Thai Court Dismisses NBTC Chair's Bid to Overturn Disqualification
Thailand's Central Administrative Court dismissed NBTC Chair Dr. Sorn Bunyaichaiprueksa's lawsuit challenging his disqualification, ruling he lacks legal standing until a formal royal decree removes him from office.
The Central Administrative Court has refused to accept a lawsuit filed by Dr. Sorn Bunyaichaiprueksa, NBTC chairman, challenging a July 21, 2025 committee ruling that found him ineligible for the position due to prohibited characteristics. Dr. Sorn filed the case on August 3, seeking to have the committee's decision rescinded retroactively from the date of the ruling. The court rejected the case on the grounds that the plaintiff is not yet a suffering party, as no royal decree has been formally issued to remove him from office. Under the Broadcasting and Telecommunications Act, individuals approved by the Senate must provide evidence of ceasing their prior profession before the Prime Minister requests a royal appointment; the disqualification determination came after Dr. Sorn's appointment on April 13, 2022. The court ruled that removal from office following such a determination requires a separate royal decree under section 20 of the law, and until that formal step occurs, the plaintiff has no legal standing to sue. Consequently, the court dismissed the case without further consideration.
