Section 173/2 — Procedure on the Evidence-Examination Day
Statutory text (Thai original)
ในวันตรวจพยานหลักฐาน
ให้คู่ความส่งพยานเอกสารและพยานวัตถุที่ยังอยู่ในความครอบครองของตนต่อศาลเพื่อให้คู่ความอีกฝ่ายหนึ่งตรวจสอบ
เว้นแต่ศาลจะมีคำสั่งเป็นอย่างอื่นอันเนื่องจากสภาพและความจำเป็นแห่งพยานหลักฐานนั้นเอง
หรือพยานหลักฐานนั้นเป็นบันทึกคำให้การของพยาน
หลังจากนั้นให้คู่ความแต่ละฝ่ายแถลงแนวทางการเสนอพยานหลักฐานต่อศาล
และให้ศาลสอบถามคู่ความถึงความเกี่ยวข้องกับประเด็นและความจำเป็นที่ต้องสืบพยานหลักฐานที่อ้างอิงตลอดจนการยอมรับพยานหลักฐานของอีกฝ่ายหนึ่งเสร็จแล้วให้ศาลกำหนดวันสืบพยาน
และแจ้งให้คู่ความทราบล่วงหน้าไม่น้อยกว่าเจ็ดวัน
ในกรณีที่โจทก์ไม่มาศาลในวันตรวจพยานหลักฐานให้นำบทบัญญัติมาตรา ๑๖๖
มาใช้บังคับโดยอนุโลมในกรณีจำเป็นเพื่อประโยชน์แห่งความยุติธรรม
เมื่อศาลเห็นสมควรหรือคู่ความฝ่ายหนึ่งฝ่ายใดร้องขอ
ศาลจะมีคำสั่งให้สืบพยานหลักฐานที่เกี่ยวกับประเด็นสำคัญในคดีไว้ล่วงหน้าก่อนถึงกำหนดวันนัดสืบพยานก็ได้
English translation
On the evidence-examination date, the parties shall produce to the court the documentary and material evidence still in their possession, for the other party to inspect, unless the court orders otherwise because of the nature and necessity of that evidence, or the evidence is a record of a witness's statement. Thereafter each party shall state to the court the manner in which it will present its evidence, and the court shall question the parties as to the relevance to the issues and the necessity of taking the evidence relied upon, as well as the admission of the other party's evidence. When this is completed, the court shall fix the date for taking evidence and give the parties advance notice of not less than seven days. Where the prosecutor fails to appear in court on the evidence-examination date, the provisions of Section 166 shall apply mutatis mutandis. Where it is necessary in the interest of justice, when the court considers it appropriate or a party so requests, the court may order that evidence relating to a material issue in the case be taken in advance before the date fixed for taking evidence.
This English translation is provided for reference only and has not yet been firm-verified — always rely on the Thai original.
Firm annotation
This section, in the Title on the trial, governs what actually happens on the evidence-examination date set under Section 173/1: mutual production and inspection of documents and objects (subject to exceptions for sensitive evidence or witness-statement records), the parties' statements of how they will present their proof, and the court's active questioning to narrow relevance and necessity and to record admissions. It then requires the court to fix the date for taking evidence with at least seven days' notice, and it imports the dismissal consequence of Section 166 where the prosecutor fails to appear on this day, meaning the charge can be dismissed and the fifteen-day reopening rule engaged. The final part allows advance taking of evidence on material issues where justice requires. Together with Section 173/1, it forms the backbone of pre-trial case management in contested criminal cases.
Why this matters in practice
The prosecutor must appear on the evidence-examination day just as at any hearing: absence triggers Section 166, so the charge can be dismissed and reviving it requires applying within fifteen days on good cause. Both sides should come ready to hand over their documents and objects, state their evidentiary plan, and respond to the court's questions on relevance, because concessions and admissions recorded here shape the trial. Where a key witness may not be available later, ask the court to take that evidence in advance. Given the case-management stakes, prepare thoroughly with counsel and review what to know before you go to court in Thailand.
Supreme Court decisions interpreting this section
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Supreme Court Judgment No. 963/2564 (2021)
Under Section 173/2 paragraph one, final part, if the prosecutor is duly notified but fails to appear on the evidence-examination date, the court may dismiss the charge by applying Section 166; but where the prosecutor claims the date had been cancelled, the court should first inquire into the reason before ruling.
The Supreme Court explained that the closing part of Section 173/2 paragraph one applies Section 166 where the prosecutor, duly notified, does not appear on the evidence-examination date, allowing dismissal. On these facts the prosecutor's application to set aside the proceeding raised a reason for the absence, so the trial court should hold an inquiry before deciding.
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Supreme Court Judgment No. 3276/2561 (2018)
A date fixed as the evidence-examination date under Section 173/2 does not lose that character merely because no examination in fact takes place or because the court makes other orders that day, which affects the running of the witness-list deadlines.
The defendant argued the fixed date remained the evidence-examination date regardless of what orders the court made on it, and that Section 173/2 does not provide that the day ceases to be the examination date if no examination occurs. The Supreme Court agreed, so the prosecutor's witness list filed without meeting the seven-day rule under Section 173/1 could not be relied upon.
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 happens on the evidence-examination day?
Under Section 173/2, the parties produce their documents and objects for inspection, state how they will present their evidence, and answer the court's questions on relevance and admissions. The court then fixes the date for taking evidence with at least seven days' notice.
What if the prosecutor misses the evidence-examination day?
Section 173/2 applies Section 166 mutatis mutandis, so if the prosecutor fails to appear the court may dismiss the charge, and the prosecutor may seek to reopen it within fifteen days by showing reasonable cause.