Court challenges to NACC bill ‘must wait’

Pornpetch said after the NLA passed the bill that concerned bodies, including the Constitution Drafting Commission, would have 10 days to review the constitutionality of the law before deciding whether they wished to set up a join law-review panel to resolve their differences.
If not, the bill would be forwarded to the Prime Minister, General Prayut Chan-o-cha, to submit for royal endorsement.
Those wanting to contest constitutionality of the bill via the Constitutional Court would have five days after the bill reaches Prayut, Pornpetch explained.
Pornpetch said his personal view was that there should not be any problem with the Court’s deliberation and ruling on the bill.
Five judges whose terms have expired have been endorsed by the NLA to continue working until the new judges replace them. The other four are reportedly qualified under the charter, so they can proceed with their work as normal, Pornpetch said.
Pornpetch insisted on the integrity of the NLA in deliberating and voting on the NACC bill, citing its members voted independently, despite reports of the postponement of voting procedures in the second reading which was seen as possibly affecting their decisions.