The most important change to the 1992 regulations under the 1962 Sangha Act is that the monk who leads the panel must be the most senior according to the number of years in monkhood, not ecclesiastical title.

NAC member Phaisal Phuetmongkhol, who submitted the bill, said using years in the monkhood to determine seniority is in line with the ancient teachings of Lord Buddha.

In January 2004, then-deputy prime minister Wissanu Kreangam appointed a six-member group of senior monks led by Somdej Phra Phutthajarn, abbot of Wat Sakes, to function as the leadership of the Thai monkhood after His Holiness the Supreme Patriarch fell sick and was unable to perform his duties.

The appointment caused widespread disapproval among monks and Buddhists as only a king can authorise the appointment of a supreme patriarch. The appointment order said the group would only be in power for six months, but it technically remains in power today.

One other change stipulated in the amendment is that only a king can appoint a supreme patriarch, whatever the circumstances.

Along with the bill, Phaisal is reportedly planning to draft a command for His Holiness to sign. The command will propose that the current six-member group be relegated to an advisory body and a group of 12 less-senior monks established to assist them.

Phra Thamma Sitthiwathee, a member of the Sangha Supreme Council, which governs all temples and monks across the country, said that though he did not yet want to comment on the planned amendment, there were many things about it that worried him.