Rectors of state universities must not exceed 60 years of age, the Council of University Presidents and Civil Servants of Thailand stressed on Tuesday, citing a recent Supreme Administrative Court ruling.
Rattakorn Kidkarn, an adviser to the club's president, said the Supreme Administrative Court recently upheld the lower's court's judgement that revoked Kanchanaburi Rajabhat University's council resolution appointing Panya Kanpanich, who is over 60, as acting rector of the university.
Based on the ruling, the state university rector position is an executive in line with the Teacher Civil Service and Educational Personnel Act, he said.
Section 55(2) of the act stipulates that civil servants in higher education institutions depart from the service in accordance with the Government Pension Act, Section 19 of which mandates 60 as the compulsory retirement age, Mr Rattakorn said.
Mr Rattakorn said although Rajabhat University Act does not have a specific retirement age for rectors, the criteria must be applied to the position.
Mr Panya retired from government service in 2007 and lacked the qualifications to serve as rector, according to Mr Rattakorn.
He said the National Council for Peace and Order's Order No.37/2560, which was rolled out to solve administrative problems in the higher education institutes, does not stipulate a retirement age for the rectors either.
It does state, however, that the role falls under the Teacher Civil Service and Educational Personnel Act.
"More than half of Rajabhat universities and Rajamangala universities of technology currently allow people aged 60 or over to become university rectors. And this is against the law," said Mr Rattakorn.
He said his council would forward this ruling to the National Anti-Corruption Commission, the Office of the Auditor-General, the Office of the Higher Education Commission and the education minister for acknowledgement.
