Article 13 of the Saudi Enforcement Law before the Board of Grievances
المادة 13 من نظام التنفيذ أمام ديوان المظالم · الفصل الثاني: التنفيذ ضد الجهات الإدارية
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
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 إلى وزارة المالية؛ فللدائرة أن توجه إلى الوزارة إنذار التنفيذ وتطبق ضدها الإجراءات المنصوص عليها في النظام.
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 13 explained in plain English
This article deals with a common situation: an administrative authority against which a judgment for a sum of money has been issued, and which did what falls to it, but the amount was not paid for a reason attributable to the Ministry of Finance.
The article requires the following for this:
- The administrative authority must be obliged to pay a sum of money or what it amounts to.
- It must appear to the enforcement circuit that the authority completed the procedures within its competence that are necessary for enforcement.
- The non-enforcement must be for a reason attributable to the Ministry of Finance.
If these conditions are met, the circuit may send the enforcement warning to the Ministry of Finance, and apply against it the procedures provided for in the Law. The wording is permissive, meaning the matter is left to the circuit's judgment.
The benefit to the right-holder is that delayed payment does not stop at the original authority, as enforcement procedures can extend to the Ministry if the cause is with it. Among the procedures mentioned in the Law is the enforcement order in Article 12, which is issued if the period ends without enforcement or refusal is stated, and the competent body is notified with a copy of it to consider criminal proceedings against whoever caused it.
It is followed by Article 14, which allows the administrative authority, before the enforcement order is issued, to ask the circuit to guide it on how to enforce.
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 judgment was issued for financial compensation to a citizen against a government body, and the body proved before the enforcement circuit that it completed all the payment procedures within its competence and that the delay is with the Ministry of Finance. Here the circuit may send the enforcement warning to the Ministry itself and apply the Law's procedures against 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 13 of the Saudi Enforcement Law before the Board of Grievances
What if payment of the judgment amount is delayed because of the Ministry of Finance?
If it appears to the enforcement circuit that the administrative authority completed its procedures and the delay is for a reason attributable to the Ministry, the circuit may send the enforcement warning to it and apply the Law's procedures against it.
Does the article apply to all judgments?
It applies to an administrative authority obliged to pay a sum of money or what it amounts to.
Is sending the warning to the Ministry mandatory?
No. The text says "the circuit may", so it is permissive and left to the enforcement circuit's judgment.
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 12
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.
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 رف
- 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.