On the Auspicious Occasion of His Majesty the King Bhumibol Adulyadej

       Having graciously designated His royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn as His Majesty's representative to preside over the Foundation Stone Laying Ceremony and the lnauguration Ceremony of the Administrative Court
       The President of the Supreme Administrative Court requests the honor of your attendance to be in Audience at the Ceremonial Site at the Administrative Court Building on Chaengwattana Road, Bangkok, on Thursday, 1st october 2009 at 14:00 hrs.
       Prior to being "The Administrative Court", the judicial organ handling administrative justice towards Thai society during 9 years has in fact laid its foundation and evolution on the establishment of the Administrative Court since 8 May 1874, when the establishment and the Act of The Council of State were promulgated by King Chulalongkorn (King Rama V). His Majesty the King enacted on 14th June 1874, the Act on the Council of State as an advisory organ on public administration, law drafting and hearing of the grievances of people aggrieved by actions of government officials at that time. Though this organ was changed into Legislative Council nd revoked afterwards, its power and duties have marked the first step of the Administrative Court's mission and its organization similar to an institution called Conseil d'Etat in civil law countries.
       Thus, King Chulalong korn was considered as the founder of the establishment of the Administrative Court in Thailand which developed continuously and its enactment was prescribed afterwards under the Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand B.E.2540 (1997). When enacting the Act on Establishment of the administrative Court and Administrative Procedure B.E.2542 (1999), the Administrative Court was in operation under the reign of the present king on 9 March 2001 with a number of judges of the Administrative Court in charge of legal proceeding int he name of the king.
       Owing to the origin of establishment of the Administrative Court, the court system of Thailand was turned immediately into "dual court system", - The Court of Justice has the duty to deal with civil and criminal justice procedure whereas the Administrative Court is responsible for administrative justice procedure.
       Prof.Dr.Ackaratorn Chularat, President of the Supreme Administrative Court briefly stated that "As far back as 141 years ago, ascending to the throne on Thursday 1st October 1868, King Chula longkorn introduced the key concepts and the models of crucial organization to the nation in order to develop the State administration affairs, which made Thailand to be recognized by other civilized countries, especially in 1874, when His Majesty the King established a judicial organ being known amongst civil law countries as Conseil d'Etat or as Council of State and when "the Act on the Council of State - a Councilor of State" was enacted. Its mission was not only drafting laws and law advisor but also hearing grievance of people which is meant generally as administrative cases. After the Council of State was first established in Thailand, His Majesty the King played, 20 years later, an important role in the reforms of court affairs, the establishment of Ministry of Justice and the application of civil law system of European countries to Thai legal system until present days."
       After the revolution of 1932, the government at that time decided by Mr. Pridi Banomyong (Luang Praditmanutham) embraced the policy to reestablish an organ responsible for administrative cases and advisory role of government resembling the Council of State by enacting the Act on Council of State B.E. 2476 (1933). Despite the fact that the mission concerning the adjudication of administrative cases could not yet materialized until the enactment prescribing details on the administrative court procedure, the persistent effort to develop the establishment of the Administrative Court in any forms was still continued. The "Petition Committee" was then set up by a Petition Act B.E.2492 (1949) in order to adjudicate administrative cases. Indeed, the progress came into fruition when the Act on Council of State B.E.2522 (1979) was amended by another "Petition Committee" amongst the Council of State distinct from Legislation Committee, later becoming the Administrative Court. This progressive development brought finally the establishment of the Administrative Court under the Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand B.E.(2540) 1997 and the Act on Establishment of Administrative Court and Administrative Court Procedure B.E.2542(1999).
       The first inauguration of the Administrative Court dated on 9 March 2001 - the Supreme Administrative Court, the Central Administrative Court with the Office of the administrative Courts, were located temporarity at the Empire Tower on South Sathorn Road, Bangkok whilst the permanent premises of the Administrative Court was under construction. During this period of time, Regional Administrative Courts in 7 provinces were also in operation, namely the Chiang Mai Administrative Court, the Songkhla Administrative Court, the Nakhon Rat chasima Administrative Court, the Khon Kaen Administrative Court, the Khon Kaen Administrative Court, the Phitsanulok Administrative Court, the Rayong Administrative Court as well as the Nakhon Si Thammarat Administrative Court. The Central Administrative Court including these 7 Regional Administrative Courts have their jurisdiction throughout the Kingdom. When the permanent premises of the Administrative Court were accomplished on 14th July 2008, the Supreme Administrative Court, the Central Administrative Court and the Office of the Administrative Courts were then relocated permanently at the new premises of the Administrative Court at No.120 Moo 3, Cheangwattana Road, Thungsonghong sub-district, Lak Si district, Bangkok 10210. Tel. 0 2141 1111 or Hotline: 1355.
       On the auspicious occasion, His Majesty the King Bhumibol Adulyadej has graciously designated His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn, along with Her Royal Highness Princess Srirasm, to represent Him at the ceremony of the laying of the foundation stone and inauguration of the premises of the Administrative Court on 1st October 2009 at 14:00 hrs. which is the significant day to commemorate the accession to the throne of King Chulalongkorn, the King who initiated an organ which is known as the Council of State, the origin of the Administrative Court today.
       Prof. Dr. Ackaratorn Chularat, the President of the Supreme Administrative court requests the honor of your attendance to be in audience at the premises of Administrative Court on Chaengwattana Road, Bangkok in order to express conjointly an eternal allegiance.