Remand to lower authority

In Swiss appellate and Federal Supreme Court procedure, a remand occurs when the reviewing body does not finally decide all issues but returns the matter to the previous instance or another competent authority. This may be necessary because facts are incomplete, procedural rights were violated, discretion must be exercised, or the lower authority must apply the law in light of the appellate ruling. The binding effect of the remand decision is important: the lower authority must respect the legal assessment and instructions given. A remand can prolong proceedings but may be required for lawful decision-making.