Statute Details
- Title: Order under Section 11(3)
- Act Code: RELA1983-S682-2006
- Type: Subsidiary Legislation (SL)
- Legislative Instrument: Presidential Order
- Enacting Formula: “THE SCHEDULE” (order made pursuant to the Revised Edition of the Laws Act)
- Authorising Act: Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275)
- Key Legal Basis: Section 11(3) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act
- Commencement / Effective Date: 31 December 2006
- Gazette / Instrument Reference: No. S 682 (SL 682/2006)
- Status: Current version as at 27 Mar 2026 (per the platform extract)
- Schedule: Acts set out in the Schedule (not reproduced in the extract)
What Is This Legislation About?
This instrument is a Presidential Order made under section 11(3) of Singapore’s Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Cap. 275). In practical terms, it is not a “substantive” law that creates new rights or offences. Instead, it is an administrative/legal mechanism that determines which published 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 tied to a law revision process. Under section 10 of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act, the Law Revision Commissioners publish selected Acts in a “loose-leaf” format, reflecting the law as at a specified date. The Presidential Order then “locks in” that loose-leaf edition as the authoritative legal text—so that lawyers, judges, and the public can rely on a single proper version when citing the law.
Accordingly, the scope of this Order is limited to the Acts listed in its Schedule. The legal effect is to confirm that, from 31 December 2006, the loose-leaf edition of those Acts is the sole and only proper law of Singapore in respect of those Acts. This is crucial for legal certainty: it prevents disputes about whether an earlier or later compilation is the correct version for judicial determination.
What Are the Key Provisions?
1. The operative legal effect: “sole and only proper law”. The core provision of the Order states that the loose-leaf edition of the Acts set out in the Schedule shall, with effect from 31 December 2006, be the sole and only proper law of Singapore in respect of those Acts. This language is designed to eliminate ambiguity. In court proceedings, parties must cite the proper law; the Order ensures that the loose-leaf edition is the definitive reference point.
2. The legal pathway: section 10 publication by the Law Revision Commissioners. The enacting formula explains the background: 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 1 December 2006. This indicates that the loose-leaf edition is a snapshot of the law as at that earlier date, but the “sole and only proper law” effect is conferred from 31 December 2006.
3. The Presidential role under section 11(3). The Order also highlights the statutory discretion/power: section 11(3) provides that the Commissioners shall transmit to the President a copy of each loose-leaf edition of these Acts, and the President may then, by order published in the Gazette, specify that the loose-leaf edition shall be the sole and only proper law. The instrument therefore functions as the formal “Gazette order” that completes the revision process.
4. Date, formality, and publication. The Order is dated 11 December 2006 and made by command of the President (with the Secretary to the Cabinet signing). It is published as SL 682/2006. These formalities matter because, for legal practitioners, the authority of the “proper law” determination depends on the instrument being validly made and published in the Gazette as required by the enabling statute.
Practical note for practitioners: While the extract does not list the Acts in the Schedule, the Schedule is the operative scope. In practice, lawyers should confirm which Acts are included in the Schedule of SL 682/2006 and then ensure that citations and references in pleadings, submissions, and legal opinions rely on the loose-leaf edition that has been designated as the sole and only proper law from the effective date.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
This instrument is structured as a short Presidential Order with an enacting formula and an operative clause. The extract indicates that the document contains:
(a) Enacting formula setting out the statutory basis and the factual/legal background (section 10 publication; section 11(3) transmission and Presidential order; Gazette publication); and
(b) “THE SCHEDULE” which identifies the Acts to which the Order applies. Although the extract does not reproduce the Schedule contents, the Schedule is essential because it defines the set of Acts for which the loose-leaf edition becomes the sole and only proper law.
(c) Operative statement that the loose-leaf edition of the Acts in the Schedule shall, with effect from 31 December 2006, be the sole and only proper law of Singapore in respect of those Acts.
(d) Formal details including the date of the Order and the signatory.
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 law of Singapore must be identified and applied. The Order is therefore relevant to litigants, counsel, judges, and anyone who must cite or rely on the authoritative text of the Acts listed in the Schedule.
In terms of “who is affected,” the main impact is on legal citation and proof of law. The Order ensures that, for the specified Acts, the loose-leaf edition is the correct and authoritative legal text. This reduces the risk of arguments about whether a different compilation or version is the “proper law” for judicial consideration.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
First, this Order is important for legal certainty and consistency. Singapore’s legal system relies on accurate identification of the applicable law. When Acts are revised and republished in a new format, there can be confusion about which version should be treated as authoritative. By designating the loose-leaf edition as the “sole and only proper law,” the Order prevents competing claims about the correct text.
Second, the Order supports efficient adjudication. Courts can focus on the substantive issues rather than on preliminary disputes about the correct legal text. For practitioners, this means that once the proper law is fixed by the Order, counsel can confidently cite the designated edition without having to justify why a particular compilation is authoritative.
Third, the instrument has a procedural and evidential significance. In legal practice, the “proper law” concept matters for how the law is pleaded, cited, and relied upon. While the Order does not change the content of the Acts itself, it changes the legal status of the published edition—meaning that the edition becomes the definitive reference for courts and for all legal purposes from the effective date.
Finally, the Order is a reminder that legal research in Singapore must be version-aware. The platform extract notes “Current version as at 27 Mar 2026” and points users to the legislation timeline. Practitioners should therefore verify that they are consulting the correct version of the Order and the correct version of the Acts in the Schedule, particularly when preparing submissions that require precise statutory citations.
Related Legislation
- Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275) — in particular sections 10 and 11(3)
- Law Revision Commissioners’ loose-leaf publication process under section 10 (as referenced in the enacting formula)
- Gazette publication requirement for Presidential orders under section 11(3) (as referenced in the enacting formula)
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.