Article 12 of the Saudi Enforcement Law before the Board of Grievances
المادة 12 من نظام التنفيذ أمام ديوان المظالم · الفصل الثاني: التنفيذ ضد الجهات الإدارية
The article requires an enforcement order to the administrative authority if the Article 10 period ends without enforcement or the authority states refusal, specifying the necessary procedures and notifying the competent body for criminal proceedings.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
تصدر دائرة التنفيذ أمراً بالتنفيذ إلى الجهة الإدارية إذا انتهت المهلة المنصوص عليها في المادة (العاشرة) دون أن يتم التنفيذ، أو إذا صرحت خلالها الجهة بما يفيد رفضه. وإذا كان تنفيذ السند يتطلب اتخاذ إجراءات معينة بما في ذلك إصدار قرارات إدارية فيتضمن أمر التنفيذ تحديدها. وتبلغ الجهة المختصة بصورة من الأمر للنظر في مباشرة الإجراءات الجزائية ضد المتسبب في عدم التنفيذ.
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 12 explained in plain English
This article moves enforcement against the administrative authority to the stage of the enforcement order. The enforcement circuit issues this order in one of two cases:
- If the period provided for in Article 10 has ended without enforcement (5 days for urgent judgments and 30 days for others from the date of notification of the warning, unless the circuit sets less).
- If the authority states during the period something indicating refusal to enforce, in which case there is no need to wait for it to end.
If enforcement of the instrument requires certain procedures, including issuing administrative decisions, the enforcement order includes specifying them, so everyone knows what exactly is required.
The competent body is also notified with a copy of the order to consider starting criminal proceedings against whoever caused the non-enforcement. The text does not name this body, and makes its role considering whether to start proceedings.
This stage comes after Article 11, which allows the circuit to order administrative authorities to take the measures necessary for enforcement. It is followed by Article 13, which deals with delay in enforcement for a reason attributable to the Ministry of Finance after the authority obliged to pay a sum of money has completed the procedures within its competence.
If you have a specific case, it is best to consult a lawyer specialized in administrative cases and enforcement cases before the Board of Grievances.
Practical example
A final judgment was issued annulling an administrative decision and returning an employee to his job, and the warning period ended without the authority enforcing. The enforcement circuit issues an enforcement order specifying the required procedures, such as issuing an administrative decision returning the employee, and the competent body is notified with a copy of the order to consider criminal proceedings against whoever caused it.
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 12 of the Saudi Enforcement Law before the Board of Grievances
What happens if a government body does not enforce the judgment after the warning?
The enforcement circuit issues an enforcement order to it if the Article 10 period ends without enforcement or the authority states something indicating refusal.
Does the enforcement order specify what the body must do?
Yes. If enforcement requires certain procedures, including issuing administrative decisions, the enforcement order includes specifying them.
Is the person who caused non-enforcement held accountable?
The competent body is notified with a copy of the enforcement order to consider starting criminal proceedings against whoever caused the non-enforcement.
Articles this article refers to
More articles on Enforcement Against Administrative Bodies
- Article 10
The article requires the enforcement circuit to warn the administrative authority immediately on referral to enforce within five days for urgent judgments and thirty days otherwise, with the option of notifying the oversight body.
تصدر دائرة التنفيذ -فور إحالة الطلب إليها- إنذاراً للجهة الإدارية للتنفيذ خلال مهلة لا تتجاوز (خمسة) أيام في الأحكام العاجلة، و(ثلاثين) يوماً فيما عداها، وذلك م
- Article 11
The article gives the enforcement circuit authority to order administrative authorities to take the measures necessary for enforcement, including access to budgets, posts, procedures and any document, and requires them to comply within the periods set.
لدائرة التنفيذ أن تأمر الجهات الإدارية بالتدابير اللازمة للتنفيذ، بما في ذلك اطلاعها على الميزانيات والوظائف والإجراءات وأي مستند ترى ضرورة الاطلاع عليه، وعلى ا
- Article 13
The article allows the enforcement circuit to send the enforcement warning to the Ministry of Finance and apply the Law's procedures against it, where the authority obliged to pay a sum of money completed its procedures and the delay is due to the Ministry.
إذا تبين لدائرة التنفيذ أن الجهة الإدارية -الملزمة بأداء مبلغ مالي أو ما يؤول إليه- قد استوفت ما تختص به من الإجراءات اللازمة للتنفيذ، دون أن يتم ذلك بسبب يعود
- Article 14
The article allows the administrative body, before the enforcement order in Article 12 is issued, to ask the Enforcement Circuit to guide it on how to enforce, and the Circuit issues an order setting out the procedures where appropriate.
للجهة الإدارية -قبل صدور الأمر المنصوص عليه في المادة (الثانية عشرة) من النظام- أن تطلب من دائرة التنفيذ إرشادها إلى كيفية التنفيذ، وتصدر دائرة التنفيذ -عند الا
- Article 15
The article provides that requesting guidance on how to enforce, and ruling on the request, do not suspend the procedures or time limits set out in the Law.
لا يترتب على طلب الإرشاد والبت فيه وقف الإجراءات والمهل المنصوص عليها في النظام.
- Article 29
The article allows the Enforcement Circuit to rule that enforcement of an instrument has become impossible for any reason, and provides that lack of appropriations or posts in the administrative body's budget is not impossibility.
إذا تبين لدائرة التنفيذ أن تنفيذ السند أصبح متعذرًا لأي سبب فإنها تحكم بإثبات ذلك، ولا يعد من حالات تعذر التنفيذ عدم توفر الاعتمادات أو الوظائف في ميزانية الجهة
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.