Article 51 of the Saudi Basic Law of Governance
المادة 51 من النظام الأساسي للحكم · الباب السادس: سلطات الدولة
The Article refers to the law the composition and powers of the Supreme Judicial Council, and the organization and powers of the courts.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يبين النظام تكوين المجلس الأعلى للقضاء واختصاصاته، كما يبين ترتيب المحاكم واختصاصاتها.
This is the official Arabic wording, the only legally binding version. We do not translate the law itself; the explanation below is ours. Official source: Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers
Article 51 explained in plain English
This Article is a referral Article. It does not lay down detailed provisions itself, but provides that the law sets out two matters:
- The Supreme Judicial Council: its composition and powers.
- The courts: their organization and powers.
The Article confirms the existence of the Supreme Judicial Council as a body within the judicial organization, but it does not mention its members or its authorities, and it does not specify the levels or types of courts; it leaves all of that to the law.
The Article is linked to Article 52, which provides that judges are appointed and their service ended by royal order upon the proposal of the Supreme Judicial Council, as the law sets out; Article 52 mentions one of the roles of the Supreme Judicial Council, namely proposing the appointment of judges and the ending of their service.
It also comes after Article 50, which provides that the King or whoever he delegates is concerned with the enforcement of judicial judgments.
The benefit of the Article to the reader is that it points out that to know the court competent over a particular case, or the organization of the courts, one refers to the law that regulates that, not to the Basic Law of Governance alone.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
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Frequently asked questions about Article 51 of the Saudi Basic Law of Governance
What sets out the composition of the Supreme Judicial Council?
Article 51 provides that the law sets out the composition of the Supreme Judicial Council and its powers.
Does the Basic Law of Governance specify the types of courts?
No. Article 51 refers the organization of the courts and their powers to the law.
What is the role of the Supreme Judicial Council in appointing judges?
Article 52 provides that judges are appointed and their service ended by royal order upon its proposal.
More articles on Judicial Authority and Judicial Independence
- Article 44
The Article sets out the State's three authorities, the judicial, executive and regulatory, provides that they cooperate in accordance with the laws, and states that the King is their reference.
تتكون السلطات في الدولة من : - السلطة القضائية. - السلطة التنفيذية. - السلطة التنظيمية. وتتعاون هذه السلطات في أداء وظائفها، وفقا لهذا النظام وغيره من الأنظمة،
- Article 46
The Article provides that the judiciary is an independent authority and that there is no authority over judges in their judgments other than the authority of Islamic Sharia.
القضاء سلطة مستقلة، ولا سلطان على القضاة في قضائهم لغير سلطان الشريعة الإسلامية .
- Article 47
The Article guarantees the right of litigation equally to citizens and residents of the Kingdom, and refers its procedures to the law.
حق التقاضي مكفول بالتساوي للمواطنين والمقيمين في المملكة ، ويبين النظام الإجراءات اللازمة لذلك.
- Article 48
The Article requires the courts to apply the rules of Islamic Sharia in accordance with the Book and the Sunnah, and the laws issued by the ruler that do not conflict with them.
تطبق المحاكم على القضايا المعروضة أمامها أحكام الشريعة الإسلامية ، وفقا لما دل عليه الكتاب والسنة، وما يصدره ولي الأمر من أنظمة لا تتعارض مع الكتاب والسنة.
- Article 49
The Article makes the courts competent to decide all disputes and crimes, subject to Article 53 on the Board of Grievances.
مع مراعاة ما ورد في المادة الثالثة والخمسين من هذا النظام، تختص المحاكم في الفصل في جميع المنازعات والجرائم.
- Article 50
The Article provides that the King or whoever he delegates is concerned with the enforcement of judicial judgments.
الملك أو من ينيبه معنيون بتنفيذ الأحكام القضائية.
The texts are reproduced from the official website of the Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers for reference; where they differ, the officially published Arabic text prevails. This content is not legal advice.