Section 260 — Filing a Pardon Petition from Prison
Statutory text (Thai original)
ผู้ถวายเรื่องราวซึ่งต้องจำคุกอยู่ในเรือนจำ จะยื่นเรื่องราวต่อพัศดีหรือผู้บัญชาการเรือนจำก็ได้ เมื่อได้รับเรื่องราวนั้นแล้ว ให้พัศดีหรือผู้บัญชาการเรือนจำออกใบรับให้แก่ผู้ยื่นเรื่องราว แล้วให้รีบส่งเรื่องราวนั้นไปยังรัฐมนตรีว่าการกระทรวงยุติธรรม
English translation
A petitioner who is imprisoned in a prison may submit the petition to the warden or the prison commander. Upon receiving the petition, the warden or the prison commander shall issue a receipt to the petitioner, and then promptly forward the petition to the Minister of Justice.
This English translation is provided for reference only and has not yet been firm-verified — always rely on the Thai original.
Firm annotation
Section 260 makes the pardon procedure of section 259 workable for those actually incarcerated, within Book 7 on pardon, commutation, and reduction of punishment. It provides a prison-based filing route through the warden or prison commander, requires a receipt to protect the petitioner, and obliges the prison official to forward the petition promptly to the Minister of Justice. Together with section 259 it ensures that imprisonment is not a practical barrier to seeking royal clemency.
Why this matters in practice
For someone already serving a sentence, this is the practical mechanism to lodge a pardon petition without outside access: submit it to the warden or prison commander and obtain the receipt as proof of filing. The official must forward it promptly, so keep the receipt in case there is any question about whether or when the petition was submitted.
Frequently asked questions
How does a prisoner submit a royal pardon petition?
Under section 260 an imprisoned petitioner may submit the petition to the warden or prison commander, who must issue a receipt and promptly forward it to the Minister of Justice.
Does the prisoner get proof that the petition was filed?
Yes. Section 260 requires the warden or prison commander to issue a receipt to the petitioner upon receiving the petition.