Nakhon Pathom: The Administrative Court has issued an order to prevent the registration of 2,500 rai of land at Phutthamonthon as royal property, determining it to be central religious property exempt under specific law.
According to Thai News Agency, the Central Administrative Court's decision prohibits the Treasury Department from classifying the land as Crown Property. The National Office of Buddhism, which filed the lawsuit, argued that it would face hardship if the land was registered as such, despite its role in managing and developing the site as a central religious property under the Sangha Act of 1963.
The court considered that Phutthamonthon was originally constructed to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Buddhism and that its religious sites are inherently linked to Buddhism. The initial acquisition of 135 rai was made by His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej from the Crown Property Bureau as a Buddhist offering. Additionally, citizens contributed financially to purchase the land and support the construction of the Buddha image and Phutthamonthon, with significant donations amounting to 2,764,256.82 baht, and 50,000 Kyat from H.E. U Nu, the Prime Minister of Burma, further supporting this religious endeavor.
Funds from selling items such as amulets and commemorative stones also contributed to the development, resulting in a total of 2,205 rai 96 square wah. The government expropriated the remaining land to fulfill the 2,500 rai requirement, with no intentions of using it for governmental or national benefit, thereby solidifying its status as a religious offering.
The court concluded that the land was procured for religious purposes by the monarchy, government, and Thai populace, and thus should be recognized as religious property. Phutthamonthon was accepted as a Buddhist establishment, and although not linked to any temple, it was classified as central religious property under the Sangha Act. This classification exempts it from being considered Crown Property under the Crown Property Act of 2019.
The ruling further invalidated actions by the Nakhon Pathom Treasury Office, which had attempted to survey and register the property as royal land. The court deemed these actions unlawful, resulting in the judgment to uphold the land's status as central religious property.