Non ultra petita

The principle ne ultra petita (lat. do not have the required addition ) states that a court may not award was applied for. The court is bound within the meaning of the principle of party disposition of the parties' claims, which are considered "masters of the process ."

This application principle is governed by German law of civil procedure in § 308 para 1 CCP and in the administrative process in § 88 Code of Administrative Procedure law.

In administrative law, this principle is used as an argument against the admissibility of the Reformatio in peius.

In criminal law, the principle does not apply: The court may impose a higher penalty than requested by the prosecutor, but must also acquit the defendant, if he himself or his counsel requested a punishment.