Young lawyer seeks court ruling to end NBTC crisis

A young lawyer has filed a petition with the Central Administrative Court to remove Dr Sarana Boonbaichaiyapruck as chairman of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC). Ms Sarunporn Meesil, the petitioner, contends that Dr Sarana's continued leadership has paralyzed the regulator and caused harm to consumers and the public interest.

She argues that as a user of NBTC-regulated services, she has suffered direct consequences due to the regulator's inability to deliberate on major policy matters. The NBTC selection committee unanimously ruled on July 17 that Dr Sarana was not qualified to serve, citing his conflict of interest as a part-time employee of Mahidol University and a physician at a state hospital.

Dr Sarana disputes the committee's decision and has sought a court order to reverse it. The NBTC board has failed to convene for five consecutive meetings due to some commissioners boycotting the proceedings, causing regulatory decisions affecting consumers, businesses, and national telecommunications policy to be delayed. Ms Sarunporn, representing herself as an ordinary Thai citizen and taxpayer, believes she is entitled to file the petition as an injured party.