Dr. Sarana cannot return as NBTC Chairman despite court order

MGR Online•Politics•19d ago

Reader Briefing

Legal experts clarify that a Supreme Administrative Court order to accept a lawsuit does not authorize Dr. Sarana to resume his role as NBTC Chairman.

•The Supreme Administrative Court issued order 952/2026 on August 31, 2026, overturning a lower court's decision to reject Dr. Sarana's lawsuit.
•The court ruled that the NBTC Selection Committee's decision is an administrative order, granting Dr. Sarana the right to sue.
•Legal experts Wat Tingsamit and Phumin But-in state that Dr. Sarana remains unable to perform duties as NBTC Chairman.
•The remaining NBTC board members can continue their operations provided there are at least 4 members.

Overview

•The Supreme Administrative Court issued order 952/2026 on August 31, 2026, which was read by the Central Administrative Court on September 2, 2026.
•The Supreme Administrative Court overturned the lower court's order and accepted the lawsuit filed by Dr. Sarana Boonbaichaiyaphruk for consideration.
•The Supreme Administrative Court determined that the NBTC Selection Committee is a state official and its ruling No. 1/2026 is an administrative order affecting Dr. Sarana Boonbaichaiyaphruk's rights.
•Dr. Sarana Boonbaichaiyaphruk cannot return to the position of NBTC Chairman because the court only ruled on the right to sue, not on the legality of the disqualification.
•Wat Tingsamit warned that if Dr. Sarana Boonbaichaiyaphruk continues to perform duties, any resolutions made may be contested for legality and could lead to criminal liability.
•Phumin But-in explained that the Supreme Administrative Court did not rule that Dr. Sarana Boonbaichaiyaphruk could return to duty, but only that the case be accepted for trial.
•The Central Administrative Court must now consider the request for a stay of execution and rule on the legality of the NBTC Selection Committee's decision.

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Key Quotes

Wat Tingsamit

"Dr. Sarana should stop performing the duties of NBTC Chairman from the meeting date on September 3, 2026 onwards."

นพ.สรณ พึงหยุดปฏิบัติหน้าที่ประธาน กสทช. ตั้งแต่วันนัดประชุมในวันที่ 3 กันยายน 2569 เป็นต้นไป

Key Entities

Person

Dr. Sarana Boonbaichaiyaphruk(นพ.สรณ บุญใบชัยพฤกษ์)

The former NBTC Chairman who filed a lawsuit to revoke the NBTC Selection Committee's ruling on his qualifications.

Wat Tingsamit(วัส ติงสมิตร)

An independent scholar and former senior judge of the Supreme Court.

Phumin But-in(ภูมินทร์ บุตรอินทร์)

A professor at the Faculty of Law, Thammasat University and telecommunications expert.

Organization

Supreme Administrative Court(ศาลปกครองสูงสุด)ℹ️

The court that issued order 952/2026 to accept Dr. Sarana Boonbaichaiyaphruk's lawsuit.

Central Administrative Court(ศาลปกครองกลาง)

The court responsible for reading the Supreme Administrative Court's order and further deciding the case.

NBTC(กสทช.)

The national regulatory body for broadcasting and telecommunications.

NBTC Selection Committee(คณะกรรมการสรรหากรรมการ กสทช.)

The committee that ruled Dr. Sarana Boonbaichaiyaphruk lacked the necessary qualifications to be NBTC Chairman.

Thammasat University(มหาวิทยาลัยธรรมศาสตร์)ℹ️

The institution where Phumin But-in teaches at the Faculty of Law.

Law

Act on Establishment of Administrative Courts and Administrative Court Procedure 1999(พ.ร.บ. จัดตั้งศาลปกครองและวิธีพิจารณาคดีปกครอง พ.ศ. 2542)

The law used to define state officials and the right to file lawsuits in administrative court.

Act on the Organization to Assign Radio Frequency and to Regulate the Broadcasting and Telecommunications Services 2010(พ.ร.บ. องค์กรจัดสรรคลื่นความถี่และกำกับการประกอบกิจการวิทยุกระจายเสียง วิทยุโทรทัศน์ และกิจการโทรคมนาคม พ.ศ. 2553)

The law governing the NBTC and the qualifications of its members.

Administrative Procedure Act 1996(พ.ร.บ. วิธีปฏิบัติราชการทางปกครอง พ.ศ. 2539)

The law used to define administrative orders.