Section 278 — General powers of the executing officer
Statutory text (Thai original)
เมื่อศาลได้ออกหมายบังคับคดีตั้งเจ้าพนักงานบังคับคดีแล้ว ให้เจ้าพนักงานบังคับคดีมีอำนาจในฐานะเป็นเจ้าพนักงานศาลในการดำเนินการบังคับคดีให้เป็นไปตามที่ศาลได้กำหนดไว้ในหมายบังคับคดีและตามบทบัญญัติในลักษณะ ๒ แห่งภาคนี้ ทั้งนี้ จะเรียกให้เจ้าหนี้ตามคำพิพากษาช่วยเหลือก็ได้ คำสั่งของเจ้าพนักงานบังคับคดีในการดำเนินการบังคับคดีต้องกล่าวหรือแสดงเหตุผลไว้ด้วย
ให้เจ้าพนักงานบังคับคดีมีอำนาจในฐานะเป็นผู้แทนของเจ้าหนี้ตามคำพิพากษาในอันที่จะรับชำระหนี้หรือทรัพย์สินที่ลูกหนี้ตามคำพิพากษาหรือบุคคลภายนอกนำมาวางและออกใบรับให้
เงินที่ลูกหนี้ตามคำพิพากษาหรือบุคคลภายนอกนำมาวางโดยมิได้เป็นผลมาจากการยึดหรืออายัด ให้นำมาชำระหนี้แก่เจ้าหนี้ตามคำพิพากษาผู้ขอบังคับคดี เว้นแต่ในกรณีที่มีเจ้าหนี้ผู้ขอเฉลี่ยตามมาตรา ๓๒๖ อยู่ก่อนแล้วในขณะที่มีการวางเงินนั้น ก็ให้ถือว่าเป็นเงินที่ได้ยึดหรืออายัดไว้ตามบทบัญญัติในลักษณะ ๒ แห่งภาคนี้ แต่ให้ได้รับยกเว้นค่าธรรมเนียมในการบังคับคดี
ให้เจ้าพนักงานบังคับคดีทำบันทึกวิธีการบังคับคดีทั้งหลายที่ได้จัดทำไปและเก็บรักษาไว้ในที่ปลอดภัย แล้วรายงานต่อศาลเป็นระยะ ๆ ไป
ในการปฏิบัติหน้าที่ของเจ้าพนักงานบังคับคดี เจ้าพนักงานบังคับคดีจะมอบหมายให้บุคคลอื่นปฏิบัติการแทนก็ได้ ทั้งนี้ ตามคุณสมบัติ หลักเกณฑ์ วิธีการ และเงื่อนไขที่กำหนดในกฎกระทรวง
ให้หักค่าธรรมเนียมเจ้าพนักงานบังคับคดีตามตาราง ๕ ท้ายประมวลกฎหมายนี้ เพื่อให้กรมบังคับคดีพิจารณาจ่ายเป็นค่าตอบแทนแก่ผู้ที่ได้รับมอบหมายตามวรรคห้าโดยไม่ต้องนำส่งคลังเป็นรายได้แผ่นดิน ทั้งนี้ ตามที่รัฐมนตรีว่าการกระทรวงยุติธรรมกำหนดโดยได้รับความเห็นชอบจากกระทรวงการคลัง
English translation
When the court has issued a writ of execution appointing an executing officer, the executing officer shall have power, as a court official, to carry out execution in accordance with what the court has specified in the writ and with the provisions of Title 2 of this Book, and may call upon the judgment creditor for assistance. An order of the executing officer in carrying out execution must state or show the reasons therefor.
The executing officer shall have power, as the representative of the judgment creditor, to receive payment of a debt or property brought and deposited by the judgment debtor or a third party, and to issue receipts therefor.
Money brought and deposited by the judgment debtor or a third party otherwise than as a result of seizure or attachment shall be applied to pay the judgment creditor who applied for execution, except where, at the time of the deposit, there is already a creditor who has applied to share ratably under Section 326, in which case such money shall be deemed money seized or attached under the provisions of Title 2 of this Book, but shall be exempt from execution fees.
The executing officer shall make a record of all execution methods carried out and keep it in a safe place, and shall report to the court from time to time.
In performing the duties of an executing officer, the executing officer may delegate another person to act on the officer's behalf, in accordance with the qualifications, criteria, methods, and conditions prescribed in a ministerial regulation.
Execution fees under Table 5 annexed to this Code shall be deducted so that the Legal Execution Department may consider paying them as remuneration to the person delegated under paragraph five, without having to remit them to the treasury as state revenue, as prescribed by the Minister of Justice with the approval of the Ministry of Finance.
This English translation is provided for reference only and has not yet been firm-verified — always rely on the Thai original.
Firm annotation
Section 278 opens Book 4, Title 2, Part 6 on the general powers of the executing officer and defines that officer's dual role. As a court official, the officer executes strictly within the writ and Title 2, must give reasons for orders, keeps records, and reports to the court, which is why defective, erroneous, or unlawful execution can be challenged by motion to the court. As the judgment creditor's representative, the officer receives payments and deposits and issues receipts, and money deposited outside a seizure or attachment normally goes to the applicant creditor, unless a ratable creditor under Section 326 already exists. The later paragraphs govern delegation of the officer's duties and the handling of execution fees under Table 5.
Why this matters in practice
Understand who the officer works for. The executing officer represents the judgment creditor, not the debtor, so side deals a debtor makes with an auction buyer do not bind the sale. Because the officer is a court official acting under the writ, if you are a debtor, creditor, or affected third party and you think a step was defective or unlawful, your remedy is a motion to the execution court, not a private complaint to the officer. Note too that money you deposit toward the judgment may have to be shared with other creditors who have applied to participate. Coordinating properly with the officer keeps enforcement on track.
Supreme Court decisions interpreting this section
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Supreme Court Judgment No. 2564/2567 (2024)
Once the court issues a writ appointing an executing officer, the officer acts as a court official carrying out execution under the writ and Book 4, Title 2; a party or affected third party harmed by defective, erroneous, or unlawful execution may apply to the court to revoke or correct it.
The Supreme Court explained that after a writ appoints the executing officer, the officer carries out execution as a court official under the writ and Book 4, Title 2, per Section 278 paragraph one. Consequently, a judgment creditor, judgment debtor, or interested third party harmed by defective, erroneous, or unlawful execution has the right to apply to the court to revoke or correct the execution proceedings.
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Supreme Court Judgment No. 2262/2564 (2021)
The executing officer, as the representative of the judgment creditor under Section 278 paragraph one, receives payment and holds seized or attached property in the debtor's estate for distribution; even the creditor who obtained the judgment must let the officer distribute proceeds among the creditors.
The Supreme Court held that property falls into the judgment debtor's estate under the executing officer's authority, the officer acting as the judgment creditor's representative to receive payment and to seize or attach the debtor's property. Even the plaintiff, though a judgment creditor, had to let the officer distribute the proceeds among the creditors, with any surplus dealt with under Section 322.
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Supreme Court Judgment No. 2925/2559 (2016)
The executing officer is the representative of the judgment creditor, not of the judgment debtor, under Section 278; a promise the debtor makes to an auction buyer does not concern the officer's auction sale and does not bind it.
An auction buyer complained that the debtor had promised to transfer a lease right to the buyer and then breached. The Supreme Court held that this was a matter between the buyer and the debtor, since the executing officer represents the judgment creditor, not the debtor, under Section 278; the debtor's promise therefore did not concern or bind the officer's auction sale.
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 the role of the executing officer under Section 278?
The officer is a court official who carries out execution as set out in the writ and Title 2, gives reasons for orders, and reports to the court. The officer also acts as the judgment creditor's representative to receive payments and issue receipts.
Does the executing officer represent the debtor or the creditor?
The officer represents the judgment creditor, not the debtor. Because of this, a debtor's private arrangement with an auction buyer does not bind the auction sale conducted by the officer.
How do I challenge a step taken by the executing officer?
Because the officer acts as a court official under the writ, a party or affected third party who considers a step defective, erroneous, or unlawful may file a motion with the execution court to revoke or correct it.