Article 129 of the Saudi Officers Service Law
المادة 129 من نظام خدمة الضباط · الفصل الأول: لجنة الضباط العليا
The article provides that the Senior Committee's recommendations are issued by a majority of the votes of those present, and where votes are equal the side on which the chairman sits prevails.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
تصدر توصيات اللجنة العليا بأغلبية أصوات الحاضرين وعند تساوي الأصوات يرجح رأي الجانب الذي فيه الرئيس.
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 129 explained in plain English
This article sets out how recommendations are adopted in the Senior Officers Committee:
- The required majority: recommendations are issued by a majority of the votes of those present, not by a majority of all the committee's members.
- Where votes are equal: the opinion of the side on which the chairman sits prevails.
To understand this provision, it must be linked to the surrounding articles:
- Article 128 bars a member affected by the subject of discussion from attending the meeting held to consider it, so he is not counted among those present when it is voted on.
- Article 130 provides for a decision by the Chief of the General Staff, on the recommendation of the Director of Armed Forces Officers Affairs, organizing the conduct of the committee's work and meetings and the determination of cases.
Note that the article speaks of "recommendations", so what the committee issues by this majority is a recommendation. The article does not deal with how the vote is recorded or documented; that may be dealt with by the decision organizing the committee's work. Also, the rule that the side on which the chairman sits prevails prevents a matter from being left without a recommendation when votes are equal.
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 129 of the Saudi Officers Service Law
How are the Senior Officers Committee's recommendations issued?
By a majority of the votes of the members present.
What happens when votes are equal in the committee?
The opinion of the side on which the chairman sits prevails.
More articles on Supreme and Branch Officers Committees
- Article 14
The article requires the officer to be informed of the content of an unsatisfactory report and to sign that he has seen it, gives him the right to object to the Officers Committee through his superior within two weeks, and makes the Committee's recommendations final once ratified.
يبلغ الضابط من قبل قائده الذي كتب عنه تقريراً غير مرض بمضمون ذلك التقرير ويوقع بالاطلاع وله الحق في تقديم اعتراضه على كل أو بعض ما ورد بالتقرير إلى لجنة الضباط
- Article 39
The Article provides that officers of all ranks are transferred outside their arm or specialty on the recommendation of the Higher Officers Committee.
يجري نقل الضباط على اختلاف رتبهم خارج السلاح أوالاختصاص بتوصية من لجنة الضباط العليا.
- Article 40Amended (1409 AH)
The Article provides that transfer and confirmation of officers within each force is on the recommendation of the Higher Officers Committee for the rank of lieutenant colonel and above, and by decision of the force commander for major and below.
يجري نقل واثبات الضباط داخل كل قوة بالقوات المسلحة على الوجه الآتي: 1- من رتبة مقدم فما فوق بتوصية من لجنة الضباط العليا. 2- من رتبة رائد فما دون بقرار من قائد
- Article 51
The Article provides that, absent another provision, transfer, appointment, confirmation, attachment and loan under Chapters One and Two of Part Five are by decision of the Minister on the recommendation of the Higher Officers Committee.
فيما لم يرد به نص آخر فإن النقل والتعيين والإثبات والإلحاق والإعارة المنصوص عليها بالفصل الأول والثاني من الباب الخامس من هذا النظَام يتم بقرار من الوزير بناءً
- Article 125
The article lists the matters the Senior Officers Committee considers and makes recommendations on, including appointment, discharge, promotion from major to brigadier general, transfer, secondment and retirement.
تنظر لجنة الضباط العليا وتوصي بالمسائل الآتية : أ- بدء تعيين الضباط بالقوات المسلحة. ب- الاستغناء عن الخدمة والإعادة إليها. ج- منح الأوسمة. د- اختيار أعضاء البع
- Article 126
The article requires the Senior Officers Committee to meet when called by its chairman at least once every fifteen days, with meetings valid when more than half its members attend, including the chairman.
تجتمع اللجنة العليا بدعوة من رئيسها ، ويجب أن تنعقد مرة واحدة كل خمسة عشر يوماً على الأقل وتكون اجتماعاتها نظَامية عند حضور أكثر من نصف أعضائها من بينهم الرئيس.
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.