Article 24 of the Saudi Law of Procedure before the Board of Grievances
المادة 24 من نظام المرافعات أمام ديوان المظالم · الباب الثالث: النظر في الدعوى والحكم فيها
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
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 ما يجب نظاماً، وفصلت في الدعوى التأديبية، ما لم يكن الحكم في الدعوى التأديبية يتوقف على نتيجة الفصل في الدعوى الجزائية، فيجب وقف النظر في الدعوى الأولى حتى يفصل في الدعوى الثانية.
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 24 explained in plain English
This article addresses the relationship between the disciplinary case and the criminal case when a job-related violation is also an offense.
When it applies: If the court hearing a disciplinary case sees that a fact stated in the statement of claim, or other facts contained in the investigation, constitutes an offense.
What the court does:
- It refers the fact to the competent authority to take what is required by law.
- It rules on the disciplinary case; as a rule, the referral does not suspend it.
The exception: If the judgment in the disciplinary case depends on the outcome of the criminal case, the hearing of the disciplinary case must be suspended until the criminal case is decided. The suspension here is mandatory, not discretionary.
The article does not specify the authority competent for the offense, but merely refers to "the competent authority", nor does it set criteria for when a disciplinary judgment depends on a criminal one, so that assessment is for the court.
This article is connected to Article 23, which allows papers to be returned for investigation of facts not stated in the statement. An employee facing both a disciplinary case and a criminal case over the same fact may consult a lawyer specializing in administrative cases before the Board of Grievances, and a lawyer specializing in criminal cases for the criminal side.
Practical example
A court is hearing a disciplinary case against an employee accused of tampering with official documents, and it sees that the fact constitutes an offense. It refers it to the competent authority, and if it sees that its disciplinary judgment depends on the outcome of the criminal case, it must suspend the hearing of the disciplinary case until the criminal one is decided.
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 24 of the Saudi Law of Procedure before the Board of Grievances
What does the disciplinary court do if the violation is an offense?
It refers it to the competent authority to take what is required by law, and rules on the disciplinary case.
Does the disciplinary case stop until the criminal judgment is issued?
It must be suspended only if the judgment in it depends on the outcome of the criminal case; otherwise the court rules on it.
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 23
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.
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
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.