Statute Details
- Title: Order under Section 11(3) (Order under Section 11 (3))
- Act Code: RELA1983-OR17
- Legislation Type: Subsidiary legislation / Order (SL)
- Authorising Act: Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Cap. 275), section 11(3)
- Enacting Formula (core mechanism): President’s order published in the Gazette specifying that the loose-leaf editions are the sole and proper law for Singapore
- Gazette / Instrument Reference: G.N. No. S 300/1998
- Revised Edition Reference: Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275, Section 11(3))
- Commencement / Effective Date (as stated): 30 May 1998
- Current Version Status: Current version as at 27 Mar 2026
- Key Provisions (from extract): The President orders that the loose-leaf edition of the Acts set out in the Schedule shall be the sole and only proper law of Singapore for all courts and all purposes
What Is This Legislation About?
This instrument is a formal legal “order” made under Singapore’s Revised Edition of the Laws Act to determine which version of certain Acts is to be treated as the authoritative law. In practical terms, it addresses a technical but highly consequential issue: when laws are republished in a revised format (here, as loose-leaf editions), the legal system needs a clear rule on what courts and practitioners must treat as the “proper law” of Singapore.
The order operates in the context of the Laws Revision Commissioners’ work. The extract explains that the Commissioners published certain Acts in loose-leaf form as in force on a specified date (1 May 1998). The President then issues an order—published in the Gazette—specifying that those loose-leaf editions shall be the sole and only proper law of Singapore in respect of the Acts concerned.
Although the text provided does not list the Acts in the Schedule, the legal effect is clear: for the Acts included in the Schedule, the loose-leaf edition becomes the definitive legal reference for all courts and for all purposes. This is not a substantive reform of policy or rights; rather, it is a mechanism for legal certainty and uniformity in how the law is cited and applied.
What Are the Key Provisions?
1. Reliance on the Revised Edition of the Laws Act framework
The order is expressly grounded in section 11(3) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Cap. 275). The enacting formula sets out the statutory pathway: the Laws Revision Commissioners publish Acts in loose-leaf form; the President may then, by order published in the Gazette, specify that the loose-leaf editions are the sole and only proper law.
2. “Sole and only proper law” for all courts and all purposes
The operative legal statement is that the loose-leaf edition of the Acts set out in the Schedule shall, with effect from 30 May 1998, be the sole and only proper law of Singapore in respect of those Acts. The phrase “in all courts and for all purposes” is significant: it removes ambiguity about which version should be used in litigation, legal advice, statutory interpretation, and administrative application.
3. Effective date and temporal certainty
The order specifies that the legal effect applies from 30 May 1998. For practitioners, this matters for determining which text governs events, pleadings, submissions, and the interpretation of statutory provisions. Even where the substantive law has not changed, the authoritative text must be the one that courts will treat as proper law.
4. Gazette publication as a condition of legal effect
The enacting formula indicates that the President’s order is published in the Gazette. This is a procedural and constitutional safeguard: it ensures public notice and formal promulgation. In practice, Gazette publication is the mechanism by which the order becomes part of the public legal record and can be relied upon by courts and lawyers.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
Based on the extract, the instrument is structured as a short order with a standard legislative architecture:
(a) Enacting formula: This explains the “whereas” clauses and the legal authority under the Revised Edition of the Laws Act. It sets out the Commissioners’ publication of loose-leaf Acts and the President’s power to designate the loose-leaf editions as proper law.
(b) The Schedule: The extract references “THE SCHEDULE”, which would contain the list of Acts to which the order applies. While the Schedule is not reproduced in the provided text, its existence is central: the order’s effect is limited to the Acts enumerated there.
(c) Legislative history and versions: The document includes a legislative history panel and versioning information (e.g., “SL 300/1998” and “2000 RevEd”). This indicates that the order has been incorporated into the revised edition of the laws and is maintained as a current version as at 27 March 2026.
(d) Short operative clause: The core legal effect is contained in the final paragraph: the loose-leaf editions are declared to be the sole and only proper law with effect from 30 May 1998.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
The order applies to the Acts listed in its Schedule. Its practical reach is therefore broad across the legal system, because those Acts are used by all courts and for all purposes. In other words, the order is not directed only at government agencies or regulated persons; it is directed at the legal system’s determination of authoritative statutory text.
For practitioners, the order affects anyone who must cite, interpret, or apply the specified Acts—lawyers drafting pleadings, counsel preparing submissions, judges interpreting statutory provisions, and government bodies administering legislation. The “sole and only proper law” designation means that reliance on alternative versions (for example, outdated printings or non-authoritative compilations) would be legally risky, particularly where discrepancies exist.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
Although the order is procedural and administrative in nature, it is important because it underpins legal certainty. Singapore’s legal system requires a stable and authoritative text of statutes. When laws are republished in revised formats, there is a risk of confusion about which version is correct. This order resolves that risk by declaring the loose-leaf edition to be the definitive proper law for the specified Acts.
From an enforcement and litigation perspective, the order supports consistent outcomes. Courts must interpret statutes based on the proper law. By designating the loose-leaf editions as the sole and only proper law, the President’s order reduces disputes about textual authority and helps prevent arguments that a different version should be used.
For legal practitioners, the order also has a practical “workflow” value. When preparing legal research, counsel must ensure that they are using the correct version of the law. The document’s versioning information (including the “current version as at 27 Mar 2026” note) signals that the order remains relevant as part of the maintained legislative record. In practice, this means that when advising clients or drafting documents, lawyers should confirm they are referencing the proper consolidated or revised text that reflects the designated proper law.
Related Legislation
- Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275) — particularly section 11(3)
- Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275) — section 10 (as referenced in the enacting formula regarding publication in loose-leaf form)
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.