EC told to hand over records
The Central Administrative Court yesterday ordered the Election Commission to submit additional evidence for its defence - by next Thursday - against two lawsuits filed over the botched April 2 election and April 19 Senate poll.
The court asked the EC to hand over all its meeting records and written advice of all decisions taken since November, for its assessment of the first lawsuit.The EC was asked, in particular, for the attendance records of meetings after the death of EC member Jaral Buranapansri in November, and those from the House dissolution on Feb 25 up to the resignation of EC member, Charupat Ruangsuwan, on May 15. The litigation, based on a citizen's petition filed by former Democrat MP Uthen Chatpinyo, focuses on the key question of whether the EC had a quorum to manage the election and the Senate poll. In the second lawsuit, the court summoned the EC to testify in relation to its decision to use rubber stamps instead of pens to mark ballot papers. "The EC cannot delegate a government counsel to give a statement on its behalf," Judge Paisal Boonkoed said, when issuing the summons. Paisal had been due to hear the EC's testimony yesterday, but cancelled the session because officials did not turn up to testify. Relevant officials involved in the decision to use rubber stamps must appear before the court, he said.
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