The Central Administrative Court on Tuesday ordered the revocation of an announcement postponing the Social Security Board election, ruling that the announcement was unlawful.

The court said the election should proceed as originally scheduled on Sept 27.

The postponement announcement was issued on July 27 by the committee overseeing the election of employer and insured-worker representatives. It cited a lack of clarity about registration requirements.

The announcement was challenged by the Progressive Social Security team led by Sustarum Thammaboosadee, a former employee representative on the Social Security Board. The group, which is aligned with the People’s Party, has 14 candidates contesting seats representing employers and insured workers.

The group argued that the announcement was unlawful because it did not specify how long the election would be delayed.

The court on Friday granted the group’s request for a temporary injunction against enforcement of the postponement pending its final ruling.

On Tuesday it ruled that the announcement effectively suspended the election process stipulated in an earlier announcement dated May 25. This prevented the election from proceeding and could not be justified as an emergency or necessary measure under regulations issued by the Ministry of Labour.

Emerging from the courtroom, Mr Sustarum said the ruling meant the entire election process must resume according to the original timetable.

The Progressive Social Security team leader said a key finding by the court was that the postponement did not fall under any exemption allowing an urgent suspension of the election.

He added that the Social Security Office (SSO) had already set aside 275 million baht for the election, while any additional funding could still be proposed to the board for approval.

The decision to postpone the election indefinitely therefore lacked sufficient grounds and was unlawful, he said.

The court also maintained its order to suspend enforcement of the postponement announcement, meaning the SSO could not issue a similar announcement to delay the election again.

Mr Sustarum said the SSO was already prepared to hold the election, with funding allocated and more than 7 million ballot papers prepared.

“Budget and preparedness are therefore not obstacles. It is now the SSO’s responsibility to comply with the court ruling and proceed with the election according to the original timetable,” he said.

‘Crucial turning point’

Allowing the current Social Security Board to remain in a caretaker capacity for almost six months could cause long-term damage to the management of the Social Security Fund, he added.

“The priority now must be to proceed with the election and ensure it takes place as originally scheduled,” Mr Sustarum said.

“The election and public participation represent a crucial turning point in returning the country’s largest welfare institution to the people,” he said.

“The fund belongs to working people. It supports 1.2 million children, 200,000 pregnant women, around 900,000 pensioners and millions of people who rely on it when they fall ill.

“I urge the public to closely monitor this election so that the Social Security system can truly serve as a reliable pillar of support for the people.”

The People’s Party has long campaigned for improvements to the Social Security system. Encouraging people to take part in board elections and seek board seats is a key part of the party’s grassroots political organising strategy.

In 2023, the Progressive Social Security group backed by the party was a runaway winner in the country’s first Social Security Board election.