Section 261 — Minister of Justice's Pardon Petition Duty
Statutory text (Thai original)
รัฐมนตรีว่าการกระทรวงยุติธรรมมีหน้าที่ถวายเรื่องราวต่อพระมหากษัตริย์พร้อมทั้งถวายความเห็นว่าควรพระราชทานอภัยโทษหรือไม่ในกรณีที่ไม่มีผู้ใดถวายเรื่องราว ถ้ารัฐมนตรีว่าการกระทรวงยุติธรรมเห็นเป็นการสมควรจะถวายคำแนะนำต่อพระมหากษัตริย์ขอให้พระราชทานอภัยโทษแก่ผู้ต้องคำพิพากษานั้นก็ได้
English translation
The Minister of Justice has the duty to submit the petition to the King, together with an opinion as to whether a royal pardon should be granted, in a case where no one has submitted a petition. If the Minister of Justice deems it appropriate, the Minister may submit a recommendation to the King requesting a royal pardon for the person subject to that judgment.
This English translation is provided for reference only and has not yet been firm-verified — always rely on the Thai original.
Firm annotation
This provision opens Book 7 on royal pardon, commutation of a heavier penalty to a lighter one, and reduction of penalty. It channels every individual (case-specific) pardon petition through the Minister of Justice, who both transmits the petition and gives the Crown a reasoned opinion on it. The Minister also holds an independent power to initiate a pardon recommendation where no petition exists. It operates together with section 262, which stays a death sentence once such a petition or recommendation is submitted, and with sections 263 and 264, which govern non-death penalties and the two-year bar on refiling. The individual pardon under this section is distinct from the collective royal pardon by Royal Decree in section 261 ทวิ.
Why this matters in practice
For a convicted person or their family, this section is the gateway to individual clemency: the petition always passes through the Ministry of Justice, which frames the recommendation the King ultimately sees. Getting the petition and supporting material right matters, because for a death sentence only one petition may be submitted (section 262) and, for lesser penalties, a rejected petition cannot be refiled for two years (section 264). If you are preparing a pardon petition, an online consultation with a Thai lawyer can help ensure the submission is complete before it is filed.
Frequently asked questions
Who submits a royal pardon petition to the King in Thailand?
Under section 261, an individual pardon petition is submitted to the King by the Minister of Justice, who also attaches an opinion on whether clemency should be granted.
Can a pardon be recommended if the convict never petitions?
Yes. Section 261 allows the Minister of Justice to submit a recommendation to the King requesting a pardon even when no one has filed a petition.