Article 23 of the Saudi Law of Procedure before the Board of Grievances
المادة 23 من نظام المرافعات أمام ديوان المظالم · الباب الثالث: النظر في الدعوى والحكم فيها
The court rules on the facts in the disciplinary statement of claim and may return the case papers to the prosecuting authority to investigate facts not in it, or other employees, if the papers contain such matters.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
تفصل المحكمة في الوقائع التي وردت في صحيفة الدعوى التأديبية، ويجوز لها - من تلقاء نفسها أو بناءً على طلب جهة الادعاء - إعادة أوراق القضية إليها للتحقيق في وقائع لم ترد في صحيفة الدعوى، أو مع موظفين غير من قدّموا للمحاكمة أمامها، إذا كانت أوراق القضية تتضمن ذلك.
وفي جميع الأحوال يجب إعادة القضية إلى المحكمة، على أنه إذا كانت إعادة أوراق القضية بناء على قرار من الدائرة من تلقاء نفسها للتحقيق مع موظفين لم يقدموا للمحاكمة أمامها، فتحال القضية إلى دائرة أخرى لنظرها.
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 23 explained in plain English
This article sets the scope of what the court rules on in a disciplinary case, and what it does if the papers reveal other facts or persons.
The rule: The court rules on the facts stated in the disciplinary statement of claim, which is the statement containing the attributed violation and its evidence under Article 7.
Returning the papers for investigation: The court may, on its own motion or at the request of the prosecuting authority, return the case papers to the prosecuting authority to investigate:
- Facts not stated in the statement of claim, or
- Employees other than those brought to trial before it,
provided the case papers contain something indicating this.
After the investigation: The case must in all cases be returned to the court. However, if the papers were returned by decision of the circuit on its own motion to investigate employees who were not brought to trial before it, the case is referred to another circuit to hear it.
In practical terms for the employee, the court holds him to account only for what is stated in the statement, and any new facts first go through investigation. The employee concerned may consult a lawyer specializing in administrative cases before the Board of Grievances if the papers of his case are returned for investigation.
Practical example
While hearing a disciplinary case against an employee charged with a financial violation, it became clear from the investigation papers that another employee may have taken part in the violation. The circuit decided on its own motion to return the papers to the prosecuting authority to investigate him, and after the investigation the case is returned to the court and referred to another circuit to hear it.
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 23 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 23 of the Saudi Law of Procedure before the Board of Grievances
Does the court hold the employee to account for facts not stated in the disciplinary statement of claim?
The court rules on the facts stated in the statement, and may return the papers to the prosecuting authority to investigate facts not stated in it if the case papers contain them.
When is a disciplinary case referred to another circuit?
If the circuit returned the papers on its own motion to investigate employees who were not brought to trial before it.
Does the case return to the court after the investigation is redone?
Yes. The case must in all cases be returned to the court.
More articles on Disciplinary Case
- Article 7
A disciplinary case is filed by lodging its statement and all the investigation papers with the competent court. The statement contains the employee's details, the violation, its place, its evidence and the statutory provisions to be applied.
ترفع الدعوى التأديبية بإيداع صحيفتها وجميع أوراق التحقيق لدى المحكمة المختصة. ويجب أن تتضمن الصحيفة اسم الموظف، وصفته، ومقر عمله، والمخالفة المنسوبة إليه، ومكان
- Article 17
In a disciplinary case, the employee may attend sessions himself or appoint an agent and defend in writing or orally; the court may question him, and if he does not attend after notification it proceeds and its judgment is treated as in his presence.
للموظف في الدعوى التأديبية أن يحضر الجلسات بنفسه ، أو أن يوكل عنه. وللمحكمة أن تقرر حضوره بشخصه واستجوابه، ولـه أن يبدي دفاعه كتابة أو مشافهة. وإن لم يحضر هو -
- Article 24
If the disciplinary court sees that a fact constitutes an offense, it refers it to the competent authority and rules on the case, unless its judgment depends on the criminal case, in which case it suspends the case until that is decided.
إذا رأت المحكمة التي تنظر دعوى تأديبية أن الواقعة التي وردت في صحيفة الدعوى أو غيرها من الوقائع التي تضمنها التحقيق تشكل جريمة، أحالتها إلى الجهة المختصة لاتخاذ
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.