Saudi personal status courts resolve 160,000 disputes in 6 months

The personal status courts across the Kingdom have resolved more than 160,000 cases during the first six months of the current Hijri year with courts in Makkah province leading the list by settling more than 52,200 disputes, or 32 percent of the total, related to family and personal status.

Courts in the Riyadh province came second by resolving over 35,200 cases, followed by the Eastern Province (19,085 cases), Madinah (12,497), Asir (10,811) and Qassim (8,362).

Personal status courts in Jazan settled 7,355 cases while those in Tabuk heard 4,404 cases, Hail 3,518 cases, Al-Jouf 2,877 cases, Najran 2,728 cases, Al-Baha 1,953 cases and Northern Border Province 1,908 cases.

The Justice Ministry, meanwhile, started experimental operation of the electronic linkage of first-class courts and appeals courts across the country as part of its efforts to complete all judicial procedures electronically and expand its paperless transaction system.

The ministry has already implemented the system at personal status courts and appeals courts in Riyadh province, saving at least 30 days to complete procedures compared to the previous system of paper transactions. “This will lead to quick settlement of cases,” a ministry official said.

Last year, the Reconciliation Office at the Riyadh Personal Status Court resolved 60.3 percent of cases it received by reconciling the litigants.

The office settled 6,624 cases out of a total of 10,989 cases presented to the court. The cases varied from marital conflicts, custody battles, visitation rights and alimony disputes.

Head of Riyadh Personal Status Court Sheikh Saad Al-Suwaigh said the court updated its procedures to give priority to cases involving prisoners because such cases were considered urgent as they required immediate solutions.

"Now that we are electronically linked to the General Directorate of Prisons, the process of receiving these cases has become faster and more efficient. We also give priority to cases of people with special needs," said Al-Suwaigh.

He said two workshops were held to update judges about obstacles facing the office and brainstorm on ways to increase its efficiency. "The office looks into 100 cases a day on average. It intervenes as soon as the disputants present their case in the court. Reconciliation sessions are usually successful at one sitting and on the same day. All reconciliation sessions are documented to ensure transparency and fairness," said Al-Suwaigh.

He said the Reconciliation Office was made part of the legal procedure unlike the past when it simply offered complementary services to the litigants.