Deputy Interior Minister Songsak Thongsri has defended a recent decision by a land committee to uphold land title documents for properties in Buri Ram’s Khao Kradong area, despite a 2021 Supreme Court ruling affirming that the land belongs to the State Railway of Thailand (SRT). The decision, announced last week, has sparked debate over the jurisdiction of administrative orders in potentially overriding court decisions.
The dispute centers on 5,083 rai of land in Muang district, where the SRT is seeking to reclaim property it claims was unlawfully allocated. The railway agency alleges that the Department of Land (DoL) committed malfeasance by issuing land documents to people who had illegally occupied these plots. This case, already supported by the Central Administrative Court, resulted in a mandate for the DoL to collaborate with the SRT to determine the land’s official boundaries.
Following these rulings, the DoL established a committee to assess the situation under Section 61 of the Land Code. The committee recently announced its unanimous decision not to annul the existing land titles, a stance acknowledged by the DoL’s director-general.
Mr. Songsak, from the coalition Bhumjaithai Party, clarified on Monday that he is maintaining neutrality in the matter, indicating that further analysis of the Supreme Court’s ruling might reveal specificities unknown to both the public and the SRT. He asserted that the SRT retains the option to challenge the DoL’s position but contended that, at this juncture, the SRT lacks “clear and solid evidence” to compel a reversal of the land titles.
The committee’s decision has attracted criticism, particularly over perceived connections between certain committee members and influential political figures in Buri Ram. Addressing these concerns, Mr. Songsak defended the committee’s appointment as being in line with regulations, adding that members would face accountability should any wrongdoing be uncovered.
Reports indicate that some of the contested land, comprising 12 title deeds over 179 rai, is linked to the Chidchob family, a politically influential clan associated with the Bhumjaithai Party. The family reportedly has business investments on the land, including the Buriram International Circuit and a 32,600-seat football stadium.
Justice Minister Tawee Sodsong weighed in on the controversy, noting that the committee’s decision might not override the Supreme Court’s authority. He advised the SRT to consider further legal recourse. The committee based its stance on discrepancies between a map presented by the SRT—drawn in 1996 under provincial encroachment guidelines—and a map associated with a 1921 royal decree that originally designated the land for the northeastern rail system.
