Section 6 — Transferring a case to another court
Statutory text (Thai original)
ก่อนยื่นคำให้การ จำเลยชอบที่จะยื่นคำร้องต่อศาลที่โจทก์ได้ยื่นคำฟ้องไว้ขอให้โอนคดีไปยังศาลอื่นที่มีเขตอำนาจได้ คำร้องนั้นจำเลยต้องแสดงเหตุที่ยกขึ้นอ้างอิงว่าการพิจารณาคดีต่อไปในศาลนั้นจะไม่สะดวก หรือจำเลยอาจไม่ได้รับความยุติธรรม เมื่อศาลเห็นสมควร ศาลจะมีคำสั่งอนุญาตตามคำร้องนั้นก็ได้ห้ามมิให้ศาลออกคำสั่งอนุญาตตามวรรคหนึ่ง เว้นแต่ศาลที่จะรับโอนคดีไปนั้นได้ยินยอมเสียก่อน ถ้าศาลที่จะรับโอนคดีไม่ยินยอม ก็ให้ศาลที่จะโอนคดีนั้นส่งเรื่องให้อธิบดีผู้พิพากษาศาลอุทธรณ์ชี้ขาด คำสั่งของอธิบดีผู้พิพากษาศาลอุทธรณ์ให้เป็นที่สุด
English translation
Before filing an answer, the defendant may submit a motion to the court where the plaintiff filed the plaint, asking to transfer the case to another court that has jurisdiction. In the motion the defendant must state the grounds relied on, namely that continuing the trial in that court would be inconvenient, or that the defendant might not receive justice. Where the court thinks fit, it may make an order granting the motion. The court shall not make an order granting a motion under paragraph one unless the court to which the case is to be transferred has first consented. If the court to which the case is to be transferred does not consent, the transferring court shall refer the matter to the Chief Judge of the Court of Appeal for decision. The order of the Chief Judge of the Court of Appeal shall be final.
This English translation is provided for reference only and has not yet been firm-verified — always rely on the Thai original.
Firm annotation
Section 6 gives the defendant a narrow, early opportunity to move the case to another competent court on grounds of convenience or fairness, and the window closes once the answer is filed. The court has discretion to grant the motion, but a transfer cannot happen without the consent of the receiving court, which is a built in safeguard against forcing cases onto unwilling courts. If the receiving court refuses, the deadlock is broken by the Chief Judge of the Court of Appeal, whose order is final. The provision sits within Chapter 1 as a corrective to the venue choices made under Sections 4 to 5, letting a defendant seek a more suitable forum where the plaintiff's chosen court is genuinely unsuitable.
Why this matters in practice
The practical trap is timing: the motion must be filed before the answer, so a defendant who wants a transfer has to act at the very start of the case, not later. The grounds are also narrow, real inconvenience or a genuine risk of injustice, not mere preference. Because the receiving court's consent is required and the Chief Judge's decision is final, these motions succeed only when well supported. A defendant considering a transfer should take advice quickly. See our guide on going to court in Thailand.
Frequently asked questions
Can a defendant have a case moved to a different court in Thailand?
Yes, but only before filing the answer and only to another court that has jurisdiction. Under Section 6 the defendant must show that the current court is inconvenient or that they might not receive justice, and the receiving court must consent.
What if the receiving court refuses the transfer?
If the court that would receive the case does not consent, the transferring court refers the matter to the Chief Judge of the Court of Appeal, whose order under Section 6 is final.