Former deputy prime minister Chaturon Chaisaeng has petitioned the Administrative Court to rescind the Foreign Ministry's order revoking his passport, arguing that it was irrational.
Mr Chaturon filed the case on Wednesday, naming the Foreign Ministry, the Consular Affairs Department, the foreign minister, the permanent secretary for foreign affairs, the director-general of the Consular Affairs Department, the Royal Thai Police and police chief as the 1st-7th defendants.
The Foreign Ministry revoked Mr Chaturon's passport on Aug 19 last year at the request of the Royal Thai Police (RTP).
The RTP said Mr Chaturon failed to report to the National Council for Peace and Order and instead gave a press conference at the Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand, leading to his arrest and being charged in the Bangkok Military Court.
Mr Chaturon said in the petition that the revocation of his passport was unreasonable because no warrants had been issued for his arrest. Moreover, at the time of the revocation, he was not going on an overseas trip.
He said he voluntarily turned himself in to the authorities on May 27, 2014 before the prosecutors indicted him in the military court and had been granted bail on the condition that he must not travel abroad without court permission.
Mr Chaturon said he believed the revocation of his passport was politically motivated because he had criticised the draft constitution and expressed political opinions, irritating those in power.
He said the Foreign Ministry's action against him was discriminatory, causing him a lot of damage, depriving him of freedom of travel and violating his human dignity.
Mr Chaturon said he had tried to seek explanations from the Foreign Ministry and the Consular Affairs Department and lodged an appeal according to the law, but had received no response. So he was now seeking help from the Administrative Court to lift the Foreign Ministry's order.
"The revocation of my passport is unlawful. I reserve the right to seek legal action and file a civil suit for damages against those concerned," he said.