how courts interpret provisions, especially if the revised text includes renumbering or editorial consolidation. Even where substantive content is unchanged, the authoritative text is what courts will treat as the law. Therefore, practitioners should ensure that citations and quotations align with the authoritative version.
Related Legislation
- Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275) — in particular sections 10(1)(a), 10(1)(b), and 11(3)
- SL 7/1994 (as referenced in the legislative history/timeline)
- Revised Edition of the Laws (1994 RevEd) (as referenced in the timeline)
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.