The Supreme Administrative Court today (Tuesday) rejected a petition challenging the legitimacy of an order, by the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), appointing a panel to select senators.

The court ruled that the appointment of a selection committee was the duty of the NCPO and Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, in his capacity as head of the NCPO, and was in compliance with provisions in the Interim Constitution B.E. 2557 and the Provisional Chapter of the 2017 Constitution.

The court also refuted the contention of the petitioner, National Thai Citizens, questioning the lower and Administrative Court’s decision to reject their petition without taking into consideration the NCPO’s order appointing the selection committee, reasoning that the court has the discretion to decide as it thinks fit. Hence, there was no need for the lower court to ask for the NCPO order for consideration, according to the Supreme Administrative Court.

After the reading of the Supreme Administrative Court’s verdict, a coordinator from National Thai Citizens, Mr. Polpakhun Setthayabodi, told the media that his group would now petition the United Nations and the European Union, because the group maintains its belief that the senator selection process was undemocratic.