Article 15 of the Saudi Board of Grievances Law
المادة 15 من نظام ديوان المظالم · الفصل الثالث: اختصاصات المحاكم
The article governs the committee that decides conflicts of jurisdiction between the Board of Grievances courts and any other judicial body, and disputes over enforcing two conflicting final judgments.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
مع عدم الإخلال بما ورد في المادة السابعة والعشرين من نظام القضاء، إذ رفعت دعوى عن موضوع واحد أمام إحدى محاكم الديوان وأمام أي جهة أخرى، تختص بالفصل في بعض المنازعات ولم تتخلَّ إحداهما عن نظرها أو تخلتا كلتاهما ؛ فيرفع طلب تعيين الجهة المختصة إلى لجنة الفصل في تنازع الاختصاص التي تؤلف من ثلاثة أعضاء: عضو من المحكمة الإدارية العليا يختاره رئيس المحكمة، وعضو من الجهة الأخرى يختاره رئيس الجهة، وعضو من مجلس القضاء الإداري يختاره رئيس المجلس ويكون رئيسًا لهذه اللجنة، كما تختص هذه اللجنة بالفصل في النزاع الذي يقوم بشأن تنفيذ حكمين نهائيين متناقضين صادر أحدهما من محاكم الديوان والآخر من الجهة الأخرى، وتفصل في هذه الدعاوى وفقًا للأحكام والإجراءات الواردة في نظام القضاء.
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 15 explained in plain English
This article addresses a practical situation: a case on a single subject is brought before one of the Board of Grievances courts and before another body competent to decide some disputes. It begins with the phrase "without prejudice to what is stated in Article 27 of the Judiciary Law", meaning that its provision does not affect what that article provides.
When does the matter go to the committee? When neither body has given up hearing the case, or both have. In these two situations the request to designate the competent body is submitted to the Committee for Deciding Conflicts of Jurisdiction.
Composition of the committee: It consists of three members:
- A member from the Supreme Administrative Court, chosen by the president of the court.
- A member from the other body, chosen by the head of that body.
- A member from the Administrative Judiciary Council, chosen by the chair of the Council, who chairs the committee.
Conflicting judgments: The committee also has jurisdiction to decide a dispute that arises over enforcing two conflicting final judgments, one issued by the Board's courts and the other by the other body.
The committee decides these cases in accordance with the provisions and procedures set out in the Judiciary Law; this article does not detail those procedures. It is linked to Article 14, which sets out what falls outside the jurisdiction of the Board's courts. Anyone facing two conflicting judgments or two cases before two different bodies is best advised to consult a lawyer specialized in administrative cases.
Practical example
A company in Dammam brought a case on a single subject before an administrative court and before another judicial body, and each body ruled that it lacked jurisdiction. In this situation the request to designate the competent body is submitted to the Committee for Deciding Conflicts of Jurisdiction formed under this article.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
How we write and review contentAdministrative Law lawyers: ask a specialist about your case
Describe your situation briefly and we'll suggest a lawyer who specialises in this law
Administrative Law (Board of Grievances) lawyers
Lawyers who handle this kind of case
Dr. Ali Al-Rubaie Law Office and Ittihad Al-Asr Legal Company
Al-Safwa Law Office and Legal Consultancy
Frequently asked questions about Article 15 of the Saudi Board of Grievances Law
What should I do if two courts both rule that they lack jurisdiction in my case?
If a case on a single subject is brought before one of the Board's courts and another body and both give up hearing it, the request to designate the competent body is submitted to the Committee for Deciding Conflicts of Jurisdiction.
Who makes up the Committee for Deciding Conflicts of Jurisdiction?
A member from the Supreme Administrative Court, a member from the other body, and a member from the Administrative Judiciary Council who chairs the committee.
Who decides on enforcing two conflicting final judgments?
The committee has jurisdiction to decide the dispute over enforcing two conflicting final judgments, one issued by the Board's courts and the other by the other body.
More articles on Jurisdiction of the Board and Conflicts of Jurisdiction
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.