Article 114 of the Saudi Law of Evidence
المادة 114 من نظام الإثبات · الباب العاشر: الخبرة
The article allows any party to request recusal of the expert for a reason making it likely he cannot act impartially, lists specific grounds, restricts when the request is accepted, and requires the court to decide within 3 days by a final judgment.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- يجوز لأي من الخصوم طلب رد الخبير إذا توافر في شأنه سبب يرجح معه عدم استطاعته أداء مهمته بحياد، وبوجه خاص يجوز رد الخبير إذا كان قريباً أو صهراً لأحد الخصوم إلى الدرجة الرابعة أو وكيلاً لأحدهم في أعماله الخاصة، أو وصياً لأحد الخصوم أو ولياً عليه أو ناظر وقف أو من في حكمهم، أو كان يعمل عند أحد الخصوم، أو كانت له خصومة مع أحدهم؛ ما لم تكن هذه الخصومة قد أقيمت بعد تعيين الخبير بقصد رده.
2- لا يقبل طلب الرد ممن نُدب الخبير بناء على اختياره إلا إذا كان سبب الرد حدث بعد ندبه. وفي جميع الأحوال لا يقبل طلب الرد بعد قفل باب المرافعة.
3- تفصل المحكمة في طلب الرد خلال (ثلاثة) أيام من تاريخ تقديم إجابة الخبير أو من تاريخ انتهاء المهلة المقررة لتقديمها، ويكون الحكم الصادر في الطلب نهائياً غير قابل للاعتراض.
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 114 explained in plain English
This article regulates recusal of the expert, that is, a request to exclude him for lack of impartiality.
General rule: any party may request recusal of the expert if there is a reason making it likely he cannot perform his task impartially.
Specific grounds for recusal:
- That he is a relative or in-law of one of the parties up to the fourth degree.
- That he is an agent of one of them in his private affairs.
- That he is the executor of one of the parties, or his guardian, or an endowment supervisor or someone in a similar position.
- That he works for one of the parties.
- That he has a dispute with one of them, unless the dispute was brought after the expert's appointment for the purpose of recusing him.
Restrictions on the request:
- A recusal request is not accepted from the party at whose choice the expert was appointed, unless the ground arose after his appointment.
- In all cases, a recusal request is not accepted after the close of pleadings.
Deciding the request: the court decides within 3 days of the date the expert submits his response, or of the end of the period set for submitting it, and the judgment is final and not open to objection.
The article is connected to Article 113, which requires the expert to disclose any relationship or interest before starting his task. Because the recusal request is time-limited and is not accepted after the close of pleadings, a person who has a ground for recusal is advised to consult a lawyer who specializes in litigation and civil matters without delay.
Practical example
In a compensation case between two companies in Riyadh, one of them found that the appointed expert was a cousin of its opponent's manager. It submitted a request to recuse the expert before the close of pleadings, and the court decided it within 3 days of the expert's submitting his response.
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 114 of the Saudi Law of Evidence
When can I request recusal of an expert?
If there is a reason making it likely he cannot perform his task impartially, such as kinship or marriage ties up to the fourth degree, working for one of the parties, or a dispute with one of them.
Can I request recusal of an expert I chose myself?
A recusal request is not accepted from the party at whose choice the expert was appointed, unless the ground arose after his appointment.
Can I request recusal of an expert at any time?
No. In all cases a recusal request is not accepted after the close of pleadings.
How many days does the court have to decide on a request to recuse an expert?
Within 3 days of the date the expert submits his response or the end of the period set for submitting it, and the judgment is final.
More articles on Inspection and Expert Opinion
- Article 91
The article allows the court, where necessary, to appoint an expert to verify that a custom or usual course of dealing between the parties exists, in accordance with the provisions on expert opinion in Part Ten of the Law.
للمحكمة عند الاقتضاء ندب خبير للتحقق من ثبوت العرف أو العادة بين الخصوم، وفقاً للأحكام المقررة في الباب (العاشر) من هذا النظام.
- Article 108
The article allows the court, of its own motion or at a party's request, to order an inspection of the matter in dispute, with notice to an absent party at least 24 hours before, and to use an expert and hear witnesses.
1- للمحكمة -من تلقاء نفسها أو بناء على طلب أحد الخصوم- أن تقرر معاينة المتنازع فيه، وتحدد في قرار المعاينة تاريخها ومكانها، ويبلغ به من كان غائباً من الخصوم قبل
- Article 109
The article allows a person who fears the features of a fact that may become disputed will be lost to request its inspection and the recording of its condition by an urgent claim, with the possible appointment of an expert and a hearing set for the parties' comments on his report.
1- يجوز لمن يخشى ضياع معالم واقعة يحتمل أن تصبح محل نزاع أمام القضاء أن يطلب معاينتها وإثبات حالتها، ويقدم الطلب بدعوى مستعجلة للمحكمة المختصة وفقاً للإجراءات ا
- Article 110
The article allows the court, of its own motion or at a party's request, to appoint one or more experts to give an opinion on technical matters, with expertise suited to the subject, and to approve the parties' agreement on an expert.
1- للمحكمة -من تلقاء نفسها أو بناء على طلب أحد الخصوم- أن تقرر ندب خبير أو أكثر؛ لإبداء رأيه في المسائل الفنية التي يستلزمها الفصل في الدعوى. 2- يراعى في اختيار
- Article 111
The article requires the operative part of the order appointing an expert to state precisely his task, his powers, and the urgent measures he is authorized to take.
يجب أن يتضمن منطوق قرار ندب الخبير بياناً دقيقاً بمهمته، وصلاحياته، والتدابير العاجلة التي يؤذن له في اتخاذها.
- Article 112
The article governs the court's setting of the expert fee amount, the party required to deposit it and the deadline, the other party's option to deposit with a right of recourse, and the effect of neither party depositing.
1- تحدد المحكمة -عند الاقتضاء- المبلغ المقرر للخبرة، والخصم المكلف بإيداع المبلغ وتعين أجلاً لذلك. 2- إذا لم يودع الخصم المكلف المبلغ المقرر للخبرة في الأجل الم
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.