Statute Details
- Title: Order under Section 11(3)
- Act Code: RELA1983-OR22
- Type: Subsidiary legislation / order (SL)
- Enacting Formula: Presidential order made under the Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Cap. 275), s 11(3)
- Status: Current version as at 27 Mar 2026 (per the legislation portal)
- Authorising Act: Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275), Section 11(3)
- Key Instrument / Citation: G.N. No. S 279/2000
- Commencement (effective date): 1 July 2000
- Legislative History (as shown):
- 01 Jul 2000 — SL 279/2000
- 31 Jan 2002 — Revised Edition 2002 (31st January 2002)
- Parts: Part I: Legislative History (as reflected in the extract)
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 language, it addresses a technical but legally significant question: when the Laws are revised and published in a “loose-leaf” format, what version counts as the authoritative law in court and for all legal purposes?
The order is connected to the process of producing a Revised Edition of the Laws. The Law Revision Commissioners publish certain Acts (and their loose-leaf pages) in that revised format. The President may then issue an order—published in the Gazette—so that, from a specified date, the loose-leaf edition and pages become the sole and only proper law of Singapore for those Acts.
Accordingly, this order is not a substantive reform of policy or rights. Instead, it is an authoritative validation mechanism that ensures legal practitioners, courts, and the public can rely on a single, official text for the specified Acts as they stand at the relevant revision date.
What Are the Key Provisions?
1. Legal basis and purpose (the “whereas” clauses)
The enacting formula explains the statutory framework. It 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 Part I of the Schedule and loose-leaf pages of the Act set out in Part II of the Schedule as in force on 1 June 2000. This establishes the factual predicate: a revised loose-leaf publication exists.
2. Presidential power under section 11(3)
The order then refers to section 11(3), which provides that the Commissioners shall transmit to the President a copy of each loose-leaf edition and pages. The President may, by order published in the Gazette, specify that those loose-leaf editions and pages shall be the sole and only proper law of Singapore in respect of the specified Acts.
3. The operative effect: “sole and only proper law”
The operative clause provides that the loose-leaf edition and pages of the Acts shall, with effect from 1 July 2000, be the sole and only proper law of Singapore in respect of those Acts. This phrase is crucial. It means that, for the Acts covered by the Schedule, the loose-leaf revised text is the definitive legal authority—not merely a convenient reference, and not competing with earlier printings or other versions.
4. Gazette publication and court reliance
While the extract does not reproduce the full Schedule, the legal mechanism described in the enacting formula makes clear that the order is published in the Gazette. That publication is the legal trigger for the authoritative status of the revised loose-leaf materials. Practically, it supports consistent judicial treatment: courts can treat the specified loose-leaf pages as the proper law for interpretation, application, and citation.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
Based on the extract, the instrument is structured as follows:
• Enacting formula: Sets out the statutory authority and the factual background (publication by the Law Revision Commissioners; transmission to the President; power to issue a Gazette order).
• The Schedule: Contains the material that is being validated. The extract shows Part I: Legislative History as a displayed section, indicating that the portal is presenting the legislative history component for the order.
• Versioning and timeline metadata: The portal indicates a timeline with SL 279/2000 dated 1 July 2000 and a Revised Edition 2002 dated 31 January 2002. This reflects how the revised edition process is updated and consolidated over time, while the order’s operative effect is tied to the effective date stated in the instrument.
Although the extract does not show the full Schedule content, the legal structure is consistent with other “proper law” orders: the Schedule identifies the Acts (and/or specific loose-leaf pages) that are brought within the order’s validating effect.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
This order applies to the Acts specified in its Schedule—that is, it applies to the legal texts themselves, not to a particular class of persons. Its “subjects” are the loose-leaf editions and pages of those Acts, which become the authoritative versions for use in all courts and for all purposes.
In practical terms, the order affects:
- Courts, which must treat the specified loose-leaf pages as the proper law for interpretation and application;
- Legal practitioners, who must cite the correct authoritative text;
- Government bodies and regulators, which rely on the proper law when enforcing statutory duties;
- The public, indirectly, because the enforceable legal rules are those contained in the authoritative revised text.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
Although this order is procedural and editorial in character, it is highly important for legal certainty. Singapore’s legal system depends on accurate, authoritative statutory texts. When laws are revised and republished in a new format, there is a risk of confusion about which version is legally binding. The “sole and only proper law” language eliminates that ambiguity.
For practitioners, the order has immediate consequences for legal research, citation, and litigation strategy. When drafting pleadings, preparing submissions, or advising clients, lawyers must ensure that they rely on the correct statutory wording. If a practitioner cites an outdated print version or an unofficial compilation, the citation may be challenged—particularly where amendments or editorial revisions have been incorporated into the revised loose-leaf pages.
From an enforcement perspective, the order supports consistent statutory interpretation. Courts and administrative decision-makers can rely on a single authoritative text, reducing disputes about textual accuracy. This is especially relevant where the revised edition process may include consolidation, re-numbering, or other editorial adjustments that affect how provisions are located and referenced.
Related Legislation
- Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275), in particular section 10 and section 11(3)
- Revised Edition of the Laws (2002) (as referenced in the timeline: “2002 RevEd”)
- Gazette publication mechanism referenced in the enacting formula (for the order’s publication requirement)
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.