Article 93 of the Saudi Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law
المادة 93 من اللائحة التنفيذية لنظام الإجراءات الجزائية · الفصل الثاني: تنازع الاختصاص
This article of the Regulations requires that if a case is brought before two courts or circuits and each decides it has jurisdiction, they stop hearing it and send the papers to the Supreme Court to designate the competent one.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
إذا رفعت دعوى إلى محكمتين أو دائرتين وقررت كل منهما اختصاصها؛ فتصدر كل منهما قراراً بذلك، ويجب عليهما إيقاف نظر الدعوى ورفع الأوراق إلى المحكمة العليا عن طريق المحكمة أو الدائرة التي قيدت الدعوى لديها أولاً لطلب تعيين المحكمة أو الدائرة المختصة.
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 93 explained in plain English
This article of the Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law deals with a positive conflict of jurisdiction: a single case was brought before two courts or circuits, and each decided that it has jurisdiction to hear it.
- Each of the two courts or circuits issues a decision that it has jurisdiction.
- Both must stop hearing the case, so that neither continues to decide it.
- The papers are submitted to the Supreme Court to request that the competent court or circuit be designated.
- They are submitted through the court or circuit with which the case was registered first.
The aim is to prevent two judgments in the same case from two different bodies. It mirrors Article 92, which deals with the case where both courts refuse to hear the case; in both cases the Supreme Court is the body that designates the competent one.
If you have a case before a court and need advice on your specific situation, it is best to consult a lawyer who specializes in criminal cases.
Practical example
A private claimant brought a criminal case in Dammam, then the same case was brought before another circuit, and each circuit decided it has jurisdiction. Here both circuits stop hearing the case, and the circuit with which the case was registered first submits the papers to the Supreme Court to designate the competent circuit.
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 contentCriminal Law lawyers: ask a specialist about your case
Describe your situation briefly and we'll suggest a lawyer who specialises in this law
Criminal Law lawyers
Lawyers who handle this kind of case
Ibrahim Al Salem Law Firm
Active contributor
Dr. Ali Al-Rubaie Law Office and Ittihad Al-Asr Legal Company
Frequently asked questions about Article 93 of the Saudi Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law
What happens if two courts hear the same case?
If each decides it has jurisdiction, each issues a decision to that effect, and they must stop hearing the case and submit the papers to the Supreme Court.
Which court submits the papers to the Supreme Court?
The papers are submitted through the court or circuit with which the case was registered first.
Does the court continue hearing the case until the Supreme Court rules?
No, the article requires both courts to stop hearing the case until the competent one is designated.
More articles on Case Closure and Criminal Jurisdiction
- Article 10
The article states what is issued when the public case lapses before being brought, either filing the papers or filing the case, and that lapse does not prevent investigation, confiscation or proceeding against the other accused.
1- إذا انقضت الدعوى الجزائية العامة قبل رفعها إلى المحكمة فيصدر رئيس دائرة التحقيق أمراً بحفظ الأوراق وفق ما نصت عليه المادة (الثالثة والستون) من النظام والمادة
- Article 42
The article requires an order to archive papers to be written and reasoned, and makes archiving before any investigation procedure an administrative act that the Bureau may reverse at any time.
1- يجب أن يكون الأمر بحفظ الأوراق - المنصوص عليه في المادة (الثالثة والستين) من النظام - مكتوباً ومسبباً. 2 - يكون حفظ الأوراق قبل اتخاذ أي إجراء من إجراءات الت
- Article 43
The article requires the investigator to notify the victim and the private claimant, or their heirs, of the order to archive papers in writing, with the person notified signing to acknowledge it in a special register.
يُبلغ المحققُ المجني عليه والمدعي بالحق الخاص، أو ورثتهما - بحسب الأحوال - بأمر حفظ الأوراق؛ كتابةً، ويوقع المبلَّغ بالعلم به في سجل خاص لذلك.
- Article 63
This article of the Regulations specifies the competent court referred to in Article 90 of the Law, and what it does where seized items are disputed or it is doubtful who is entitled to receive them.
1- المحكمة المختصة الوارد ذكرها في المادة (التسعين) من النظام هي المحكمة المختصة المنصوص عليها في المادة (الثامنة والثمانين) من النظام. 2- إذا رفع الأمر إلى الم
- Article 65
This article of the Regulations makes the court of the place of investigation the competent court, and requires it to refer litigants to the locally competent court if it decides to refer them to litigate and lacks local jurisdiction.
1- المحكمة التي يقع في دائرتها مكان التحقيق - الوارد ذكرها في المادة (الثالثة والتسعين) من النظام - هي المحكمة المختصة المنصوص عليها في المادة (الثامنة والثماني
- Article 87
This article of the Regulations requires an investigation procedure to precede archiving of a case, and regulates notifying the heirs of the private claimant of the archiving order.
1- يشترط لحفظ الدعوى - وفق المادة (الرابعة والعشرين بعد المائة) من النظام - أن يسبقه إجراء من إجراءات التحقيق. 2 - يحصل تبليغ جميع ورثة المدعي بالحق الخاص بأمر
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.