Section 253 — Security for costs against the plaintiff
Statutory text (Thai original)
ถ้าโจทก์มิได้มีภูมิลำเนาหรือสำนักทำการงานอยู่ในราชอาณาจักรและไม่มีทรัพย์สินที่อาจถูกบังคับคดีได้อยู่ในราชอาณาจักร หรือถ้าเป็นที่เชื่อได้ว่าเมื่อโจทก์แพ้คดีแล้วจะหลีกเลี่ยงไม่ชำระค่าฤชาธรรมเนียมและค่าใช้จ่าย จำเลยอาจยื่นคำร้องต่อศาลไม่ว่าเวลาใด ๆ ก่อนพิพากษาขอให้ศาลมีคำสั่งให้โจทก์วางเงินต่อศาลหรือหาประกันมาให้เพื่อการชำระค่าฤชาธรรมเนียมและค่าใช้จ่ายดังกล่าวได้ถ้าศาลไต่สวนแล้วเห็นว่า มีเหตุอันสมควรหรือมีเหตุเป็นที่เชื่อได้ แล้วแต่กรณี ก็ให้ศาลมีคำสั่งให้โจทก์วางเงินต่อศาลหรือหาประกันมาให้ตามจำนวนและภายในระยะเวลาที่กำหนด โดยจะกำหนดเงื่อนไขใด ๆ ตามที่เห็นสมควรก็ได้ถ้าโจทก์มิได้ปฏิบัติตามคำสั่งศาลตามวรรคสอง ให้ศาลมีคำสั่งจำหน่ายคดีออกจากสารบบความ เว้นแต่จำเลยจะขอให้ดำเนินการพิจารณาต่อไป หรือมีการอุทธรณ์คำสั่งศาลตามวรรคสอง
English translation
If the plaintiff has no domicile or place of business within the Kingdom and has no property that may be subjected to execution within the Kingdom, or if it is believed that, should the plaintiff lose the case, the plaintiff will evade payment of the court fees and expenses, the defendant may at any time before judgment file a motion 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.
If, after inquiry, the court is of the view that there is reasonable cause or credible grounds, as the case may be, the court shall order the plaintiff to deposit money with the court or to provide security in the amount and within the time it fixes, and it may impose any conditions it thinks fit.
If the plaintiff does not comply with the court's order under paragraph two, the court shall order the case struck off the cause list, unless the defendant asks that the proceedings continue, or unless the order under paragraph two is appealed.
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 opens Book 4 on provisional measures and protects a defendant against a plaintiff who could win nothing worth pursuing on costs. It applies in two situations: a plaintiff with no domicile, place of business, or attachable property in the Kingdom, and a plaintiff believed likely to evade paying costs after losing. The defendant applies by motion at any time before judgment, the court holds an inquiry, and if satisfied it orders a deposit or security on terms it sets. Non-compliance leads to the case being struck off, unless the defendant elects to proceed anyway or the order is appealed. Section 253/2 extends the same protection to the appeal and dika stages.
Why this matters in practice
This is a practical shield for a Thai defendant sued by an overseas claimant with nothing to enforce against locally: you can ask the court, before judgment, to make the plaintiff post security for your costs, and if the plaintiff refuses the case can be struck off. Bring solid evidence of the plaintiff's lack of local domicile or attachable assets, because the court must hold an inquiry first. Conversely, a foreign plaintiff should expect this application and plan for it. Our litigation and enforcement team handles both sides of such motions.
Supreme Court decisions interpreting this section
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Supreme Court Judgment No. 1376/2549 (2006)
Under Section 253, if a plaintiff has no domicile or place of business and no attachable property in the Kingdom, or is believed likely to evade paying costs if it loses, the elements of the provision are met and the defendant may seek an order for a deposit or security.
The Court set out Section 253 and explained that if the facts show the plaintiff has any of the listed characteristics, the elements of the provision are satisfied, so the defendant may apply for an order that the plaintiff deposit money or provide security for costs.
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Supreme Court Judgment No. 6605/2548 (2005)
A party who stands as defendant to a counterclaim may invoke Section 253 to ask the court to order the counterclaiming party, in its capacity as plaintiff on the counterclaim, to deposit money or provide security for costs.
The Court held that the plaintiff and joined plaintiff, who were defendants to the defendant's counterclaim, could apply under Section 253 for an order that the defendant, as plaintiff on the counterclaim, deposit money or provide security for court fees and expenses.
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Supreme Court Judgment No. 178/2551 (2008)
A defendant who has filed a defence and counterclaim may apply under Section 253 for an order that the plaintiff deposit money with the court or provide security for court fees and expenses.
After filing a defence and counterclaim, the defendant applied under Section 253 for an order that the plaintiff deposit money or provide security for court fees and expenses, alongside a separate application for provisional attachment under Section 254(1).
Curated decisions with case numbers verified against the Supreme Court database. English renderings are the firm's editorial translation for study.
Frequently asked questions
Can I make a foreign plaintiff put up security for costs?
Yes. Under Section 253, if the plaintiff has no domicile, office, or attachable property in Thailand, or is likely to evade costs if it loses, the defendant may ask the court to order a deposit or security.
What happens if the plaintiff does not provide the security?
The court strikes the case off the cause list, unless the defendant asks that the proceedings continue or the order requiring security is appealed.
When can the defendant file this motion?
At any time before judgment. The court then holds an inquiry and, if there is reasonable cause or credible grounds, fixes the amount, time, and any conditions for the deposit or security.