Article 14 of the Saudi Enforcement Law before the Board of Grievances
المادة 14 من نظام التنفيذ أمام ديوان المظالم · الفصل الثاني: التنفيذ ضد الجهات الإدارية
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
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 الاقتضاء- أمراً يتضمن بيان الإجراءات التي يتطلبها 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 14 explained in plain English
Sometimes the dispute is not over whether to enforce, but over how. That is why the article gives the administrative body the right to request guidance from the Enforcement Circuit.
- Who may ask? The administrative body against which enforcement is sought.
- When? Before the enforcement order referred to in Article 12 is issued, which is the order issued if the notice period in Article 10 expires without enforcement or the body declares that it refuses.
- What does the Circuit do? Where appropriate, it issues an order setting out the procedures that enforcement requires, that is, if it sees a need for one.
The idea is to give the body a chance to learn the right way to enforce instead of delaying on the pretext that the way is unclear. But a request for guidance suspends nothing: Article 15 provides that requesting guidance and ruling on the request do not suspend the procedures and time limits set out in the Law. The time limit keeps running while the body asks for guidance.
It is preceded by Article 13, which allows the enforcement notice to be directed to the Ministry of Finance where the delay in paying the sum of money is due to a reason attributable to it.
If you have a specific situation, it is best to consult a lawyer specialized in administrative and enforcement cases before the Board of Grievances.
Practical example
A judgment was issued requiring a government body to settle the employment status of an employee, and the body was unsure of the procedures required. Before the enforcement order was issued, it asked the Enforcement Circuit to guide it, and the Circuit issued an order setting out the required procedures, while the enforcement time limit kept running.
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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Dr. Ali Al-Rubaie Law Office and Ittihad Al-Asr Legal Company
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Frequently asked questions about Article 14 of the Saudi Enforcement Law before the Board of Grievances
Can a government body ask the court how to enforce a judgment?
Yes. Before the enforcement order in Article 12 is issued, it may ask the Enforcement Circuit to guide it on how to enforce.
Is the Circuit obliged to issue a guidance order?
The Circuit issues, where appropriate, an order setting out the procedures that enforcement requires.
Does a request for guidance suspend the enforcement time limit?
No. Article 15 provides that requesting guidance and ruling on the request do not suspend the procedures and time limits.
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 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 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 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.