Phuket likely to get Administrative Court

PHUKET: The Thai Parliament yesterday approved draft legislation to establish Administrative Court regional branches in Phuket, Petchaburi and Nakhon Sawan, Matichon has reported.

Attached to the bills was a remark that the Administrative Court and all related agencies should expedite processing of all funding and legal issues so that all three courts would be up and running within three years of the new legislation’s publication in the Royal Gazette.

The new branches would improve public access to the judicial process in all three jurisdictions concerned, the remark read.

The Administrative Court system is made up of two tiers: The Administrative Courts of First Instance and the Supreme Administrative Court.

The Administrative Court system was first created in 1997 under the now-defunct “People’s Constitution” ratified that year. It’s main function is to settle litigation between the state agencies and private citizens.

Under the current system Phuket falls under the Nakhon Sri Thammarat Administrative Court, a regional court of first instance that also has jurisdiction over Krabi, Phang Nga, Surat Thani, Chumphon and Ranong.

The legislation will now be sent to the Senate for review.

The Administrative Court has long wanted to set up a branch in Phuket. In September 2009 senior Administrative Court officials met with then Phuket Governor Wichai Phraisa-ngop to announce that a Phuket Regional Administrative Court (RAC) would be built on 19 rai in Mai Khao.

The court would serve Krabi, Phang Nga and Ranong as well as Phuket, making it easier for island residents – both Thais and foreigners – to seek justice.

The court would open in 2011, it was announced at the time.

— Stephen Fein