Statute Details
- Title: Order under Section 11(3)
- Act Code: RELA1983-OR16
- Type: Subsidiary legislation (SL)
- Legislative Instrument: Order by the President
- Authorising Act: Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275, Section 11(3))
- Enacting Formula (summary): President orders that specified loose-leaf editions of Acts become the sole and only proper law of Singapore for those Acts
- Gazette / Citation: G.N. No. S 537/1997
- Commencement (as stated): 20 December 1997
- Status: Current version as at 27 March 2026 (per the legislation portal)
- Key Provision Highlighted: Section 11(3) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act
What Is This Legislation About?
This instrument is a formal “order” made by the President under section 11(3) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Cap. 275). In practical terms, it is not a substantive regulatory statute that creates new legal duties for the public. Instead, it is a legal mechanism used to determine which version of certain Acts counts as the authoritative “proper law” of Singapore in courts and for all legal purposes.
The order is tied to a legislative revision process. The Law Revision Commissioners publish Acts in loose-leaf form (a common drafting and consolidation format). The President may then, by order published in the Gazette, specify that those loose-leaf editions shall be the sole and only proper law of Singapore for the relevant Acts. The effect is to replace or supersede earlier versions for legal certainty and uniformity.
Accordingly, the “subject matter” of this order is the legal status of revised editions of Acts—ensuring that when lawyers and courts refer to the law, they are referring to the correct, updated consolidated text. This is critical in litigation, statutory interpretation, and compliance work, because even small textual differences can affect outcomes.
What Are the Key Provisions?
1. The President’s order that the loose-leaf edition becomes the sole and only proper law. The operative part of the instrument states that the loose-leaf edition of the Acts set out in the Schedule shall, with effect from 20 December 1997, be the sole and only proper law of Singapore in respect of those Acts. This is the central legal consequence: once the order takes effect, courts and all legal actors must treat the specified loose-leaf editions as the authoritative legal text.
2. The legal trigger: section 11(3) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act. The enacting formula explains the statutory pathway. First, pursuant to section 10 of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act, the Law Revision Commissioners publish in loose-leaf form the Acts set out in the Schedule as in force on 1 December 1997. Second, section 11(3) provides that the Commissioners transmit to the President a copy of each loose-leaf edition, and the President may then make an order published in the Gazette to designate those loose-leaf editions as the sole and only proper law.
3. Publication in the Gazette and effect “in all courts and for all purposes”. The order’s legal significance is reinforced by the statutory language referenced in the enacting formula: the President’s order, once published in the Gazette, specifies that the loose-leaf editions are the sole and only proper law “in all courts and for all purposes”. This phrase is important for practitioners because it removes ambiguity about whether the revised text is merely persuasive or whether it is binding and authoritative across the legal system.
4. Legislative history and versioning. The portal extract indicates a timeline: the instrument is associated with SL 537/1997 and a Revised Edition 1998 (15 June 1998). While the order itself states commencement as 20 December 1997, the presence of a revised edition later reflects the broader process of law revision and consolidation. For lawyers, the practical takeaway is that the “proper law” designation is version-dependent and must be checked against the relevant effective date and the current consolidated status.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
Structurally, this instrument is relatively short and procedural. It is organised around:
(a) Enacting formula — sets out the “whereas” clauses explaining the background: publication of loose-leaf Acts by the Law Revision Commissioners under section 10, and the President’s power under section 11(3).
(b) The Schedule — although not reproduced in the extract you provided, the Schedule is where the Acts covered by the order are listed. The legal effect applies “in respect of those Acts” set out in the Schedule.
(c) Operative order — the key sentence: the loose-leaf edition of the Acts in the Schedule becomes the sole and only proper law with effect from 20 December 1997.
(d) Legislative history / versions — the portal includes a timeline and references to the Gazette citation and revised edition. This is not part of the legal command itself, but it is essential for practitioners to ensure they are reading the correct version and understanding the effective date.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
This order applies to the Acts listed in its Schedule. It does not directly impose obligations on individuals or businesses. Instead, it determines the authoritative legal text for those Acts. Therefore, its “audience” is effectively everyone who relies on the law: courts, government agencies, lawyers, and members of the public who must comply with statutory requirements.
Because the order specifies that the loose-leaf editions are the sole and only proper law “in all courts and for all purposes”, it applies broadly across the legal system. In practice, it affects how statutory provisions are cited and interpreted. For example, when drafting pleadings, preparing advice, or arguing statutory construction, practitioners must ensure they are using the correct version of the relevant Act as designated by the order and subsequent revisions.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
Although this instrument is procedural, it is foundational to legal certainty. Singapore’s legal system depends on accurate, authoritative statutory texts. If different versions of an Act were treated as “proper law” in different contexts, it could lead to inconsistent outcomes, disputes over wording, and uncertainty about the applicable legal regime.
This order resolves that problem by formally designating the loose-leaf editions as the sole and only proper law for the specified Acts. For practitioners, the significance is immediate: when you cite a statutory provision, you must be confident that the text you rely on is the legally authoritative one. This is particularly important in litigation where the exact wording of a section can affect the interpretation of rights, duties, offences, defences, or procedural requirements.
In addition, the order illustrates how Singapore manages law revision and consolidation. The Law Revision Commissioners’ loose-leaf publications are part of a structured process to update and consolidate legislation. The President’s order is the final step that “locks in” the revised text as the proper law. As a result, lawyers should treat such orders as part of the legal infrastructure: they may not be frequently cited in arguments, but they shape the legal materials that arguments are built upon.
Related Legislation
- Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Cap. 275) — particularly section 10 (publication of Acts in loose-leaf form) and section 11(3) (President’s power to designate the loose-leaf editions as the sole and only proper law)
- Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Cap. 275) — legislative revision framework (including the Law Revision Commissioners’ role)
- G.N. No. S 537/1997 — Gazette notification associated with this order (as cited in the instrument)
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.