Court's view on budget bill slated for Friday

 

The Court announced today that it would not impose the injunction on the government's quest to seek the royal endorsement for the amendment in the senator chapter.  

A group of four senators led by Rosana Tositrakul submitted the petition.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra was pleased with the court's decision. When asked by reporters for a response, she said with a smile "It's good, isn't it?"

Meanwhile, the Court would announce on Friday whether the 2014 budget bill is constitutional. 

PM’s Office Minister Varathep Ratanakorn, as deputy chairman of the House Committee screening the bill, on Wednesday testified before the Constitutional Court. He is confident that the bill is constitutional. If the Court sees so, the government is ready to seek the royal endorsement immediately.

  The Court looks into the budget-related case as asked by 50 senators led by appointed senator Paiboon Nititawan and 62 Democrat Party MPs led by Songkhla MP Wirat Kallayasiri. They said the bill may be unconstitutional as the government failed to increase the budgets for three independent agencies - the Office of the Administrative Court, the Office of the Judiciary, and the office of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC).

Due to the pending judgement, the government delays the quest for royal endorsement. This consequently delays some government spending planned for the 2014 fiscal year, which started from October 1.