Article 13 of the Saudi Law of Procedure before the Board of Grievances
المادة 13 من نظام المرافعات أمام ديوان المظالم · الباب الثالث: النظر في الدعوى والحكم فيها
The article gives the presiding judge authority to manage and control the session. He may order offensive wording struck, remove those who disrupt it and detain them for 24 hours or fine them up to SAR 1,000, and have a record made of offenses.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
إدارة الجلسة وضبطها منوطان برئيسها، ولـه في سبيل ذلك اتخاذ أيِّ من الإجراءات الآتية:
1 - أن يأمر بمحو العبارات الجارحة، أو المخالفة للآداب، أو النظام العام، من أيِّ ورقة يقدمها أطراف الدعوى.
2 - أن يخرِج من قاعة الجلسة من يخل بنظامها، فإن لم يمتثل جاز له أن يأمر على الفور بحبسه أربعاً وعشرين ساعة، أو بتغريمه مبلغاً لا يتجاوز ألف ريال، أو بهما معاً، ولـه قبل انتهاء الجلسة الرجوع عما أصدره، ويكون أمره نهائياً.
3 - أن يأمر بكتابة محضر عن كل جريمة تقع أثناء انعقاد الجلسة، وإحالة الأوراق إلى الجهة المختصة، ولـه إن اقتضى الحال أن يأمر بالقبض على من وقعت منه هذه الأفعال.
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 13 explained in plain English
This article makes managing and controlling the session the responsibility of its presiding judge and sets out the measures he may take.
1. Striking offending wording: He may order the striking of wording that is offensive or contrary to morals or public order from any paper submitted by the parties to the case.
2. Dealing with those who disrupt the session:
- He may remove from the courtroom anyone who disrupts its order.
- If the person does not comply, he may immediately order his detention for 24 hours, or a fine not exceeding SAR 1,000, or both.
- He may reverse what he ordered before the session ends, and his order is final.
Note that detention or a fine does not come directly, but after non-compliance with the order to leave.
3. Offenses during the session: He may order a record to be drawn up of any offense committed while the session is in progress and the papers referred to the competent authority, and if the situation requires he may order the arrest of the person who committed these acts.
The purpose of these powers is to preserve the dignity of the session and enable the court to hear the case calmly. Those present, parties to the case and others, must observe the order of the session and respect the instructions of its presiding judge.
Practical example
During a session of an administrative court, one of those present raised his voice and repeatedly interrupted the pleadings. The presiding judge ordered him removed, and he refused. The presiding judge may then immediately order his detention for 24 hours or a fine not exceeding SAR 1,000, or both, and may reverse his order before the session ends.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
How we write and review contentA question about Article 13 of Law of Procedure before the Board of Grievances?
Describe what happened and specialist lawyers answer. You can write in English.
- Completely free
- Lawyers from the directory answer
- Your name stays hidden
Administrative Law lawyers: ask a specialist about your case
Describe your situation briefly and we'll suggest a lawyer who specialises in this law
Administrative Law (Board of Grievances) lawyers
Lawyers who handle this kind of case
Dr. Ali Al-Rubaie Law Office and Ittihad Al-Asr Legal Company
Active contributor
Unwan Law Firm
Frequently asked questions about Article 13 of the Saudi Law of Procedure before the Board of Grievances
What is the penalty for disrupting the order of an administrative court session?
The presiding judge may remove the person and, if he does not comply, order his detention for 24 hours or a fine not exceeding SAR 1,000, or both.
Can the presiding judge's detention or fine order be objected to?
The article provides that his order is final, and he himself may reverse it before the session ends.
What happens if an offense is committed during the session?
The presiding judge orders a record to be drawn up and the papers referred to the competent authority, and if the situation requires he may order the offender's arrest.
More articles on Hearing the Case and Sessions in the Administrative Court
- Article 10
The article makes the procedures for hearing the case and the pleadings written as a rule, while allowing the circuit to hear statements and defenses orally and record in the session minutes what it sees fit.
تكون إجراءات نظر الدعوى والمرافعة فيها كتابية، على أنه يجوز للدائرة سماع الأقوال والدفوع مشافهة، وإثبات ما تراه من ذلك في محضر الجلسة .
- Article 11
The article allows, under a decision of the Administrative Judiciary Council, one of the circuit's judges to prepare the case, and the parties to exchange memoranda through a court specialist.
في سبيل نظر الدعوى يجوز - وفقاً لقرار يصدر من مجلس القضاء الإداري - الآتي : 1 - أن تعهد الدائرة إلى أحد قضاتها تحضير الدعوى وتهيئتها للمرافعة، وفقاً لما يلي: أ
- Article 12
Circuit sessions are valid only with all its judges present, and the prosecution representative in a disciplinary case. If the circuit is incomplete, the President of the Administrative Judiciary Council assigns someone to complete it for no more than 60 days.
مع مراعاة ما نصت عليه المادة (الحادية عشرة) من هذا النظام ؛ لا تصح جلسات الدائرة إلا بحضور جميع قضاتها، وممثل الادعاء في الدعوى التأديبية. فإن لم يكتمل تشكيل ال
- Article 14
Any party to the case may obtain copies of its papers and documents unless the presiding judge decides otherwise, and no paper may be relied on unless the parties are allowed to see it.
لأيٍّ من أطراف الدعوى الحصول على صور من أوراق الدعوى ومستنداتها ما لم يرَ رئيس الجلسة خلاف ذلك، ولا يجوز التعويل على أيٍّ من أوراق الدعوى ومستنداتها ما لم يمكَّ
- Article 18
The circuit's secretary drafts the session minutes under its president's supervision, including the judges' names, the time and place, those present and the procedures, and the judges, secretary and parties sign them.
يحرر أمين سر الدائرة محضر الجلسة تحت إشراف رئيسها، على أن يبين فيه أسماء القضاة الذين حضروا الجلسة، وزمان انعقادها ومكانه، والحاضرين من أطراف الدعوى، وجميع الإج
- Article 19
If the court sees during the pleadings that supplementary investigation is necessary, it carries it out itself or assigns one of its judges to do so.
إن رأت المحكمة أثناء المرافعة ضرورة إجراء تحقيق تكميلي، باشرت ذلك بنفسها، أو كلفت من يقوم به من قضاتها.
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.