Article 31 of the Saudi Civil Defense Law
المادة 31 من نظام الدفاع المدني
Article 31 allows anyone against whom a penalty decision has been issued under the Civil Defense Law to appeal it before the Board of Grievances within 60 days of being notified of the decision.
Official text after amendments (Arabic)
Compiled from the original text and every officially published amendment; the amendments are shown in full below for comparison.
يجوز التظلم من قرار العقوبة أمام ديوان المظالم خلال ستين يوما من تاريخ إبلاغ القرار.
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 31 explained in plain English
This article gives anyone against whom a penalty decision has been issued under the Civil Defense Law the right to challenge it before an independent judicial body, the Board of Grievances, instead of the decision remaining final without review.
Its importance is clear when read with Article 30. Paragraph (b) of that article provides that the Minister of the Interior, Chairman of the Civil Defense Council, forms committees of at least three members, one of whom has Sharia or legal qualifications, to hear violations of the Law and impose the penalty of a fine, and if the committee considers that the violation calls for imprisonment it refers it to the Board of Grievances. Paragraph (a) sets the general penalty of imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months or a fine not exceeding thirty thousand riyals, or both.
The main points the article establishes:
- What is appealed: the penalty decision.
- The competent body: the Board of Grievances.
- The period: 60 days.
- When the period starts: the date the interested person is notified of the decision, not the date it was issued.
The expression "may" means that appeal is a right of the interested person, who chooses whether to use it. The article does not say what follows if the period lapses, so anyone wanting to object should count the sixty days precisely from the day of notification.
This text reached its current form by Royal Decree No. M/66 dated 2/10/1424 AH. Anyone wishing to appeal can consult a lawyer specializing in administrative matters before the Board of Grievances to prepare the appeal.
Practical example
The committee hearing civil defense violations issues a decision fining the owner of a warehouse in Jeddah for violating safety requirements, and he is notified of the decision at the start of the month. He is entitled to bring his appeal before the Board of Grievances within 60 days counted from the day he was notified of the decision.
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 31 of the Saudi Civil Defense Law
Where do I appeal a civil defense penalty?
The article provides that an appeal against a penalty decision is before the Board of Grievances.
How long do I have to appeal a civil defense penalty decision?
60 days from the date the interested person is notified of the decision.
Does the period start from the date the decision was issued?
No. The text makes the date of notification of the decision the start.
Amendment history
Royal Decree No. M/66 — 2/10/1424 AH
Official amendment text (Arabic)
تم تعديل هذه المادة بموجب المرسوم الملكي رقم ( م/66) وتاريخ 2 / 10 / 1424 هـ ، لتصبح بالنص التالى :
"يجوز التظلم من قرار العقوبة أمام ديوان المظالم خلال ستين يوما من تاريخ إبلاغ القرار."
Original text before the amendments (Arabic)
يجوز التظلم من قرار العقوبة الصادر من وزير الداخلية ورئيس مجلس الدفاع المدني طبقا للمادتين الثامنة والعشرين والثلاثين أمام ديوان المظالم خلال ثلاثين يوما من تاريخ إبلاغ القرار.
More articles on Penalties for Violating the Civil Defense Law
- Article 27
Article 27 subjects non-military civil defense personnel, in cases of war, emergencies and disasters, to the military service rules in discipline, penalties, detecting violations and investigating them.
يخضع رجال الدفاع المدني من غير العسكريين في حالات الحرب والطوارئ والكوارث من حيث الضبط والربط والعقوبات وضبط المخالفات والتحقيق فيها لنظم الخدمة العسكرية.
- Article 28Amended by M/66
Article 28 prohibits removing or disabling any machine or signal installed for civil defense purposes except after coordinating with civil defense, and obliges the violator to pay restoration costs and punishes him with a fine not exceeding SAR 50,000.
لا يجوز نزع أي آلة أو إشارة مركبة لأغراض الدفاع المدني أو تعطيلها إلا بعد التنسيق مع الدفاع المدني، ويلزم المخالف بتكاليف إعادة أصل الشيء المنزوع أو المعطل إلى
- Article 29Amended by M/66
Article 29 gives the Minister of the Interior, Chairman of the Civil Defense Council, in emergencies and disasters, the power to issue decisions implementing the civil defense plan and set penalties for violating it, up to imprisonment for one year and a fine of SAR 50,000.
مع مراعاة ما تقضي به الأنظمة، يصدر وزير الداخلية رئيس مجلس الدفاع المدني في حالات الطوارئ والكوارث، قرارات بتنفيذ خطة الدفاع المدني، ويعين في قراراته العقوبات ا
- Article 30Amended by M/66
Article 30 sets the general penalty for violating the Civil Defense Law, its regulations and decisions at imprisonment for up to six months or a fine of up to SAR 30,000, or both, and creates committees to hear violations and impose fines.
أ - مع مراعاة المواد (السابعة والعشرين) و (الثامنة والعشرين) و (التاسعة والعشرين) ، يعاقب المخالف لأي حكم من أحكام هذا النظام أو لوائحه أو القرارات الصادرة بناء
- Article 32
Article 32 provides that violations of the Civil Defense Law are detected and investigated under rules and procedures set by the Minister of the Interior, Chairman of the Civil Defense Council, subject to Article 27.
مع مراعاة المادة السابعة والعشرين يتم ضبط مخالفات هذا النظام والتحقيق فيها وفق قواعد وإجراءات يضعها وزير الداخلية ورئيس مجلس الدفاع المدني .
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.