The deadline for appeal to cancel the illegal administrative decision in Yemeni law

Abstract

This research addresses the problematic absence of a unified legal framework defining the time limit for lodging an action for annulment against illegal administrative decisions in Yemeni law, which has led to judicial inconsistencies and threatened legal stability. 
The study examines various special laws, such as the Civil Service Law and the Judicial Authority Law, that stipulate different appeal periods, ranging from thirty to sixty days. In light of this legislative gap, the study clarifies that the administrative judiciary, particularly the Administrative Chamber of the Supreme Court, has resorted to applying general rules based on Article (23) of the Law of Evidence, adopting a five-year statute of limitations for the lawsuit. The research analyzes the legal nature of the appeal period, arguing it should be classified as a "forfeiture period" ( mīʿād suqūṭ ) rather than a "prescription period" (taqādum ), as it pertains to a procedural right aimed at ensuring public interest and administrative stability. It also discusses the commencement, extension, and interruption of this period. 
The study concludes that the five-year term established by the Yemeni judiciary is excessively long compared to comparative legislation and is ill-suited to the nature of annulment actions, which require prompt resolution. It recommends urgent legislative intervention to standardize the time limit for annulment appeals to a short and reasonable period, such as sixty days, to ensure the protection of rights and the stability of administrative actions.