Section 253 bis — Security for costs on appeal or dika
Statutory text (Thai original)
ในกรณีที่โจทก์ได้ยื่นอุทธรณ์หรือฎีกาคัดค้านคำพิพากษาถ้ามีเหตุใดเหตุหนึ่งตามมาตรา ๒๕๓ วรรคหนึ่ง จำเลยอาจยื่นคำร้องต่อศาลอุทธรณ์หรือศาลฎีกา แล้วแต่กรณี ไม่ว่าเวลาใด ๆ ก่อนพิพากษา ขอให้ศาลมีคำสั่งให้โจทก์วางเงินต่อศาลหรือหาประกันมาให้เพื่อการชำระค่าฤชาธรรมเนียมและค่าใช้จ่ายดังกล่าวได้ในระหว่างที่ศาลชั้นต้นยังมิได้ส่งสำนวนความไปยังศาลอุทธรณ์หรือศาลฎีกา คำร้องตามวรรคหนึ่งให้ยื่นต่อศาลชั้นต้น และให้ศาลชั้นต้นทำการไต่สวน แล้วส่งคำร้องนั้นพร้อมด้วยสำนวนความไปให้ศาลอุทธรณ์หรือศาลฎีกาสั่งให้นำความในมาตรา ๒๕๓ วรรคสองและวรรคสาม มาใช้บังคับแก่การพิจารณาในชั้นอุทธรณ์และฎีกาโดยอนุโลม
English translation
Where the plaintiff has filed an appeal or a dika against the judgment, if any of the grounds under Section 253 paragraph one exists, the defendant may, at any time before judgment, file a motion with the Court of Appeal or the Supreme Court, as the case may be, asking the court to order the plaintiff to deposit money with the court or to provide security for the payment of such court fees and expenses.
While the court of first instance has not yet forwarded the case record to the Court of Appeal or the Supreme Court, the motion under paragraph one shall be filed with the court of first instance, and the court of first instance shall hold an inquiry and then forward the motion together with the case record to the Court of Appeal or the Supreme Court to make an order.
The provisions of Section 253 paragraphs two and three shall apply mutatis mutandis to the consideration at the appeal and dika levels.
This English translation is provided for reference only and has not yet been firm-verified — always rely on the Thai original.
Firm annotation
Section 253/2 mirrors Section 253 at the upper levels, closing a gap that would otherwise let a plaintiff without local assets pursue an appeal or dika with no exposure on costs. The application is directed to the Court of Appeal or Supreme Court, but as a practical matter, while the court of first instance still holds the record, the motion is filed there and that court conducts the inquiry before sending everything up for decision. Paragraph three imports the substance of Section 253 paragraphs two and three, so the same test for ordering security and the same consequence of striking off for non-compliance apply on appeal and dika.
Why this matters in practice
If a foreign or asset-less plaintiff loses at trial but appeals, you as defendant are not out of options: you can seek security for your appeal and dika costs under Section 253/2. Timing matters, because while the trial court still holds the file you file there, not with the higher court. Keep evidence of the plaintiff's lack of local assets ready to re-use at each level. A Thai litigation lawyer can time and pitch the motion correctly.
Frequently asked questions
Can I seek security for costs when the plaintiff appeals?
Yes. Section 253/2 lets the defendant ask the Court of Appeal or Supreme Court to order the plaintiff to deposit money or give security if a Section 253 ground applies.
Which court do I file the motion with on appeal?
While the court of first instance still holds the case record, you file with it, and it holds the inquiry before forwarding the motion and record to the higher court to decide.