Section 183 bis — Absence on the settlement-of-issues day
Statutory text (Thai original)
ในกรณีที่คู่ความทุกฝ่ายหรือฝ่ายใดฝ่ายหนึ่งไม่มาศาลในวันชี้สองสถาน ให้ศาลทำการชี้สองสถานโดยให้ถือว่าคู่ความที่ไม่มาศาลได้ทราบกระบวนพิจารณาในวันนั้นแล้วคู่ความที่ไม่มาศาลนั้นไม่มีสิทธิคัดค้านว่าประเด็นข้อพิพาทและหน้าที่นำสืบที่ศาลกำหนดไว้นั้นไม่ถูกต้อง เว้นแต่เป็นกรณีที่ไม่สามารถมาศาลได้ในวันชี้สองสถาน เพราะเหตุจำเป็นอันไม่อาจก้าวล่วงได้ หรือเป็นการคัดค้านในเรื่องที่เกี่ยวกับความสงบเรียบร้อยของประชาชน ในกรณีเช่นนี้ให้นำมาตรา ๑๘๓ วรรคสาม มาใช้บังคับโดยอนุโลม
English translation
Where all parties, or any one party, do not come to court on the day of the settlement of issues, the court shall proceed to hold the settlement of issues, and the party who does not come to court shall be deemed to have known the proceedings taken on that day. The party who does not come to court has no right to object that the issues in dispute and the burden of proof fixed by the court are incorrect, except where the party was unable to come to court on the day of the settlement of issues due to an unavoidable necessity, or where the objection concerns public order. In such a case, the third paragraph of Section 183 shall apply mutatis mutandis.
This English translation is provided for reference only and has not yet been firm-verified — always rely on the Thai original.
Firm annotation
Section 183/2 addresses what happens when a party stays away from the settlement-of-issues hearing under Section 183. The court proceeds regardless, and the absent party is deemed to know that day's proceedings and loses the right to challenge the issues or the burden of proof as fixed. Two exceptions preserve the right to object: an unavoidable necessity that prevented attendance, and objections touching public order, and in those cases the objection procedure in the third paragraph of Section 183 applies by analogy. The provision discourages absence as a tactic while protecting parties genuinely unable to attend.
Why this matters in practice
Do not skip the settlement-of-issues hearing lightly. If you or your lawyer are absent, the court fixes the issues and burden of proof without you, and you are deemed to know them and generally cannot object afterwards. If something genuinely unavoidable keeps you away, document it, because only an unavoidable necessity or a public-order point revives your right to object, using the procedure in Section 183 paragraph three.
Frequently asked questions
What happens if I miss the settlement-of-issues hearing in Thailand?
Under Section 183/2 the court still holds the hearing, and you are deemed to know what was done. You generally lose the right to object to the issues or burden of proof fixed that day.
Are there exceptions that let an absent party still object?
Yes. If you could not attend due to an unavoidable necessity, or the objection concerns public order, you may still object, using the procedure in Section 183 paragraph three.