We, Qaboos bin Said, the Sultan of Oman
after perusal of the Basic Statute of the State issued by Royal Decree 101/96,
the Judicial Authority Law issued by Royal Decree 90/99,
the Law of the Administrative Court issued by Royal Decree 91/99,
the Public Prosecution Law issued by Royal Decree 92/99,
and Royal Decree 93/99 Establishing the Supreme Judicial Council,
and in pursuance of public interest,
have decreed as follows
Article I
The Supreme Judicial Council is hereby composed under the chairmanship of the Sultan and the membership of each of the following:
1. The President of the Supreme Court—Deputy chairman
2. The President of the Administrative Court
3. The Public Prosecutor
4. The most senior Deputy President of the Supreme Court
5. The President of the Sharia Court Circuit in the Supreme Court
6. The Deputy President of the Administrative Court
7. The most senior President of the Court of Appeal
In the absence of a member or the presence of an impediment to him, he is replaced by the person who next in line in the entity he represents.
Article II
The Supreme Judicial Council aims to work on the independence and development of the judiciary and to entrench the values, principles, and ethics of judicial work and foster its systems.
Article III
The Supreme Judicial Council, in order to achieve its objectives, has all mandates and powers, and it has the following in particular:
1. Formulating the public policy of the judiciary.
2. Working to ensure the proper functioning of the courts and the Public Prosecution and developing it.
3. Working to facilitate litigation procedures and making it accessible to litigants.
4. Considering the nominations submitted by the competent entities to occupy judicial positions, positions of members of the Administrative Court, and positions of the Public Prosecution by appointment or promotion, which the law stipulates that their occupation is by royal decree.
5. Proposing draft laws relating to the judiciary and presenting matters it deems appropriate regarding the drafts submitted by the competent entities
6. Expressing an opinion on draft agreements on judicial cooperation between the Sultanate and other states.
7. Any other matters that His Majesty the Sultan deems appropriate to present to the council for review and expressing an opinion on them.
Article IV
The Supreme Judicial Council shall meet under the chairmanship of His Majesty the Sultan, and it may convene under the chairmanship of the deputy chairman. In this case, the decisions of the council are not effective until they are approved by His Majesty the Sultan. The council shall issue a decision on its work system.
Article V
The Supreme Judicial Council must have a secretariat general that exercises all the financial and administrative mandates necessary for the management of the work of the council, and its formation and work system must be issued by a decision by the council.
Article VI
The aforementioned Royal Decree 93/99 is hereby repealed.
Article VII
This decree must be published in the Official Gazette, and comes into force on the date of its issuance.
Issued on: 7 Rabi Al-Thani 1433
Corresponding to: 29 February 2012
Qaboos bin Said
Sultan of Oman
Published in Official Gazette 963 issued on 3 March 2012.