The Supreme Administrative Court on Thursday morning upheld a lower court decision confirming the right of the Constitutional Court to rule on the Election Commission's request that it dissolve the Thai Raksa Chart Party (TRC).
The court rejected a petition filed by TRC member Ruangkrai Leekitwattana.
The ruling was read out at the Central Administrative Court.
The Supreme Administrative Court ruled that although the EC and the political party registrar were state officials, the EC’s resolution asking the Constitutional Court to disband the TRC was in line with Sections 92 and 93 of the Party Parties Act regarding procedures for the dissolution of political parties.
The court reasoned that it was the authority of the Constitutional Court to give a ruling on the dissolution case. The administrative court had no authority to withdraw the EC’s dissolution recommendation to the Constitution Court. The Supreme Administrative Court upheld the lower court’s ruling on this case.
On Feb 28, the Central Administrative Court rejected Mr Ruangkrai’s petition asking that override the EC’s move for the dissolution of the TRC for its controversial nomination of Princess Ubolratana as its candidate for prime minister.
Mr Ruangkrai was not fazed by the decision. It said it was satisfying that the Supreme Administrative Court gave a ruling that the matter rested with the Constitutional Court.
It was now clear that the Constitutional Court must accept his petition in this case, that the EC’s resolution asking the court to dissolve the TRC was not in compliance with the 2017 organic law governing the Election Commission.
The TRC member said he would hurriedly draft a petition and forward it to the Constitutional Court before the court gives its scheduled ruling on the TRC dissolution case on Thursday afternoon.
