Section 222/9 — Filing a class action request
Statutory text (Thai original)
ในการร้องขอให้ดำเนินคดีแบบกลุ่ม ให้โจทก์ยื่นคำร้องต่อศาลพร้อมกับคำฟ้องเริ่มคดี เพื่อขอให้ดำเนินคดีแบบกลุ่มได้ตามบทบัญญัติแห่งหมวดนี้
คำร้องขอให้ดำเนินคดีแบบกลุ่มตามวรรคหนึ่ง โจทก์ต้องแสดงเหตุตามสมควรที่ศาลจะอนุญาตให้ดำเนินคดีแบบกลุ่ม
English translation
In requesting to proceed as a class action, the plaintiff shall file a motion with the court together with the complaint instituting the case, in order to request permission to proceed as a class action under the provisions of this Chapter.
In the motion to proceed as a class action under paragraph one, the plaintiff shall show reasonable grounds for the court to permit the class action.
This English translation is provided for reference only and has not yet been firm-verified — always rely on the Thai original.
Firm annotation
This section, added by the B.E. 2558 (2015) amendment, governs how a class action is set in motion. It requires the request for class treatment to be filed as a motion together with the initiating complaint, not later, so the court knows from the outset that group certification is sought. The plaintiff carries the burden of showing reasonable grounds for permission, which the court then rules on in the certification stage, applying the group definition in Section 222/1 and the eligible-case list in Section 222/8. The court's decision to permit or refuse the class action is the gateway that turns an ordinary complaint into class litigation.
Why this matters in practice
Timing is strict: file the request for class treatment together with your complaint, because it is not something you can add on later. Put real effort into the reasoned grounds, since the certification decision is where many class actions stand or fall, and the court needs to see that the group and the case type genuinely fit. Preparing a persuasive certification motion is specialist work, so it is worth taking online consultation with a Thai lawyer before you file.
Frequently asked questions
How do you start a class action in Thailand?
Under Section 222/9 the plaintiff files a motion requesting permission to proceed as a class action together with the complaint that opens the case, showing reasonable grounds.
Can the class action request be filed after the complaint?
No. Section 222/9 requires the motion to be filed together with the complaint that institutes the case, not at a later stage.