Section 132 — Striking a case from the docket
Statutory text (Thai original)
ให้ศาลมีคำสั่งให้จำหน่ายคดีเสียจากสารบบความได้ โดยไม่ต้องมีคำวินิจฉัยชี้ขาดในประเด็นเรื่องนั้น และให้กำหนดเงื่อนไขในเรื่องค่าฤชาธรรมเนียมตามที่เห็นสมควร
(๑) เมื่อโจทก์ทิ้งฟ้อง ถอนฟ้อง หรือไม่มาศาลในวันนัดพิจารณา ดังที่บัญญัติไว้ในมาตรา ๑๗๔ มาตรา ๑๗๕ และมาตรา ๑๙๓ ทวิ
(๒) เมื่อโจทก์ไม่หาประกันมาให้ดังที่บัญญัติไว้ในมาตรา ๒๕๓ และมาตรา ๓๒๓ หรือเมื่อคู่ความฝ่ายใดฝ่ายหนึ่ง หรือทั้งสองฝ่ายขาดนัดดังที่บัญญัติไว้ในมาตรา ๑๙๘ มาตรา ๒๐๐ และมาตรา ๒๐๑
(๓) ถ้าความมรณะของคู่ความฝ่ายใดฝ่ายหนึ่งยังให้คดีนั้นไม่มีประโยชน์ต่อไป หรือถ้าไม่มีผู้ใดเข้ามาแทนที่คู่ความฝ่ายที่มรณะดังที่บัญญัติไว้ในมาตรา ๔๒
(๔) เมื่อศาลได้มีคำสั่งให้พิจารณาคดีรวมกันหรือให้แยกกัน ซึ่งเป็นเหตุให้ต้องโอนคดีไปยังอีกศาลหนึ่งดังที่บัญญัติไว้ในมาตรา ๒๘ และ ๒๙
English translation
The court shall order the case struck from the docket without having to decide the issues of the matter, and shall fix the conditions as to court fees as it considers appropriate:
(1) when the plaintiff abandons the claim, withdraws the claim, or fails to appear at the court on the day fixed for hearing, as provided in Sections 174, 175, and 193 bis;
(2) when the plaintiff fails to provide security as provided in Sections 253 and 323, or when either party or both parties are in default as provided in Sections 198, 200, and 201;
(3) if the death of either party renders the case no longer of benefit to continue, or if no one enters to take the place of the deceased party as provided in Section 42;
(4) when the court has ordered the cases to be tried together or separately, resulting in the need to transfer a case to another court, as provided in Sections 28 and 29.
This English translation is provided for reference only and has not yet been firm-verified — always rely on the Thai original.
Firm annotation
Section 132 lists the grounds on which the court disposes of a case procedurally, by striking it from the docket, rather than deciding its merits, and lets the court fix the court-fee terms. The four grounds cover plaintiff inaction (abandonment, withdrawal, or non-appearance under Sections 174, 175, 193 bis), failure to give security or default of a party (Sections 253, 323, 198, 200, 201), the death of a party that makes the case pointless with no substitute (Section 42), and transfers flowing from consolidation or separation orders (Sections 28, 29). A striking under Section 132 is a genuine removal of the case, so it differs from a suspension under other statutes, for example a bankruptcy stay, after which the case can resume. It contrasts with Section 131(2) and Section 133, where the court decides the issues.
Why this matters in practice
If your case is struck under Section 132 it ends without a decision on the merits, so watch the ground carefully, because a striking for non-appearance or withdrawal can affect whether and how you may sue again. In inheritance and family matters, the death of a party can make the case pointless under 132(3), and the court may refund some court fees, so check the fee terms in the order. If your case has been struck and you want to revive or refile it, take advice promptly, since limitation and re-filing rules vary by ground.
Supreme Court decisions interpreting this section
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Supreme Court Judgment No. 4043/2567 (2024)
Where an applicant dies and there is no benefit in continuing, and no one can take that party's place, the court strikes the applicant's case from the docket under Section 132(3).
In a dispute over an estate administrator, the first applicant died and, objection to the appointment being personal to each heir, no one could take that applicant's place. The court struck the first applicant's case from the docket under Section 132(3) and refunded the appeal court fee.
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Supreme Court Judgment No. 8040/2556 (2013)
Where a spouse dies during a divorce case so that the marriage ends by death rather than by judgment, there is no benefit in deciding the claim, and the court strikes the case from the docket under Section 132(3).
Because the marriage ended by death rather than by a divorce judgment, and property was to be divided as at the death, the court held there was no benefit in deciding the divorce claim and struck the case from the docket under Section 132(3), refunding the appeal court fee.
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Supreme Court Judgment No. 8944/2559 (2016)
A striking of a case under a special statute that is not intended to conclude the case definitively is not a striking under Section 132, so the plaintiff may resume the same case rather than having to file anew.
The court held that striking the case against certain defendants under the Bankruptcy Act was not intended to conclude the case definitively and so was not a striking under Section 132. When the bankruptcy claim was later dismissed, the plaintiff could resume this case without having to sue those defendants afresh within the limitation period.
Curated decisions with case numbers verified against the Supreme Court database. English renderings are the firm's editorial translation for study.
Frequently asked questions
What does it mean when a case is struck from the docket?
Under Section 132 the court removes the case without deciding the merits. It happens for reasons such as withdrawal, non-appearance, default, or a party's death that makes the case pointless.
What happens if a party dies during the case?
Under Section 132(3), if the death makes the case no longer of benefit or no one enters to replace the deceased under Section 42, the court may strike the case from the docket.
Can I get my court fee back if the case is struck?
Sometimes. Section 132 lets the court fix the court-fee conditions as it thinks fit, and in some strikings, such as a party's death, part of the fee may be refunded.