Article 54 of the Saudi Law of the Judiciary
المادة 54 من نظام القضاء
The article prevents a judge from being absent from his place of work or cut off from his work for a non-sudden reason before he is permitted in writing to do so.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
لا يجوز للقاضي أن يغيب عن مقر عمله، ولا أن ينقطع عن عمله لسبب غير مفاجئ، قبل أن يرخص له في ذلك كتابة.
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 54 explained in plain English
This article regulates a judge's attendance and regularity at work, and sets two restrictions:
- A judge may not be absent from his place of work before he is permitted in writing to do so.
- Nor may he be cut off from his work for a non-sudden reason before he is permitted in writing to do so.
The permission requirement: the permission must be in writing and prior to the absence or interruption, so oral permission is not enough, nor is notification after the absence.
The description "non-sudden": it appears in the text in connection with being cut off from work, and it means that a reason known in advance requires written permission before the interruption. As for sudden reasons that cannot be foreseen, the article does not explain their treatment in detail.
The article does not specify the body that grants the written permission, nor the penalty for violating it.
This article complements what Article 53 provides, that a judge must reside in the town where his place of work is located, with the Supreme Judicial Council allowed, in exceptional circumstances, to permit him to reside temporarily in another nearby town. It is also connected to Article 55, which creates in the Supreme Judicial Council a judicial inspection department that inspects the work of the judges of the appeal courts and the first-instance courts to gather the data that lead to knowing their efficiency and how keen they are to perform the duties of their post.
Practical example
A judge at a court in Abha wants to travel to Jeddah for two days to attend a family occasion whose date is known in advance. Under Article 54, he may not be absent from his place of work before obtaining written permission to do so.
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 54 of the Saudi Law of the Judiciary
Does a judge need permission to be absent from work?
Yes. He may not be absent from his place of work before he is permitted in writing to do so.
Is oral permission enough for a judge's absence?
No. The article requires the permission to be in writing and before the absence or interruption.
What about being cut off from work for a sudden reason?
The text limits the requirement of prior permission for being cut off to a non-sudden reason, and it does not explain in detail the treatment of sudden reasons.
More articles on Rights and Duties of Judges
- Article 3
The article prevents transferring judges to other posts except with their consent or because of their promotion and in accordance with the Law, without prejudice to Article 49.
مع عدم الإخلال بحكم المادة التاسعة والأربعين من هذا النظام، لا ينقل القضاة إلى وظائف أخرى إلا برضاهم أو بسبب ترقيتهم ووفق أحكام هذا النظام.
- Article 45
The article provides that members of the judicial corps enjoy the rights and guarantees in the Civil Service Law and the Retirement Law and observe the civil service duties that do not conflict with judicial work, without prejudice to the Law of the Judiciary.
مع عدم الإخلال بما يقتضيه هذا النظام من أحكام يتمتع أعضاء السلك القضائي بالحقوق والضمانات المقررة في نظام الخدمة المدنية ونظام التقاعد ، ويلتزمون بما نص عليه نظ
- Article 48
The article provides that the salaries of members of the judicial corps in all their grades follow their own salary scale.
تكون رواتب أعضاء السلك القضائي بجميع درجاتهم وفقًا لسلم الرواتب الخاص بهم.
- Article 49
The article limits transferring and seconding judges within the corps to a decision of the Supreme Judicial Council, and outside it to a royal order, with secondment and loan lasting one year, renewable for another.
لا يجوز نقل أعضاء السلك القضائي أو ندبهم داخل السلك القضائي إلا بقرار من المجلس الأعلى للقضاء . كما لا يجوز نقل أعضاء السلك القضائي أو ندبهم أو إعارتهم خارج الس
- Article 50
The article gives the president of the Supreme Judicial Council, by his decision, the power to grant judges leave within the limits of the provisions governing it.
يرخص رئيس المجلس الأعلى للقضاء - بقرار منه - للقضاة بالإجازات في حدود الأحكام المنظمة لذلك.
- Article 51
The article prohibits combining judicial office with engaging in trade or any post or work inconsistent with judicial independence and dignity, and allows the Supreme Judicial Council to bar a judge from any work that conflicts with his duties.
لا يجوز الجمع بين وظيفة القضاء ومزاولة التجارة، أو أي وظيفة أو عمل لا يتفق مع استقلال القضاء وكرامته. ويجوز للمجلس الأعلى للقضاء أن يقرر منع القاضي من مباشرة أي
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.