Article 194 — Oral judgment in small claims
Texte légal (original thaï)
คดีมโนสาเร่นั้น ให้ศาลมีอำนาจออกคำสั่งหรือคำพิพากษาด้วยวาจาดังที่บัญญัติไว้ในมาตรา ๑๔๑
traduction anglaise
In a small claims case, the court has the power to issue an order or a judgment orally, as provided in Section 141.
Cette traduction anglaise est fournie à titre indicatif uniquement et n'a pas encore été vérifiée de manière définitive ; référez-vous toujours à l'original thaï.
Annotation de l'entreprise
Section 194 opens Chapter 1 on small claims procedure by giving the court an express power to render its order or judgment orally, incorporating the abbreviated judgment mechanism of Section 141. It is a speed-and-cost device: because the value in dispute is small, the law spares the court from producing a full written decision with detailed reasoning. The oral judgment still binds and is later recorded; its substantive content need only order the defendant to perform and to bear costs. This power carries over to uncomplicated ordinary cases through Section 196.
Pourquoi cela est important en pratique
For a claimant, oral judgment means a small claim can be decided quickly and cheaply, often at the first hearing. Do not expect a lengthy written opinion: the recorded judgment may simply direct payment plus costs, so keep your own note of what the court ordered on interest and dates. If you are pursuing a modest sum, this streamlined route is why small claims are attractive for debt collection.
Décisions de la Cour suprême interprétant cette section
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Supreme Court Judgment No. 1524/2548 (2005)
In a small claims case the court may render judgment orally under Section 141 last paragraph together with Sections 194 and 196, so the judgment's content need only order the defendant to pay and to bear costs and need not set out detailed reasoning on matters such as interest.
The trial court had rendered an oral judgment ordering the defendant to pay, and the interest figure recorded did not exactly match the plaintiff's prayer. Because the case was a small claim decided by oral judgment under Section 141 last paragraph with Sections 194 and 196, the judgment's content was properly limited to ordering payment and costs, and the plaintiff had proved the claim as pleaded.
Décisions sélectionnées avec numéros de dossier vérifiés dans la base de données de la Cour suprême. Les versions anglaises sont des traductions éditoriales réalisées par le cabinet à des fins d'étude.
Foire aux questions
Can a Thai court give judgment orally in a small claims case?
Yes. Section 194 expressly allows the court to issue its order or judgment orally in a small claims case, using the abbreviated judgment form permitted by Section 141.
Does an oral judgment still have to be recorded?
Yes. Although delivered orally, the judgment is entered in the record. Its content in a small claim is usually limited to ordering payment of the debt and the costs of the case.