Section 222/11 — Screening before class certification
Texte légal (original thaï)
ในกรณีที่โจทก์ยื่นคำร้องขอให้ดำเนินคดีแบบกลุ่ม หากศาลเห็นว่าคำฟ้องของโจทก์ไม่มีข้อขัดข้องที่จะรับไว้ตามมาตรา ๑๘ หรือมีข้อขัดข้องแต่โจทก์ได้แก้ไขให้ถูกต้องแล้ว ก่อนที่ศาลจะมีคำสั่งรับคำฟ้อง ให้ศาลพิจารณาคำร้องของโจทก์ตามมาตรา ๒๒๒/๑๒ แล้วมีคำสั่งอนุญาตหรือไม่อนุญาตให้ดำเนินคดีแบบกลุ่มโดยไม่ชักช้า
traduction anglaise
In the case where the plaintiff files a motion requesting to proceed as a class action, if the court is of the opinion that the plaintiff's complaint presents no impediment to its acceptance under Section 18, or presents an impediment but the plaintiff has corrected it properly, then before the court issues an order accepting the complaint, the court shall consider the plaintiff's motion under Section 222/12 and issue an order permitting or not permitting the class action without delay.
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
This provision sequences the two gates a class action must pass at the outset. First, the ordinary admissibility check under Section 18 (form and content of the complaint) applies just as in any civil case. Only once that is satisfied, and before the complaint is formally accepted, does the court turn to the distinct question of certification. The provision links directly to Section 222/12, which sets out the substantive criteria the court must weigh. The requirement to act without delay signals that certification should not be allowed to stall the case.
Pourquoi cela est important en pratique
For a litigant, the message is that a class complaint faces an extra hurdle beyond an ordinary lawsuit: even a well pleaded complaint can be refused class treatment if it fails the Section 222/12 tests. Getting the pleading right the first time matters, because formal defects under Section 18 must be cured before the court will even reach the certification question. Early advice from a litigator on both fronts saves time. If you are weighing a group claim, an consultation en ligne avec un avocat thaïlandais can clarify whether your case is likely to be certified.
Foire aux questions
What happens before a Thai court decides to certify a class action?
Under Section 222/11, the court first checks that the complaint is admissible under Section 18. Once any defect is corrected, and before formally accepting the complaint, it must promptly rule on class certification under Section 222/12.
Can a properly drafted complaint still be denied class action status?
Yes. Passing the Section 18 admissibility check is not enough; the court must separately be satisfied by the certification criteria in Section 222/12 before allowing the case to proceed as a class action.