Section 200 — Definition of default of appearance
Statutory text (Thai original)
ภายใต้บังคับมาตรา ๑๙๘ ทวิ และมาตรา ๑๙๘ ตรี ถ้าคู่ความฝ่ายใดฝ่ายหนึ่งไม่มาศาลในวันสืบพยาน และไม่ได้รับอนุญาตจากศาลให้เลื่อนคดี ให้ถือว่าคู่ความฝ่ายนั้นขาดนัดพิจารณา
ถ้าคู่ความฝ่ายใดไม่มาศาลในวันนัดอื่นที่มิใช่วันสืบพยาน ให้ถือว่าคู่ความฝ่ายนั้นสละสิทธิการดำเนินกระบวนพิจารณาของตนในนัดนั้น และทราบกระบวนพิจารณาที่ศาลได้ดำเนินไปในนัดนั้นด้วยแล้ว
English translation
Subject to Section 198 bis and Section 198 ter, if either party does not appear at the court on the day of taking evidence and has not obtained the court's permission to postpone the case, that party shall be deemed to be in default of appearance.
If either party does not appear at the court on a hearing day other than the day of taking evidence, that party shall be deemed to have waived his right to conduct proceedings at that hearing and to be aware of the proceedings conducted by the court at that hearing.
This English translation is provided for reference only and has not yet been firm-verified — always rely on the Thai original.
Firm annotation
Section 200 opens Part 2 on default of appearance by drawing a sharp line between two kinds of non-attendance. Missing the day of taking evidence, without leave to postpone, is default of appearance, the serious category that can lead to the case being struck off or decided ex parte under the following sections. The provision is expressly subject to Sections 198 bis and 198 ter, so a defaulting defendant's absence at an ex parte evidence hearing is not counted as default of appearance. By contrast, missing any other hearing day carries a much milder consequence under paragraph two: the party is deemed to have waived his right to act that day and to know what was done. Case law confirms that the day of taking evidence here must be a hearing on the disputed issues of the case itself.
Why this matters in practice
Never miss a hearing set for taking evidence: if you do not appear and have not been granted a postponement, you are in default of appearance, which can cost you the case. If you cannot attend, apply to postpone in advance and get the court's permission, do not simply stay away. For other hearing dates the stakes are lower, but you are still deemed to know whatever the court did that day, so keep track. If attendance is difficult, ask about representation options before the date.
Supreme Court decisions interpreting this section
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Supreme Court Judgment No. 9375/2559 (2016)
Default of appearance under Section 200 means a plaintiff or a defendant who has filed an answer failing to appear on the day of taking evidence without leave to postpone, and that day must be a hearing on the disputed issues of the case itself.
The applicant sought to enter as a judgment creditor and failed to bring witnesses at the inquiry into that request. The Supreme Court explained that default of appearance under Section 200 concerns non-attendance at a hearing on the disputed issues of the case, so the inquiry into the intervention request was analyzed on that footing.
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Supreme Court Judgment No. 1609/2560 (2017)
Where the plaintiff does not appear on the day of taking evidence and has not obtained leave to postpone, the plaintiff is in default of appearance under Section 200 paragraph one, and if the defendant does not wish to proceed, the court strikes the case off under Section 202.
Both counsel knew the hearing date, and the plaintiff did not appear at the evidence hearing without leave to postpone. The Supreme Court, in a tax case applying the Code by analogy, held the plaintiff was in default of appearance under Section 200 paragraph one, and with the defendant declining to proceed, the case was struck off under Section 202.
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Supreme Court Judgment No. 3195/2551 (2008)
Where a special court law does not provide its own rule, Section 200 applies by analogy, so a party who does not appear at a hearing day other than the day of taking evidence is treated under paragraph two rather than as being in default of appearance.
In a labor case, the Supreme Court held that because the labor court law had no specific rule for non-attendance at a hearing after the initial mediation-and-hearing date, Section 200 applied by analogy through the labor court law, distinguishing the day of taking evidence from other hearing days.
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 is default of appearance in a Thai civil case?
Under Section 200, a party is in default of appearance when he does not appear on the day set for taking evidence and has not obtained the court's permission to postpone the case.
What happens if I miss a hearing that is not for taking evidence?
Under paragraph two, you are deemed to have waived your right to conduct proceedings at that hearing and to be aware of what the court did there. It is not treated as default of appearance.
Is a defaulting defendant's absence at an ex parte hearing default of appearance?
No. Section 200 is subject to Sections 198 bis and 198 ter, so a defendant in default of answer who does not attend the ex parte evidence hearing is not deemed in default of appearance.