History and Information about the Faculty
Professor Dr. Jit Sethabutr was born on 18 January 1906 (Year of the Horse) at Baan Prippri, Thitong Road, Bangkok. Dr. Jit was the son of Secretary Phraya Noranet Banchakit (Lat Sethabutr) and Khunying Lommai Noranet Banchakit (Phoksuphat), the sixth of their eight children.
Professor Dr. Jit married Mrs. Pipit Sethabutr (Sunthonwon), the daughter of Phraya Chasaenyabadee and Khunying Luan Chasaenyabadee. They had three children:
- Mr. Jitrik Sethabutr, who married M.R.W. Wiwan Worawan, and was formerly married to Ms. Janine Auxier;
- Mr. Jirasak Sethabutr (deceased), who married Ms. Orawan Phonhomphen; and
- Mrs. Thepkajit Wongpaibun, who married Pilot Officer Narong Wongpaibul.
Professor Dr. Jit passed away on 19 January 1995 at the age of 89 years and 1 day.
Professor Dr. Jit received a doctorate from the University of Grenoble, France, and a diploma in commerce from the Commercial Institute of the University of Grenoble Law School in 1922, and graduated from the Law School of the Ministry of Justice, Thailand, in 1933.
The key stages in Professor Dr. Jit’s career of public service are as follows:
- 1931: Trainee Civil Servant; 1932: Trainee Judge;
- 1933: Judge of the Ministry of Justice/Civil Court;
- 1934: Judge of the Nakhon Sawan Provincial Court;
- 1935: Judge of the Criminal Court (Special Division);
- 1937: Judge of the Civil Court (Special Division);
- 1938: Judge of the Criminal Court;
- 1939: Recorder;
- 1940: Chief Judge of Nong Khai Provincial Court;
- 1943: Judge of the Criminal Court;
- 1947: Transferred to the civil service in the position of First Secretary, Eastern Political Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs;
- 1949: Head of the Contracts Division, Eastern Political Department;
- 1950: Head of the Bilateral Treaties Division, Treaties Department;
- 1951: First Secretary, Thai Embassy in Paris;
- 1952: First Secretary, Office of the Permanent Secretary;
- 1953: Promoted to a special rank and became Ambassador to Moscow;
- 1959: Acting Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (16 Jan) and Ambassador to Phnom Penh (23 Feb);
- 1960: Acting Director of Law and Treaties Department;
- 1963: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of France, as well as Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to the Portuguese Republic stationed in Paris, Republic of France;
- 1964: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Swiss Confederation, and Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and Ambassador to the Holy See, stationed at Bern, Swiss Confederation;
- 1967: Retired from civil service.
Professor Jitti Tingsaphat was born on 16 March 1908 in Baan Drog Khao San, Samphanthawong District, Bangkok. He was the son of Mr. Thong Chin and Mrs. Lammai Tingsaphat. Professor Jitti married Khun Ying Talap Tingsaphat (Losuwan), daughter of Captain Luang Malaibonchak (Boonmee Losuwan) and Mrs. Charoen Malaibonchak (Phawaphutanna Na Maha Sarakham) on 30 January 1946. They had 6 children:
- Mrs. Jintala Wisetkun, married to Mr. Mayun Wisetkun, with 2 children: Ms. Fasai Wisetkun and Ms. Praiya Wisetkun.
- Mr. Jarit Tingsaphat, married to M.R.W. Kanya Chitrapong, with 1 child: Ms. Romniya Tingsaphat.
- Mrs. Jitriya Pintong, married to Mr. Jermsak Pintong, with 1 child: Dr. Jaree Pintong.
- Mrs. Jaturee Tingsaphat
- Ms. Jirat Tingsaphat
- Ms. Piruna Tingsaphat
Professor Jitti began his education at home with his mother before he started at a small local school called “Kru Chey.” Later, he attended Wat Pathumkhongka Secondary School. In 1927, he earned a second-class law degree from the Ministry of Justice’s School of Law, and, in 1942, he obtained a Master of Laws degree from the University of Moral and Political Sciences. In 1957, he received a Master of Laws (Magna Cum Laude) and a Master of Comparative Law from Southern Methodist University in the United States of America. After completing his law degree, as he was still young, Professor Jitti entered national service as a member of the police force, serving at the Police Cadet Academy in Sam Phran, where he was invited to assist in teaching law to police cadets. Upon completing his national service, he embarked on a career in the civil service. The key events in his history of public service are as follows:
- 1928: Public Prosecution Officer in the Public Prosecutor Department, Ministry of the Interior;
- 1929: Public Prosecutor of Prachinburi Province;
- 1931: Public Prosecution Officer in the Public Prosecutor Department, Ministry of the Interior;
- 1933: Transferred to civil service in the Ministry of Justice;
- 1934-1941, Judge at the Prachinburi Provincial Court;
- 1941-1943: Judge at Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Provincial Court.
- 1943-1945: Judge at Phra Nakorn North District Court.
- 1945-1948: Chief Judge of Ranong Provincial Court;
- 1948: Assistant Judge of the Court of Appeals;
- 1950: Secretary of the Supreme Court;
- 1953: Assistant Justice of the Supreme Court;
- 1954: Judge of the Court of Appeals;
- 1958: Presiding Judge of the Court of Appeals;
- 1960: Justice of the Supreme Court;
- 1963: Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.
After retiring from public service in 1969, Professor Jitti held the following positions:
- 1969: Director of the Legal Office (currently the Legal Department) of the Bank of Thailand, until his retirement as a government official from the Bank of Thailand;
- 1971-1974: Dean of the Faculty of Law, Thammasat University;
- 1974: President of the Senate;
- 1977: Chairman of the (first) Drafting Committee of the 1978 Constitution;
- 1984: Royal appointment to the Privy Council on 3 March 1984, serving until his death on 3 March 1995.
In addition, Professor Jitti also served in the following other special government positions.
- Chairman of the Law Drafting Committee (6th Division), Office of the Committee of the Council of State
- Chairman of the Committee on Claims (2nd Division), Office of the Committee of the Council of State
- Committee Member of the Thai Bar Council
- Honourable Member of the Civil Service Commission in Universities
- Member of the Civil Service Commission
- Director of the Promotion of the Merchant Navy, Ministry of Communications
- Special Director of Treaty Consideration, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- Director of National Research Council, Legal Branch
- President of Executive Committee of the National Research Council
- Full-time Faculty Director and Director of Master’s Degrees, Faculty of Law, Thammasat University
- Adjunct Professor at the Faculty of Law, Thammasat University and Chulalongkorn University, lecturing on various courses including criminal law, legal principles of money and current accounts, principles of insurance, civil law principles of obligations, rules of legal professions and criminal law courses for the Thai Bar Council’s Legal Training Office.
- Legal counsel for the Industrial Finance Corporation of Thailand
- Member of the International Commission of Jurists
Royal decorations bestowed:
- Knight Grand Cross (First Class) of the Most Illustrious Order of Chula Chom Klao (5 May 1991).
- King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s Royal Cypher Medal (Rama IX) (Second Class) (2 April 1991)
- Knight Grand Cordon (Special Class) of the Most Exalted Order of the White Elephant (5 December 1975)
- Knight Grand Commander (Second Class, higher grade) of the Most Illustrious Order of Chula Chom Klao (5 May 1973)
- The Dushdi Mala Medal, Arts Pin (5 May 1973)
Academic honours received by Professor Jitti
- Doctoral Medal, Arts and Sciences Pin
- Honorary Doctor of Laws, Thammasat University
- Honorary Doctor of Laws, Chulalongkorn University
- Honorary Doctor of Laws, Ramkhamhaeng University
- Adjunct Professor, Thammasat University
- Proclaimed to be an “Outstanding Lawyer” by the Law Society, Thammasat University, 1983
Professor Dr. Yut Saeng-Uthai (originally named Saiyut Saeng-Uthai) was born on 8 April 1908, in Bangkok Noi District, Thonburi Province. His father was Chai Saeng-Uthai, and his mother was Num Saeng-Uthai. He married Buanga Saeng-Uthai and they had two daughters:
- Dr. Natthawadee Saeng-Uthai Steinhouse
- Ms. Jaingam Saeng-Uthai
Professor Dr. Yut passed away at Thonburi Hospital, Bangkok, on 30 December 1979, at the age of 71 years, 8 months, and 22 days.
Professor Dr. Yut completed year 6 of his secondary education at Kositsamoson Secondary School and earned a Thai law degree from the Law School of the Ministry of Justice. He also received a German Doctorate in Law (Magna Cum Laude) from the University of Berlin, Federal Republic of Germany.
The history of Professor Dr. Yut Saeng-Uthai’s public service is as follows:
- He began his government service in the post of police officer, in the case hearing department.
- He became a Special Civil Servant, Class II, at the Office of the Council of State after completing his studies in Germany.
- He was appointed as the Secretary-General of the Council of State in 1953 and received royal appointment as a permanent member of the Legislative Drafting Committee until his retirement in 1968.
In addition, Professor Dr. Yut Saeng-Uthai also performed special civil service as a committee member in various areas of public service. Notable aspects of his history of external public service work are as follows:
- Member of the Air Defence Council of the Kingdom in 1944.
- Distinguished Member of the Council of Civil Servants and Member of the Committee for Court Reform in 1954.
- Justice of the Constitutional Court by royal appointment in 1976.
- Member of the Royal Institute, Office of Moral and Political Social Sciences, Law Branch (including International Law, Persons Cases and Criminal Cases) in 1973.
Professor Dr. Yut Saeng-Uthai played an important role in the drafting, reviewing and revision of the Criminal Code, Civil and Commercial Code, Criminal Procedure Code, and a large number of other Thai laws. He was highly regarded in academia and served as a lecturer on law courses at the Thai Bar Council’s Legal Training Office and on various courses in almost every branch of law at other educational institutions. He was particularly renowned for his expertise in constitutional law and criminal law, and received the following important positions and academic honours:
- Adjunct Professor, Thammasat University
- Adjunct Professor, Chulalongkorn University
- Honorary Doctor of Laws, Thammasat University
Professor Dr. Yut Saeng-Uthai authored 32 textbooks for law courses and approximately 50 articles and book chapters on law. He also wrote around 200 commentaries on Supreme Court judgments. Many of his works are considered standard academic texts and are still used in legal education today.
He received the following Thai royal decorations:
- 1942: The Medal of Service Rendered in the Interior (Jor. Chor.)
- 1953: The Dushdi Mala Medal, Arts Pin (Ror. Dor. Mor. (Sor.))
- 1953: Knight Grand Cross (First Class) of the Most Noble Order of the Crown of Thailand (Por. Mor.)
- 1953: Knight Commander (Second Class, lower grade) of the Most Illustrious Order of Chula Chom Klao (Tor. Jor.)
- 1954: Knight Grand Cross (First Class) of the Most Exalted Order of the White Elephant (Por. Chor.)
- 1955: The Chakrabarti Mala Medal
- 1955: Knight Grand Cordon (Special Class) of the Most Noble Order of the Crown of Thailand (Mor. Wor. Mor.)
- 1956: Knight Grand Cordon (Special Class) of the Most Exalted Order of the White Elephant (Mor. Por. Chor.)
- 1967: Knight Grand Commander (Second Class, higher grade) of the Most Illustrious Order of Chula Chom Klao (Tor. Jor. Wor.)
He also received the following foreign decorations:
- 1967: The Knight Commander’s Cross (Badge and Star) of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany.
Professor Pairoj Chainam was born in Baan Thanon Anuwong, Chakkrawat district, Bangkok on 13 April 1911. He was the son of Phraya Upaiphiphaksa (Kluen Chainam) and Khunying Upaiphiphaksa (Jan Chainam). At the time of Professor Pairoj’s birth, his father composed a poem as a blessing. Translated into English, it said “Born on Friday, the 15th day of the waning moon, in the month of Chittra, in the Year of the Pig, at three minutes past five in the morning, the child is named Master Pairoj, and may he be blessed with happiness and prosperity”). Professor Pairoj had one sibling from his mother, Mr. Direk Chainam (Mor. Bor. Chor., Mor. Wor. Mor., Tor. Jor. Wor.), and a further six siblings from his father:
- Mrs Maean Limpinan (deceased) (elder sister)
- Police General Niran Chainam (deceased), former Governor of Chiang Mai Province (elder brother)
- Mrs Praterng Kusamit (deceased) (younger sister)
- Air Marshal Usah Chainam, former Vice Minister of Defence (younger brother)
- Mr. Opas Chainam (deceased), former Ambassador to Lagos, Nigeria (younger brother)
- Khunying Supang Angkanarak, wife of Dr. Winyou Angkanarak, former Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of the Interior.
Professor Pairoj was married to Miss Banleng Kannabutr (Khunying Banleng Chainam (Dor. Jor. Dor. Mor.), passed away 18 May 1989), daughter of Phraya Ratchawalayagan (Boo Kanthabutr) and Khunying Boonrot Ratchawalayagan on 21 February 1931, in Lampang Province. They had five sons:
- Dr. Supasilp Chainam
- Mr. Srisawat Chainam, married to Miss Maria Mallett
- Mr. Atsada Chainam, married to Miss Orasa Sathapitanan
- Mr. Aphiphong Chainam, married to Miss Suchada Mokkawes
- Mr. Surapong Chainam, married to Miss Natthawipa Intawong
Professor Pairoj was a healthy man but had diabetes. After the passing of Khunying Banleng Chainam in 1989, his health deteriorated. He was treated in hospital from 27 August 1992 onwards, experiencing swelling in both legs, indicating kidney failure, and also developed heart failure. He received his final treatment at the hospital on 28 February 1994, for kidney failure. His condition did not improve, and he passed away peacefully of heart failure on Monday 4 April 1994, at the age of 82 years, 11 months, and 22 days.
Professor Pairoj began his education at Wat Chakrawat (Wat Sam Pleum) Primary School at the age of 6. He then attended Assumption College (Bang Rak) for secondary education and preparation for tertiary education, and he went on to study at the Law School of the Ministry of Justice, passing Parts 1 and 2 of the Thai bar examination in 1931 at the age of just 20. He received his certificate of admission to the Thai bar on 16 May 1932.
While studying law, Professor Pairoj acted as an assistant to French professors at the Law School at that time, including Dr. Egus and Dr. Revos. His supervisors were his senior fellow alumni of Assumption College, Mr. Wichit Lulida and Dr. Serm Winitchaikul.
During his time as the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Professor Pairoj attended the National Defence College from 1961 to 1962, graduating as part of the 4th class (N.D.C. 4).
After the change of government in 1932, Professor Pairoj entered public service in the Secretariat of the People’s Council and the Office of the Secretary of the Parliament of People’s Representatives. Subsequently, he moved to perform government service in the newly established Department of Public Notifications in 1933, being appointed to the position of Head of Speeches Section, Office of Public Notifications. He also held the following positions:
- January 1941: Acting Director-General of Department of Public Notifications.
- April 1940: Assistant Director-General of Department of Public Notifications (now the Public Relations Department), Prime Minister’s Office.
- July 1939: Promoted to Grade 1, Head of the Knowledge Dissemination Division.
- August 1938: Secretary of the Office of Public Notifications.
- 13 March 1941: Promoted to Special Civil Servant.
- 18 March 1941: Director-General of Department of Public Notifications, Office of the Prime Minister.
- 24 May – 8 May 1946: Secretary General of the Upper House.
- 1 January 1947: Returned to civil service as Director-General of the Department of Public Notifications.
- 1 June 1947: Transferred to civil service in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
- 31 March 1948: Director-General of Protocol Department (now the Department of Diplomatic Protocol).
- 1950: Director-General of Department of Treaties and Law.
- 1952: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to Italy.
- 1954: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to Israel as an additional post.
- 1956 – 1961: Ambassador to Rome (Italy).
- 1959 – 1961: Ambassador to Athens (Greece) as an additional post.
- 1960 – 1961: Ambassador to Jerusalem (Israel) as an additional post.
- April 1961: Ambassador at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
- 26 June 1961: Acting Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
- 2 January 1962 – 1967: Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
- 1967 – 1969: Ambassador to The Hague (Netherlands), Brussels (Belgium), and Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, Head of the Thai Delegation to the European Economic Community.
- 1969 – 1971: Ambassador to Paris (France) and Lisbon (Portugal)
Professor Pairoj also served as a guest lecturer at the University of Moral and Political Sciences and performed other special public services, the details of which are as follows:
- 1935 – 1952: Lecturer on Constitutional Law course (Bachelor’s Degree)
- 1947 – 1948: Editor of the Nitisarn Journal, an academic publication of the University of Moral and Political Sciences.
- 1951 – 1952: Lecturer on International Treaties course (Master’s Degree in Diplomacy)
- 1964: Adjunct Professor of Thammasat University by royal appointment.
- 1963 – 1966: Lecturer on Diplomatic Customs course (Bachelor’s Degree) at the Faculty of Political Science, Thammasat University.
- 1965 – 1966: Lecturer on Diplomatic Customs and Protocol course (Bachelor’s Degree) at the Faculty of Political Science, Chulalongkorn University.
- 1971 – 1990: Lecturer on Constitutional Law at both Bachelor’s and Master’s levels
- 1977 – 1978: Dean of the Faculty of Political Science, Thammasat University
- 1943 (11 Jul – 25 Aug): Head of the Thai Delegation to Japan and Manchukuo as Director-General of the Department of Public Notifications at the invitation of both governments
- 1950 – 1952: First President of the Board of Executive Directors of the Thai-American Educational Foundation (Fulbright Foundation)
- 1949: Thai Representative to the 4th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York City, USA
- 1949: Thai Representative to the 6th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in Paris, France
- 1957 – 1959: Thai Representative to the 7th, 8th, 9th, and 10th Sessions of the General Conference of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) in Rome, Italy
- 1960: Special Ambassador and Representative of the Thai Government to celebrate the Independence of the Republic of Madagascar (29 July – 3 August 1960)
- 1963: Official visit to the Republic of China as Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (19 – 25 April 1963)
- 1964: Special Civil Service Commissioner regarding Thai students abroad.
- 1962: Member of the Committee for the Consideration of the Site for the Construction of the Parliament and the Office of the Secretariat of the Parliament.
- 1964: Special Ambassador and Representative of the Thai Government attending the inauguration ceremony of President Park Chung Hee of the Republic of Korea.
- 1965: Thai representative to the 19th United Nations General Assembly in New York City, USA.
- 1966: Special Civil Service Commissioner considering qualifications.
- 1966: Chairman of the Committee on Education and Training of Civil Servants, Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
- 1966: Head of the Thai Goodwill Mission to the Republic of Ivory Coast, Togo Dahomey, Liberia, Senegal and Tunisia. In Ivory Coast, the trip was also to celebrate the 6th anniversary of independence, in Abidjan.
- 1966: Joined the delegation led by Field Marshal Thanom Kittikachorn, Prime Minister, to the Union of Burma during 10–12 November 1966.
- 1973–1976: Member of the National Legislative Assembly.
- 1973–1994 Member of the Thai National Group at the Court of International Arbitration in the Hague.
- 1974: Chairman of Special Commission for Consideration the Draft Constitution of 1974.
- 1974: Representative of the Thai delegation to inter-parliamentary meeting in Tokyo, Japan.
- 1975: Head of the Thai delegation to attend the ASEAN parliamentary meeting in Jakarta, Indonesia.
- 1975 – 1976: Justice of the Constitutional Court, elected by Parliament.
- 1975 – 1979: President of the French Alliance in Thailand (Alliance Française).
- 1977 – 1979: Member of the National Legislative Assembly.
- 1983 – 1987: President of the Public Law Association of Thailand.
- 1984 – 1994: Member of Special Committee for the Consideration of Legal Issues related to Various Conventions.
- 1989 – 1991: Justice of the Constitutional Court, elected by Parliament.
Professor Pairoj was awarded an honorary doctorate in political science in the field of diplomacy, and an honorary doctorate in law from Thammasat University on 5 October 1966, and 29 June 1983, respectively.
On the occasion of the 56th anniversary of Thammasat University on 27 June 1990, Professor Pairoj was awarded the pin of honour as a distinguished alumnus who has built the reputation of the university in the field of academia, to be recognised in the fields of international law, public law, and constitutional law.
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