Article 28 of the Saudi Enforcement Law before the Board of Grievances
المادة 28 من نظام التنفيذ أمام ديوان المظالم · الباب الثالث: منازعات التنفيذ والدعاوى الناشئة عنه
The article allows enforcement to be suspended where ambiguity or confusion in the judgment prevents its enforcement, until its interpretation is decided, and gives fifteen days from notice of the suspension order to request interpretation.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- لأي من أطراف التنفيذ أو المنازعة أن يطلب من دائرة التنفيذ وقف التنفيذ عند وجود غموض أو لبس في الحكم محل الطلب أو المنازعة يحول دون تنفيذه، وللدائرة أن تأمر بالوقف وذلك إلى حين الفصل في طلب تفسير الحكم من المحكمة المختصة.
2- لأي من أطراف التنفيذ -عند صدور أمر وقف التنفيذ وفقًا لحكم الفقرة (1) من هذه المادة- التقدم إلى المحكمة المختصة بطلب التفسير خلال (خمسة عشر) يومًا من تاريخ التبليغ بأمر الوقف، على أن تشعر المحكمة المختصة دائرة التنفيذ بذلك.
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 28 explained in plain English
This article deals with the case of an ambiguous judgment that cannot be enforced because of ambiguity or confusion in it:
- Request for suspension: any of the parties to enforcement or to the dispute may ask the Enforcement Circuit to suspend enforcement where there is ambiguity or confusion in the judgment that is the subject of the request or dispute and prevents its enforcement. The condition is that the ambiguity actually blocks enforcement, not merely a difference of opinion.
- The Circuit's decision: the Circuit may order suspension until the competent court decides the request to interpret the judgment. The wording is discretionary, so the Circuit assesses the request.
- Request for interpretation: when the suspension order is issued, any party to enforcement may apply to the competent court for interpretation within 15 days of the date of being notified of the suspension order, and the competent court must notify the Enforcement Circuit of this.
Note that the Enforcement Circuit does not interpret the judgment itself here. Interpretation is requested from the competent court, and enforcement stays suspended until it is decided. The article does not say what follows if the request for interpretation is not filed within the period, so that is a question for the Regulations or a lawyer.
It is preceded by Article 27, which prevents an enforcement dispute from including an objection to the judgment. It is followed by Article 29 on the judgment establishing that enforcement is impossible.
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 an employee's status without clearly specifying the date of settlement, and the parties disagreed about enforcing it. The body asked the Enforcement Circuit to suspend enforcement because the judgment is ambiguous, and the Circuit ordered suspension. Either party may apply to the competent court for interpretation within 15 days of being notified of the suspension order.
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 28 of the Saudi Enforcement Law before the Board of Grievances
What should I do if the judgment is ambiguous and cannot be enforced?
Any of the parties to enforcement or to the dispute may ask the Enforcement Circuit to suspend enforcement until the competent court decides the request to interpret the judgment.
What is the time limit to request interpretation of the judgment?
Fifteen days from the date of being notified of the suspension order.
Does the Enforcement Circuit interpret the judgment itself?
No. The text leaves interpretation to the competent court, which notifies the Enforcement Circuit that the request has been filed.
More articles on Enforcement Disputes and Stay of Enforcement
- Article 1
The article defines the key terms used in the Enforcement Law before the Board of Grievances, such as the Court, the instrument and the enforcement dispute.
يقصد بالألفاظ والعبارات الآتية -أينما وردت في هذا النظام- المعاني المبينة أمام كل منها، ما لم يقتضِ السياق خلاف ذلك: 1- النظام: نظام التنفيذ أمام ديوان المظالم.
- Article 25
The article allows any interested person, among the parties to enforcement or others, to file an enforcement dispute by a statement of claim lodged with the competent court under the procedures for filing a lawsuit, and sets out its contents.
ترفع منازعة التنفيذ -من كل ذي مصلحة من أطراف التنفيذ أو غيرهم- بصحيفة تودع لدى المحكمة المختصة وفق الإجراءات المعتادة لرفع الدعوى، على أن تتضمن الصحيفة بيانات ا
- Article 26
The article requires an enforcement dispute to be heard expeditiously, subjects a provisional request to suspend or continue enforcement to the rules on urgent lawsuits, and makes a judgment suspending enforcement stop all procedures and time limits.
1- تنظر منازعة التنفيذ على وجه السرعة، وإذا تضمنت طلباً وقتيًا بوقف التنفيذ أو الاستمرار فيه فيخضع للأحكام المنظمة للدعاوى المستعجلة. 2- يترتب على الحكم بوقف ال
- Article 27
The article prevents an enforcement dispute from including an objection to the judgment whose enforcement is disputed, and stops procedures, time limits and the admission of new requests if the objection court orders enforcement suspended.
1- لا يجوز أن تتضمن منازعة التنفيذ اعتراضاً على الحكم المتنازع في تنفيذه. 2- يترتب على صدور أمر بوقف التنفيذ من المحكمة المختصة بنظر الاعتراض على الحكم توقف جمي
- 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.