Statute Details
- Title: Order under Section 11(3)
- Act Code: RELA1983-OR18
- Type: Subsidiary legislation (SL)
- Enacting/Authorising Act: Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Cap. 275), section 11(3)
- Legislative History (as shown):
- 15 Dec 1998: G.N. No. S 589/1998
- 31 Jan 2000: Revised Edition of the Laws Act (2000 RevEd)
- Commencement (as stated in the order): 15 December 1998
- Status: Current version as at 27 Mar 2026
- Key Legal Effect: Confers “sole and only proper law” status on specified loose-leaf editions of Acts for use in all courts and for all purposes
What Is This Legislation About?
The instrument titled “Order under Section 11(3)” is not a substantive regulatory statute creating new rights or obligations for the public. Instead, it is a law revision and publication mechanism made under the Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Cap. 275). Its central function is to determine what version of certain Acts is to be treated as the authoritative “proper law” of Singapore.
In practical terms, the order addresses a foundational legal question that matters to lawyers and courts: which text counts as the law when Acts are republished in revised or loose-leaf form. The order provides that, once the President makes the order, the specified loose-leaf editions of the Acts in question become the sole and only proper law of Singapore for those Acts.
Accordingly, the “Order under Section 11(3)” is best understood as part of Singapore’s legal infrastructure for maintaining an accurate, authoritative compilation of legislation. It ensures continuity and certainty by linking the revised publication process to the courts’ and the public’s reliance on the correct legal text.
What Are the Key Provisions?
1. The statutory trigger and the President’s role
The enacting formula explains the legal pathway. 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 the Schedule as in force on 1 December 1998. This establishes that the Commissioners have prepared a revised set of legislative texts.
It then points to section 11(3) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act, which provides that the Commissioners must transmit to the President a copy of each loose-leaf edition of these Acts. The President may then, by order published in the Gazette, specify that the loose-leaf editions shall be treated as the sole and only proper law.
2. The “sole and only proper law” effect
The operative clause is the heart of the order. It provides that the President orders that the loose-leaf editions of the specified Acts shall, with effect from 15 December 1998, be the sole and only proper law of Singapore in respect of those Acts.
This language is legally significant. “Sole and only proper law” is designed to eliminate ambiguity about which version of the Acts should be applied. For practitioners, this means that when advising clients, drafting pleadings, or arguing in court, reliance should be placed on the text that has been designated as the proper law—rather than earlier printings, unofficial consolidations, or superseded versions.
3. Publication in the Gazette and legal certainty
The order emphasises that the President’s specification is made “by order published in the Gazette”. Gazette publication is a formal requirement that supports transparency and legal certainty. It signals that the order is not merely administrative but has binding legal effect for “all courts and for all purposes”.
From a litigation perspective, this matters because courts must apply the law as it stands in the authoritative text. From a compliance perspective, regulated entities need to know which legislative text is controlling when interpreting obligations, defences, offences, or procedural requirements.
4. The schedule concept (what Acts are covered)
The extract refers to “the Acts set out in the Schedule”. While the provided text does not reproduce the Schedule contents, the structure indicates that the order covers a defined list of Acts that were revised and published in loose-leaf form by the Law Revision Commissioners.
For a lawyer, the practical step is to identify the Acts listed in the Schedule and then confirm that the loose-leaf editions corresponding to those Acts are the controlling texts from the commencement date stated in the order. This is particularly important when a client’s matter turns on a specific statutory provision that may have been amended or reorganised during the revision process.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
Although the instrument is short in substance, it follows a structured legislative format typical of orders made under the Revised Edition of the Laws Act:
(a) Enacting formula: The order begins with recitals explaining the legal basis and the steps taken by the Law Revision Commissioners under section 10, and the President’s power under section 11(3).
(b) The operative order: The key clause states the legal effect—designation of the loose-leaf editions as the “sole and only proper law” with effect from 15 December 1998.
(c) The Schedule: The Schedule identifies the Acts covered. This is crucial because the order’s effect is limited to the Acts listed there.
(d) Legislative history and versions: The document includes a legislative history section and indicates the revised edition timeline (e.g., S 589/1998 and the 2000 Revised Edition). This helps practitioners verify they are consulting the correct version of the order.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
The order applies indirectly to everyone who uses or relies on the specified Acts—namely, all courts and all persons for “all purposes”. While the order does not impose duties on individuals, it determines the authoritative legal text that courts must apply and that parties must rely on.
In practice, the order is relevant to:
- Litigators who must cite the correct statutory text;
- In-house counsel and compliance teams interpreting statutory obligations;
- Regulators and enforcement agencies applying statutory powers and procedures;
- Legal publishers and researchers ensuring that references align with the “proper law” designation.
The order’s scope is limited to the Acts listed in its Schedule. Therefore, its direct impact depends on whether the relevant Act(s) in a given matter are among those covered.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
At first glance, an “Order under Section 11(3)” may appear procedural. However, it is foundational to the rule of law in a jurisdiction that continuously updates and consolidates legislation. The legal system depends on having a single authoritative text. Without such mechanisms, disputes could arise over whether a court should apply an older printing, a revised compilation, or an unofficial consolidation.
This order provides textual certainty. By declaring the loose-leaf editions to be the “sole and only proper law” from a specified date, it reduces interpretive risk and supports consistent judicial reasoning. For practitioners, this can be decisive in cases where statutory provisions have been reorganised, renumbered, or otherwise altered during the revision process.
It also supports efficiency in legal practice. Lawyers can focus on substantive interpretation rather than spending time verifying which version of the Act is controlling. When drafting submissions, advising clients, or preparing statutory instruments, counsel can rely on the designated “proper law” text as the authoritative reference point.
Finally, the order illustrates how Singapore’s legal revision framework operates: the Law Revision Commissioners prepare revised texts, and the President’s order—published in the Gazette—confers legal authority on those texts as the proper law. This ensures that the legal archive remains usable and dependable over time.
Related Legislation
- Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275) — particularly section 10 (publication in loose-leaf form by the Law Revision Commissioners) and section 11(3) (President’s power to designate the loose-leaf editions as the sole and only proper law)
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.