Bangkok: The President of the Constitutional Court, Nakarin Mektrirat, has stated that the ongoing case concerning barcode election ballots should not extend beyond a year. He declined to engage in discussions regarding potential amendments to the Constitution, emphasizing that such matters fall under the jurisdiction of Parliament.

According to Thai News Agency, Nakarin Mektrirat, while acknowledging certain limitations in the 2017 Constitution, reiterated the need for parliamentary action on constitutional amendments. He highlighted that the 2017 Constitution has broadened the court's remit to include consultative roles, which previously focused only on conflicts of interest. Citing the Constitutional Court Procedure Act, Mektrirat pointed out that the current 7-year term for judges, a holdover from the 2007 Constitution's 9-year term, is insufficient and restricts the court's operational scope.

In discussing the barcode election ballot case, Mektrirat mentioned that although it is premature to set a definitive timeline, such cases typically should not surpass a year. He referenced a previous case that lasted 11 months as a benchmark. Mektrirat underlined the importance of awaiting complete evidence submissions from both parties involved before the Constitutional Court can reach a conclusive judgment.