NBTC chairman controversy heats up amid calls for PM's intervention
The qualification crisis involving the chairman of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) could become a hot potato in Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul’s hands, warns a legal expert who requested anonymity.
The controversy surrounding the chairman of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) is escalating, with Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul potentially facing increased pressure, according to a legal expert who requested anonymity. The expert advised Anutin to thoroughly investigate the situation before taking further action on the case.
One key issue is whether the NBTC selection committee had the authority to pass a resolution on July 17 that NBTC chairman Dr Sarana Boonbaichaiyapruck was not qualified for the position. The legal expert emphasized that resolving disputes through a legal and transparent process would protect the telecom regulator's independence, reduce future litigation, and maintain investor, telecom operator, and stakeholder confidence in Thailand's regulatory framework.
The Central Administrative Court dismissed Dr Sarana's petition against the selection committee's resolution, stating that he had not yet suffered a legally actionable injury. The committee's resolution, passed on July 17, prohibited Dr Sarana from serving as NBTC chairman under the 2010 NBTC Act, which prohibits commissioners from being employees of state agencies or enterprises and directors or advisors to state enterprises or agencies.
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