Article 197 of the Saudi Law of Sharia Procedure
المادة 197 من نظام المرافعات الشرعية · الباب الحادي عشر: طرق الاعتراض على الأحكام
The article requires the Supreme Court to examine the formal requirements of the objection and the objecting party's standing, then decide whether it is admissible in form, issuing a separate decision if it is not.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
تنظر المحكمة العليا الشروط الشكلية في الاعتراض، المتعلقة بالبيانات المنصوص عليها في الفقرة (1) من المادة (الخامسة والتسعين بعد المائة) من هذا النظام، وما إذا كان صادرًا ممن له حق طلب النقض، ثم تقرر قبول الاعتراض أو عدم قبوله شكلًا. فإذا كان الاعتراض غير مقبول من حيث الشكل، فتصدر قرارًا مستقلًا 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 197 explained in plain English
Before the Supreme Court considers the grounds and merits of the objection, it begins with a formal examination. This article specifies what it examines at this stage:
- The particulars stated in paragraph (1) of Article 195, namely: the names of the parties and the address of each, the judgment objected to with its number and date, the grounds of objection, the objecting party's requests and signature, and the date the memorandum was lodged.
- The objecting party's standing: that is, whether the objection comes from someone entitled to request cassation.
After this examination, the court decides whether the objection is admissible or inadmissible in form. If it is inadmissible in form, the court issues a separate decision to that effect and does not move on to the merits of the objection.
If the objection is accepted in form, the court moves on to the next stage governed by Article 198, deciding the merits of the objection on the basis of the papers in the file.
What this means in practice: omitting one of the required particulars from the cassation memorandum, or filing it by someone not entitled to request cassation, may lead to the objection being inadmissible in form before its grounds are even considered. It is therefore advisable to review the memorandum with a lawyer who specializes in litigation and court procedure before lodging 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 197 of the Saudi Law of Sharia Procedure
What does the Supreme Court examine as to form?
It examines the particulars stated in paragraph (1) of Article 195, and whether the objection comes from someone entitled to request cassation.
What happens if the objection is not accepted in form?
The Supreme Court issues a separate decision that it is inadmissible in form.
What happens if the objection is accepted in form?
The court moves on to decide the merits of the objection under Article 198.
Articles this article refers to
More articles on Appeal, Cassation and Petition for Reconsideration
- Article 95
A judge's work or judgment is void in the situations of bar in Article 94 even if done by agreement of the parties; if the voidness occurs in an affirmed judgment, a party may ask the Supreme Court to set it aside.
يقع باطلًا عمل القاضي أو قضاؤه في الأحوال المتقدمة في المادة (الرابعة والتسعين) من هذا النظام ولو تم باتفاق الخصوم. وإن وقع هذا البطلان في حكم مؤيد جاز للخصم أن
- Article 165
The article requires the court, after pronouncing the judgment, to inform the litigants of the means of objection and their time limits, and to inform guardians, custodians, endowment administrators and representatives of government bodies that the judgment must be appealed or reviewed.
يجب على المحكمة - بعد النطق بالحكم - إفهام الخصوم بطرق الاعتراض المقررة ومواعيدها. كما يجب عليها إفهام الأولياء والأوصياء والنظار وممثلي الأجهزة الحكومية ونحوهم
- Article 170
The article allows the court to which an objection is submitted to order a stay of provisional enforcement if it considers that the grounds of the objection may lead to the judgment being quashed and serious harm is feared from enforcement.
يجوز للمحكمة المرفوع إليها الاعتراض - متى رأت أن أسباب الاعتراض على الحكم قد تقضي بنقضه - أن تأمر بوقف التنفيذ المعجل إذا كان يخشى منه وقوع ضرر جسيم.
- Article 172
The article distinguishes between a refusal to correct, which is objected to together with the judgment itself, and a correction decision, which may be objected to independently.
إذا رفضت المحكمة التصحيح فيكون الاعتراض على ذلك مع الاعتراض على الحكم نفسه. أما القرار الذي يصدر بالتصحيح فيجوز الاعتراض عليه على استقلال بطرق الاعتراض الجائزة.
- Article 176
The article specifies three means of objection to judgments: appeal, cassation and petition for reconsideration.
طرق الاعتراض على الأحكام هي الاستئناف، والنقض، والتماس إعادة النظر.
- Article 177
The article limits the right to object to a judgment to the party against whom it was given or one who was not awarded all his claims, unless the Law provides otherwise.
لا يجوز أن يعترض على الحكم إلا المحكوم عليه، أو من لم يقض له بكل طلباته، ما لم ينص النظام على غير ذلك.
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.