The Constitution Court unanimously agreed to take up the case forwarded by the Election Commission on Friday to rule who has the authority to postpone the election, the poll panel or the caretaker Government headed by Yingluck.
The court said it has a duty to settle conflicting opinions between the two sides, Bangkok Post reported.
The Election Commission has asked the court to rule on the different legal interpretations of who has the power and responsibility to call a new election, despite a royal decree having been issued for the polls to be held on February 2.
The caretaker administration has repeatedly said it has no authority to defer the polls declared by a royal decree. The poll panel argued that the caretaker cabinet has the responsibility to seek a new election through a new royal decree.
Thai authorities on Wednesday imposed a 60-day emergency rule in Bangkok to prevent an escalation in the protests. The emergency rule gave the Government wide-ranging power to control crowds and censor media.
The government today announced measures to enforce the emergency rule by banning gatherings of five or more persons.
The announcement, signed by Yingluck, urged the media not to publish any information that could cause misunderstanding and affecting national security.
Thousands of anti-government protesters led by Suthep Thaugsuban continued to hold rallies in the capital, ignoring the emergency rule. It is the first march undertaken by Suthep, a former opposition
Democrat Party lawmaker, since emergency was imposed.
Protesters have vowed to rid Thailand of the political dominance
of the Shinawatra clan and alleged that Yingluck is controlled by
her fugitive brother, former premier Thaksin Shinawatra who was ousted
in a coup in 2006. He lives in self-imposed exile in Dubai.
The ongoing unrest, sparked by an amnesty bill that could have facilitated
Thaksin’s return to the country, has pitted Bangkok’s middle class
and royalist establishment against the mostly poorer, rural supporters
of Yingluck and her brother.
Yingluck has signalled her determination to go ahead with the February
2 snap polls, while the opposition said it would boycott the vote
to press the premier to step down. The protesters want an unelected
“people’s council” to govern the country until political reforms
are carried out.PTI JB/DDC AKJ DDC
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