Article 73 of the Saudi Law of Sharia Procedure
المادة 73 من نظام المرافعات الشرعية · الباب الخامس: إجراءات الجلسات ونظامها
The article gives the presiding judge authority to run the session and remove anyone who disrupts it, with detention of up to 24 hours, regulates crimes inside the session, and gives the court that issued the judgment jurisdiction over delay-damages claims.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- إدارة الجلسة وضبطها منوطان برئيسها، وله في سبيل ذلك أن يُخرج من قاعة الجلسة من يخلّ بنظامها، فإن لم يمتثل كان للمحكمة أن تأمر - على الفور - بحبسه مدة لا تزيد على أربع وعشرين ساعة، ويكون أمرها نهائيًا، وللمحكمة أن ترجع عن ذلك الأمر.
2- على رئيس الجلسة أن يأمر بكتابة محضر عن كل جريمة تقع أثناء انعقاد الجلسة، ثم إحالتها إلى هيئة التحقيق والادعاء العام لاستكمال ما يلزم نظامًا، وله أن يأمر بالقبض على من وقعت منه الجريمة.
3- تنظر المحكمة التي أصدرت الحكم دعوى التعويض عن الأضرار الناتجة من المماطلة في أداء الحقوق محل الدعوى.
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 73 explained in plain English
This article contains three separate provisions:
1- Running and controlling the session: these are within the authority of the presiding judge, who may remove from the courtroom anyone who disrupts its order. If the person does not comply, the court may order his detention immediately for a period not exceeding twenty-four hours; its order is final, and it may withdraw that order. Detention here is a later step that follows failure to comply with the removal order.
2- Crimes during the session: the presiding judge must order a report to be written about any crime that occurs while the session is in progress, and then refer it to the Bureau of Investigation and Public Prosecution to complete what the law requires. He may order the arrest of the person who committed the crime.
3- Compensation for delay: a claim for compensation for damage resulting from delay in paying the rights that are the subject of the claim is heard by the court that issued the judgment. The article identifies the competent court for this claim; it does not state the amount of compensation or the conditions for entitlement to it.
This article is linked to Article 74, which makes the presiding judge the one who puts questions to the parties and witnesses. Anyone harmed by an opponent's delay in paying a right awarded by judgment can consult a lawyer specializing in litigation and Sharia procedure to learn how to file a compensation claim.
Practical example
A judgment was issued in Abdullah's favor requiring a company in Riyadh to pay what it owed him, but the company delayed payment and Abdullah suffered harm. He wanted to file a compensation claim for that harm. Under paragraph 3 of the article, his claim is heard by the court that issued the original judgment.
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 73 of the Saudi Law of Sharia Procedure
Can someone who disrupts the session be detained?
Yes. If the presiding judge removes him and he does not comply, the court may immediately order his detention for up to twenty-four hours, and it may withdraw that order.
Which court is competent for a claim for compensation for delay?
The court that issued the judgment hears claims for compensation for damage resulting from delay in paying the rights that are the subject of the claim.
What happens if a crime occurs inside the session?
The presiding judge orders a report to be written and refers it to the Bureau of Investigation and Public Prosecution, and he may order the arrest of the person who committed it.
More articles on Hearing Procedures
- Article 6
Article 6 requires a clerk to attend with the judge at hearings and in all case procedures to draft the record and sign it with him, and lets the judge do so himself if the clerk cannot attend.
يجب أن يحضر مع القاضي في الجلسات وفي جميـع إجراءات الدعوى كاتب يحرر محضر الجلسة ويوقعه مع القاضي، وإذا تعذرحضور الكاتب فللقاضي تولي الإجراء وتحرير المحضر.
- Article 23
The article makes Arabic the official language of the courts, requires hearing non-Arabic speakers through an interpreter, and requires an approved translation from a licensed office for foreign-language papers.
اللغة العربية هي اللغة الرسمية للمحاكم؛ وتسمع المحكمة أقوال الخصوم والشهود ونحوهم من غير الناطقين باللغة العربية عن طريق مترجم، وتقدم ترجمة معتمدة من مكتب مرخص
- Article 48
If the court has set a hearing for two litigants and they appear at a time other than the one set and ask for their dispute to be heard, the court must grant their request if possible.
إذا عينت المحكمة جلسة لشخصين متداعيين، ثم حضرا في غير الوقت المعين وطلبا النظر في خصومتهما، فعليها أن تجيب هذا الطلب إن أمكن.
- Article 53
If it appears to the court that the agent asks for extensions too often on the pretext of consulting his principal in order to stall, it may require the principal himself or another agent.
إذا ظهر للمحكمة من أحد الوكلاء كثرة الاستمهالات بحجة سؤال موكله بقصد المماطلة، فلها حق طلب الموكل بنفسه لإتمام المرافعة أو توكيل وكيل آخر.
- Article 59
Someone who attends thirty minutes before the set end of the hearing is not considered absent if the hearing has not convened, and someone who attends while the hearing is still in session is considered present.
في تطبيق الأحكام السابقة، لا يعد غائبًا- والجلسة لم تنعقد- من حضر قبل الموعد المحدد لانتهاء الجلسة بثلاثين دقيقة، على أنه إذا حضر والجلسة لا زالت منعقدة فيعد حا
- Article 61
The number of judges required by law must attend the pleading hearings; if short, the court president assigns someone to complete it, and if that is not possible the president of the Supreme Judicial Council does.
يجب أن يحضر جلسات المرافعة في القضية العدد اللازم نظامًا من القضاة، فإن لم يتوافر العدد اللازم فيكلف رئيس المحكمة أحد قضاتها لإكمال النصاب، فإن تعذر ذلك فيكلف ر
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.