RIYADH – There will be no room to appeal verdicts issued by general courts over financial disputes involving less than SR20,000, according to a new provision approved by the Supreme Judiciary Council, headed by Minister of Justice Waleed Al-Samaan. The provision is part of new procedures for regulating and developing the functions of circuit courts. The Supreme Judiciary Council passed a rule giving the general courts the jurisdiction over financial disputes of up to SR20,000. The concerned circuit in the general court has to take decide on such cases referred to it on the scheduled date itself. The circuit court shall not adjourn examining the case unless essential. In such instances, the deferment shall not be more than 10 days and the reason for putting off the case shall be specifically stated in the case sheet. It is also not allowed to postpone the case for the same reason for more than once. The new regulations also stipulate that each circuit has to hold at least 30 sittings a day. The council also issued directives to carry out urgent studies about the current status of circuits under the general courts in Dammam, Buraidah, Tabuk, Al-Khobar, Al-Ahsa, Jazan, Sakaka, Taif, Qatif, Khamis Mushayt, Hail, Najran, Abha and Baha. It has instructed to ensure the involvement of the heads of the concerned general courts in the studies and take into account the needs of the courts before presenting the recommendations to the council.
