Section 99 — Court inspection and appointing experts
Statutory text (Thai original)
ถ้าศาลเห็นว่า จำเป็นที่จะต้องตรวจบุคคล วัตถุ สถานที่หรือตั้งผู้เชี่ยวชาญตามที่บัญญัติไว้ในมาตรา ๑๒๙ และ ๑๓๐ เมื่อศาลเห็นสมควร ไม่ว่าการพิจารณาคดีจะอยู่ในชั้นใด หรือเมื่อมีคำขอของคู่ความฝ่ายใดภายใต้บังคับแห่งบทบัญญัติมาตรา ๘๗ และ ๘๘ ให้ศาลมีอำนาจออกคำสั่งกำหนดการตรวจหรือการแต่งตั้งผู้เชี่ยวชาญเช่นว่านั้นได้บทบัญญัติแห่งมาตรานี้ไม่ตัดสิทธิของคู่ความในอันที่จะเรียกบุคคลผู้มีความรู้เชี่ยวชาญมาเป็นพยานฝ่ายตนได้
English translation
If the court is of the opinion that it is necessary to inspect a person, an object, or a place, or to appoint an expert as provided in Sections 129 and 130, the court, when it thinks fit, at whatever stage of the proceedings, or upon the application of any party, subject to the provisions of Sections 87 and 88, has the power to issue an order prescribing such inspection or the appointment of such an expert.
The provisions of this section do not deprive a party of the right to call a person having expert knowledge as its own witness.
This English translation is provided for reference only and has not yet been firm-verified — always rely on the Thai original.
Firm annotation
Section 99 gives the court an active power to gather evidence: to inspect a person, object, or place, or to appoint an expert under Sections 129 and 130, whether on its own motion or on a party's application, at any stage and subject to the disclosure rules in Sections 87 and 88. The second paragraph preserves the party's separate right under Section 98 to call its own expert. Whether to order an inspection or appoint an expert is discretionary, and if the court is not satisfied with an appointed expert's written opinion, it may appoint another under Section 130. The section thus complements party-driven proof with the court's own fact-finding tools.
Why this matters in practice
If a site view or an independent expert would help your case, you can ask the court to order it under Section 99, but be realistic: the court has wide discretion and may refuse where it sees delay or little value. Make the request early and explain concretely how the inspection or expert will resolve a genuine issue. Remember you can also run your own expert under Section 98, and often the two routes are used together.
Supreme Court decisions interpreting this section
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Supreme Court Judgment No. 803/2547 (2004)
Whether to order an inspection or site view under Section 99 paragraph one is within the court's discretion, and the court may decline where the view would not benefit the case or would cause delay.
The Supreme Court upheld the trial court's refusal to conduct a site view of the disputed building, holding that ordering an inspection under Section 99 paragraph one is a matter for the court's discretion and the view here would only cause delay.
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Supreme Court Judgment No. 1942/2542 (1999)
Appointing an expert under Section 99, read with Sections 129 and 130, is within the court's discretion, and if the court is not satisfied with the appointed expert's written opinion it may appoint another under Section 130.
The Supreme Court held that the appointment of a handwriting expert was a matter for the court's discretion under Section 99 and Section 129, and that Section 130 allows another expert to be appointed if the court is not satisfied.
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Supreme Court Judgment No. 986/2541 (1998)
Where a person entered on the court's register of experts is summoned by the court, that person is impliedly deemed a court-appointed expert under Section 99, and no separate appointment order is required.
The Supreme Court held that once the court had summoned a registered expert, he was impliedly a court-appointed expert under Section 99, so no duplicate appointment order was needed and his written opinion could stand.
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 ask the court to inspect a place or appoint an expert?
Yes. Under Section 99 a party may apply for an inspection of a person, object, or place, or for the appointment of an expert, but the court decides in its discretion.
Can the court refuse a site inspection?
Yes. Ordering an inspection under Section 99 is within the court's discretion, and it may refuse where it would cause delay or add little.