Statute Details
- Title: Order under Section 11(3)
- Act Code: RELA1983-S638-2002
- Legislation Type: Subsidiary legislation / statutory order (SL)
- Legislative Status: Current version as at 27 Mar 2026
- Order Date: 5 December 2002
- Effective Date: 31 December 2002
- Gazette Publication: Published pursuant to the President’s order power under the Revised Edition of the Laws Act
- Authorising Act: Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275)
- Key Legal Provision: Section 11(3) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act
- Schedule: “Acts set out in the Schedule” (the text provided indicates the Schedule contains the relevant Acts, as published in loose-leaf form)
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 plain terms, it deals with a technical but highly consequential question: which version of the law is to be treated as the authoritative “proper law” of Singapore for use in courts and for all legal purposes.
The order is linked to the Law Revision Commissioners’ publication of Acts in a loose-leaf format. Loose-leaf editions are typically used to facilitate updates and revisions. However, for legal certainty, the legal system must clearly identify the edition that courts will treat as authoritative. This order answers that question by specifying that the loose-leaf editions of the Acts listed in the Schedule are to be the sole and only proper law of Singapore in respect of those Acts.
Accordingly, the order does not primarily “create” substantive legal rules (such as new offences, rights, or procedures). Instead, it confers legal authority on a particular compilation/edition of existing Acts, ensuring that practitioners and courts rely on the correct consolidated text as at the effective date (31 December 2002).
What Are the Key Provisions?
1. The “sole and only proper law” mechanism
The core operative statement provides that the loose-leaf editions of the Acts set out in the Schedule shall, with effect from 31 December 2002, be the sole and only proper law of Singapore in respect of those Acts. This phrase is legally significant: it is designed to prevent disputes about which compilation is authoritative—particularly where multiple versions (e.g., earlier revised editions, subsequent amendments, or different publication formats) might exist.
2. Triggered by the Law Revision Commissioners’ loose-leaf publication
The preamble explains 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 10 December 2002. The order then relies on section 11(3), which empowers the Commissioners to transmit copies of those loose-leaf editions to the President, and empowers the President to issue an order specifying that those loose-leaf editions shall become the proper law.
3. Legal effect “in all courts and for all purposes”
The order’s effect is not limited to a particular forum or procedural context. It expressly states that the loose-leaf editions shall be the sole and only proper law “in all courts and for all purposes”. Practically, this means that when a lawyer cites the law, argues a point, or relies on statutory text, the court should treat the loose-leaf edition as the authoritative text for the Acts in the Schedule as from the effective date.
4. Administrative formality and dating
The order is dated 5 December 2002 and signed “By Command” by the Secretary to the Cabinet, Singapore (ONG KOK MIN). While this is not substantive law, it is important for practitioners because it confirms the instrument’s formal validity and its place within the legislative process under the Revised Edition of the Laws Act. The bracketed reference “[AG/REV/ED/1/2002]” indicates the administrative file reference used in the legal publishing process.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
Structurally, this instrument is relatively short and is organised around the standard components of a Presidential order under the Revised Edition of the Laws Act:
• Enacting formula: The formal legal language that frames the order as a Presidential act made under the relevant statutory authority.
• Preamble (“Whereas” clauses): These clauses set out the factual and legal background: (i) section 10 requires the Law Revision Commissioners to publish Acts in loose-leaf form as in force on a specified date; (ii) section 11(3) requires transmission to the President; and (iii) the President may then specify, by order published in the Gazette, that the loose-leaf editions are the sole and only proper law.
• Operative provision: The key command that the loose-leaf editions of the Acts in the Schedule become the sole and only proper law with effect from 31 December 2002.
• The Schedule: The Schedule is where the “Acts set out” are listed. Although the extract provided does not reproduce the Schedule contents, it is the Schedule that determines which Acts are covered by the order. For legal practice, the Schedule is therefore the critical cross-reference for identifying the specific statutes whose authoritative text is being fixed by this order.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
This order applies to the legal system—specifically, it governs how the Acts listed in the Schedule are to be treated by all courts and for all purposes in Singapore. In that sense, it applies to everyone who uses or relies on those Acts: judges, lawyers, litigants, regulators, and government agencies.
More precisely, the order’s practical effect is on legal interpretation and citation. When a practitioner is determining the correct statutory text for the Acts in the Schedule as at and after 31 December 2002, the loose-leaf edition identified by the order is the authoritative “proper law.” This reduces ambiguity and supports consistency across proceedings.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
Although the order is procedural and publication-focused, it has real consequences for legal practice. In litigation and advisory work, the correct version of statutory text can determine outcomes—particularly where amendments, renumbering, or consolidation changes have occurred. By declaring the loose-leaf editions as the “sole and only proper law,” the order provides a clear anchor for statutory authority.
From an enforcement and compliance perspective, the order also supports regulatory certainty. Agencies and practitioners must be able to rely on a stable, authoritative text when implementing statutory duties, issuing decisions, or advising on compliance. The “all purposes” language ensures that the proper law is not confined to court proceedings; it extends to administrative and transactional contexts where statutory interpretation is required.
Finally, the order illustrates a key feature of Singapore’s legislative publishing framework: the Revised Edition of the Laws Act provides a structured method for updating and consolidating laws while maintaining legal certainty. For practitioners, understanding these mechanisms is useful when dealing with historical questions (e.g., what was the proper law at a particular time) or when verifying that a cited provision corresponds to the correct edition.
Related Legislation
- Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275) — particularly sections 10 and 11(3)
- Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275) — Gazette publication mechanism for Presidential orders under section 11(3)
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.