Article 261Devoir de recours en grâce du ministre de la Justice
Statutory text (Thai original)
รัฐมนตรีว่าการกระทรวงยุติธรรมมีหน้าที่ถวายเรื่องราวต่อพระมหากษัตริย์พร้อมทั้งถวายความเห็นว่าควรพระราชทานอภัยโทษหรือไม่ในกรณีที่ไม่มีผู้ใดถวายเรื่องราว ถ้ารัฐมนตรีว่าการกระทรวงยุติธรรมเห็นเป็นการสมควรจะถวายคำแนะนำต่อพระมหากษัตริย์ขอให้พระราชทานอภัยโทษแก่ผู้ต้องคำพิพากษานั้นก็ได้
English translation
The Minister of Justice has the duty to submit the petition to the King, together with an opinion as to whether a royal pardon should be granted. In a case where no one has submitted a petition, if the Minister of Justice deems it appropriate, the Minister may submit a recommendation to the King requesting a royal pardon for the person subject to that judgment.
This English translation is provided for reference only and has not yet been firm-verified. Always rely on the Thai original.
Annotation du cabinet
This provision opens Book 7 on royal pardon, commutation of a heavier penalty to a lighter one, and reduction of penalty. It channels every individual (case-specific) pardon petition through the Minister of Justice, who both transmits the petition and gives the Crown a reasoned opinion on it. The Minister also holds an independent power to initiate a pardon recommendation where no petition exists. It operates together with section 262, which stays a death sentence once such a petition or recommendation is submitted, and with sections 263 and 264, which govern non-death penalties and the two-year bar on refiling. The individual pardon under this section is distinct from the collective royal pardon by Royal Decree in section 261 ทวิ.
Why this matters in practice
For a convicted person or their family, this section is the gateway to individual clemency: the petition always passes through the Ministry of Justice, which frames the recommendation the King ultimately sees. Getting the petition and supporting material right matters, because for a death sentence only one petition may be submitted (section 262) and, for lesser penalties, a rejected petition cannot be refiled for two years (section 264). If you are preparing a pardon petition, an online consultation with a Thai lawyer can help ensure the submission is complete before it is filed.
Foire aux questions
Qui soumet une demande de grâce royale au roi en Thaïlande ?
En vertu de l'article 261, une demande de grâce individuelle est soumise au Roi par le ministre de la Justice, qui joint également un avis sur l'opportunité d'accorder la clémence.
Peut-on recommander une grâce si le condamné ne présente jamais de demande ?
Oui. L'article 261 autorise le ministre de la Justice à soumettre une recommandation au roi demandant une grâce même lorsqu'aucune pétition n'a été déposée.
Guides connexes sur ThaiLawOnline
Citer cet article
-
Citation simple
Code de procédure pénale, art. 261 (Thaïlande) -
Citation académique
Criminal Procedure Code (Thailand), s. 261. ThaiLawOnline, https://www.thailawonline.com/fr/thai-criminal-procedure-code/section-261/ (accessed 12 octobre 2026). -
Citation thaïlandaise
ป.วิ.อ. มาตรา 261 -
Lien permanent
https://www.thailawonline.com/fr/thai-criminal-procedure-code/section-261/ -
Intégrer sur votre site
<blockquote cite="https://www.thailawonline.com/fr/thai-criminal-procedure-code/section-261/"><p>The Minister of Justice has the duty to submit the petition to the King, together with an opinion as to whether a royal pardon should be granted. In a case where no one has submitted a petition, if the Minister of Justice deems it appropriate,…</p><footer>Code de procédure pénale, art. 261 (Thaïlande) : <a href="https://www.thailawonline.com/fr/thai-criminal-procedure-code/section-261/">ThaiLawOnline</a></footer></blockquote>
The Thai text is authoritative. The English is an unofficial translation by ThaiLawOnline, free to reuse with attribution.