Article 50 of the Saudi Law of Procedure before the Board of Grievances
المادة 50 من نظام المرافعات أمام ديوان المظالم · الفصل الرابع: الاعتراض أمام المحكمة الإدارية العليا
The Article sets the deadlines for exchanging memoranda in an objection before the Supreme Administrative Court: the opposing party's defense, then the objector's reply, then the opposing party's remarks, each within thirty days.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- إذا بدا للمعترض ضده أن يقدم دفاعاً ، فعليه أن يودع لدى الإدارة المختصة في المحكمة - خلال ثلاثين يوماً من تاريخ تبليغه بصحيفة الاعتراض - مذكرة بدفاعه مرافقاً لها المستندات التي يرى تقديمها.
2- إذا قدم المعتَرَض ضده مذكرة بدفاعه على النحو الوارد في الفقرة (1) من هذه المادة، كان للمعتَرِض - خلال ثلاثين يوماً من انقضاء المهلة المذكورة - أن يودع لدى الإدارة المختصة مذكرة برده مرافقاً لها المستندات التي يرى تقديمها. وفي حال تعدد المعتَرَض ضدهم يكون لكل منهم - خلال المهلة المذكورة في هذه الفقرة- أن يودع مذكرة بالرد على المذكرة التي قدمها المعتَرِضُ ضدهم.
3- إذا استعمل المعترض حقه في الرد، كان للمعترض ضده أن يودع - خلال ثلاثين يوماً أخرى - مذكرة بملحوظاته على الرد.
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 50 explained in plain English
This Article governs the exchange of written memoranda after the objection statement is served, in three stages, each of thirty days:
- Defense memorandum: If the opposing party wishes to submit a defense, it lodges with the competent department of the court a memorandum setting out its defense together with its documents within thirty days of being notified of the objection statement.
- Reply memorandum: If the opposing party submits its defense, the objector may lodge a memorandum with its reply and documents within thirty days of the end of the preceding period. If there are several opposing parties, each of them may, within this period, lodge a memorandum replying to the memorandum submitted by the opposing parties.
- Remarks on the reply: If the objector exercises its right to reply, the opposing party may lodge, within a further thirty days, a memorandum with its remarks on the reply.
Note that each stage depends on the one before: the right to reply arises only if a defense memorandum was submitted, and the right to submit remarks arises only if the right to reply was exercised. The reply period is counted from the end of the defense period, not from the date the memorandum was submitted.
Article 51 is linked to this period, as it allows the opposing party, before the period in paragraph (1) ends, to request that a party to whom the objection was not directed be brought into the case. This Article follows Article 49, which governs the stay of execution of the judgment objected to.
To calculate the deadlines accurately, it is advisable to engage a lawyer who specializes in administrative cases before the Board of Grievances.
Practical example
A government body was notified of an objection statement submitted by a contractor, and it lodged its defense memorandum within thirty days of notification. After that period ended, the contractor had thirty days to submit its reply, and then the body had a further thirty days to submit its remarks on the reply.
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 50 of the Saudi Law of Procedure before the Board of Grievances
How long do I have to submit a defense memorandum before the Supreme Administrative Court?
Thirty days from the date the opposing party is notified of the objection statement.
When may the objector reply to the defense memorandum?
If a defense memorandum was submitted, the objector may reply within thirty days of the end of the defense period.
May the opposing party comment on the reply?
Yes. If the objector exercised its right to reply, the opposing party may submit its remarks within a further thirty days.
More articles on Objection before the Supreme Administrative Court
- Article 35
The article provides that the administrative courts' procedures apply to an objection before the administrative courts of appeal and the Supreme Administrative Court where there is no specific provision.
فيما لم يرد فيه نص خاص، تسري على الاعتراض أمام محاكم الاستئناف الإدارية والمحكمة الإدارية العليا الإجراءات المقررة أمام المحاكم الإدارية.
- Article 45
The Article explains how to file an objection before the Supreme Administrative Court by a statement lodged with the Administrative Court of Appeal that issued the judgment, and limits the grounds to those in the statement, except public-order grounds.
يرفع الاعتراض أمام المحكمة الإدارية العليا بصحيفة يودعها المعترض أو مَنْ يمثله لدى محكمة الاستئناف الإدارية التي أصدرت الحكم، وفقاً للإجراءات المقررة لرفع الدعو
- Article 46
The Article specifies the documents that must accompany an objection statement before the Supreme Administrative Court: proof of the representative's capacity, copies of the statement, copies of the judgments, and supporting documents.
يجب أن يرافق صحيفة الاعتراض الآتي: 1 - صورة من الوثيقة التي تثبت صفة ممثل المعترض. 2 - صور من صحيفة الاعتراض بعدد المعترض ضدهم. 3 - الصورة المسلمة إليه من الحكم
- Article 47
The Article requires the Administrative Court of Appeal to send the objection file to the Supreme Administrative Court by the next day at the latest, and allows the Supreme Court to join the case file.
يجب على الإدارة المختصة في محكمة الاستئناف الإدارية أن ترسل ملف الاعتراض إلى المحكمة الإدارية العليا في اليوم التالي على الأكثر من تاريخ استيفاء إجراءات طلب الا
- Article 48
The Article provides that the competent department of the Supreme Administrative Court registers the objection on the day it arrives, and that the opposing party is notified of the objection statement.
تقيد الإدارة المختصة في المحكمة الإدارية العليا الاعتراض يوم وصوله إليها، ويبلغ المعترض ضده بصحيفة الاعتراض.
- Article 49
The Article provides that an objection before the Supreme Administrative Court does not stay execution of the judgment except by its order under conditions, while an objection to a judgment dismissing an employee stays its execution.
لا يترتب على الاعتراض أمام المحكمة الإدارية العليا وقف تنفيذ الحكم. على أنه يجوز للمحكمة أن تأمر بوقف تنفيذه إذا طلب ذلك في صحيفة الاعتراض، وقدرت أن تنفيذه يرتب
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.