Article 7 of the Saudi Law of Sharia Procedure
المادة 7 من نظام المرافعات الشرعية · الباب الأول: أحكام عامة
Article 7 bars bailiffs, clerks and other court aides from performing work within their duties in cases concerning themselves, their spouses or their relatives or in-laws up to the fourth degree, on pain of voidness.
Official text after amendments (Arabic)
Compiled from the original text and every officially published amendment; the amendments are shown in full below for comparison.
لايجوز للمحضرين ولا للكتبة وغيرهم من أعوان القضاء أن يباشروا عملاً يدخل في حدود وظائفهم في الدعاوى الخاصة بهم أو بأزواجهم أو بأقاربهم أو بأصهارهم حتى الدرجة الرابعة، وكذا الإنهاءات إذا اشتملت على خصومة، وإلا كان هذا العمل باطلاً
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 7 explained in plain English
This article aims to protect the impartiality of judicial work from the influence of personal relationships, so integrity is not limited to the judge alone but extends to those who assist him.
Who the article covers: bailiffs, clerks and other court aides.
What they are prohibited from: performing work that falls within the limits of their duties in:
- Cases concerning themselves.
- Cases concerning their spouses.
- Cases concerning their relatives or in-laws up to the fourth degree.
- And also service of notices (inha'at) if they involve a dispute; a notice with no dispute in it does not fall within this prohibition according to the text.
The sanction: if any of them violates this, the work is void. Voidness here is a sanction that the Law expressly provides to protect impartiality.
This article is connected to Article 6, which requires a clerk to attend with the judge at hearings and in all case procedures to draft the record and sign it with him; the clerk is one of the court aides covered by this prohibition.
This article was amended by Royal Decree No. (M/101) dated 14/11/1442 AH, and the text explained here is the text in force after the amendment.
If you notice that a court employee related to one of the parties in your case is performing work in it, it is advisable to consult a lawyer specializing in procedure and litigation.
Practical example
Saad works as a clerk at a court in Riyadh, and a case is filed there in which his brother is a party. Saad may not perform any work of his duties in this case, and if he does, the work he performed is void.
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 7 of the Saudi Law of Sharia Procedure
May a court clerk work on a case involving one of his relatives?
No. He is prohibited from performing the work of his duties in cases concerning his relatives or in-laws up to the fourth degree, and those concerning himself or his spouse.
What is the sanction for violating this prohibition?
The work he performed is void.
Does the prohibition include service of notices (inha'at)?
Yes, if the notices involve a dispute.
Who is covered by this prohibition?
Bailiffs, clerks and other court aides.
Amendment history
Royal Decree No. M/101 — 14/11/1442 AH
Official amendment text (Arabic)
- عُدلت هذه المادة وذلك بموجب المرسوم الملكي رقم (م/101) وتاريخ 1442/11/14هـ، لتكون بالنص الآتي: "لايجوز للمحضرين ولا للكتبة وغيرهم من أعوان القضاء أن يباشروا عملاً يدخل في حدود وظائفهم في الدعاوى الخاصة بهم أو بأزواجهم أو بأقاربهم أو بأصهارهم حتى الدرجة الرابعة، وكذا الإنهاءات إذا اشتملت على خصومة، وإلا كان هذا العمل باطلاً".
Original text before the amendments (Arabic)
لا يجوز للمحضرين ولا للكتبة وغيرهم من أعوان القضاء أن يباشروا عملًا يدخل في حدود وظائفهم في الدعاوى وطلبات الاستحكام الخاصة بهم أو بأزواجهم أو بأقاربهم أو بأصهارهم حتى الدرجة الرابعة، وكذا الإنهاءات الأخرى إذا اشتملت على خصومة، وإلا كان هذا العمل باطلًا.
More articles on Recusal and Withdrawal of Judges
- Article 94
A judge is barred from hearing a case, even if no party asks, in specified situations such as relationship or marriage ties to the fourth degree, an existing dispute, agency, interest, and prior fatwa or involvement in the case.
يكون القاضي ممنوعًا من نظر الدعوى وسماعها ولو لم يطلب ذلك أحد الخصوم في الأحوال الآتية: أ - إذا كان زوجًا لأحد الخصوم أو كان قريبًا أو صهرًا له إلى الدرجة الراب
- 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 96
The article sets the grounds on which a judge may be recused from hearing a case, and provides that filing a recusal request stays the case until it is decided.
1- يجوز رد القاضي لأحد الأسباب الآتية: أ - إذا كان له أو لزوجته دعوى مماثلة للدعوى التي ينظرها. ب - إذا حدث له أو لزوجته خصومة مع أحد الخصوم أو مع زوجته بعد قيا
- Article 97
A judge may not refrain from deciding a case before him except where he is barred from hearing it or a ground for recusal exists, and he must inform his direct superior to be permitted to step aside and have it recorded.
لا يجوز للقاضي الامتناع من القضاء في قضية معروضة عليه، إلا إذا كان ممنوعًا من نظرها أو قام به سبب للرد. وعليه أن يخبر مرجعه المباشر للإذن له بالتنحي، ويثبت هذا
- Article 98
Article 98 permits a party to ask for a judge's recusal if a ground exists and he has not stepped aside, and sets when the request must be made and when the right is lost.
إذا قام بالقاضي سبب للرد ولم يتنح جاز للخصم طلب رده، فإن لم يكن سبب الرد من الأسباب المنصوص عليها في المادة (السادسة والتسعين) من هذا النظام، وجب تقديم طلب الرد
- Article 99
The article sets the form of a recusal request: a signed report deposited with the court administration, stating the grounds and accompanied by supporting papers.
يقدم طلب الرد بتقرير يودع في إدارة المحكمة موقعًا من طالب الرد، ويجب أن يشمل تقرير الرد أسبابه، وأن يرافقه ما يوجد من الأوراق المؤيدة له.
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.