Supreme Administrative Court president Ackaratorn Chularat said more judges would be appointed this year to cope with the growing case load. From its establishment on March 9, 2001 up to the end of last month, the Administrative Court system has acted on 26,544 out of 35,570 complaints, he said.

The Central Administrative Court in Bangkok and its seven regional counterparts are staffed by about 140 judges while the Supreme Administrative Court has 17.

The Administrative Court handles two kinds of cases involving the government, ones between individuals and agencies and/or their officials and ones between agencies and officials.

The most common complaint dealt with personnel administration, amounting to over 6,100 cases, followed by property expropriation, with over 5,300 cases.

The cases that caught the public's attention include the privatisation of the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand, the selection of National Broadcasting Commission members and the concession dispute between the PM's Office and iTV.

To mark the occasion as wells as to celebrate His Majesty the King's 80th birthday this year, the court will host the Ninth Congress of the International Association of Supreme Administrative Jurisdictions from November 22 to 24.

The association has 63 members countries, including France, Finland, Italy and Spain. Representatives from 11 other countries are expected to come as observers.

Thailand is the first Asian country to host a conference of the prestigious body, Ackaratorn said.

Topics will include the status of administrative courts, recruitment and training of judges, career development and profiles and the rights and duties of judges.

Kornchanok Raksaseri

The Nation