Bangkok: "Prit" debates a request to cut the budget for the curriculum of the Court of Justice by 16 million baht, citing risks of creating a patronage system and affecting the independence of the court. During the House of Representatives meeting to consider the draft Budget Act for the fiscal year 2026, Mr. Phrits Wacharasindhu, a party-list MP from the Prachachon Party, highlighted concerns about a proposed budget reduction under Section 31 for court agencies, specifically targeting the Senior Justice Administration Executive Course (SJEC) program.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Pris expressed concerns that government training courses have faced criticism for fostering patronage systems. He pointed out that these programs often involve participants from organizations that should maintain oversight over one another, such as politicians and Constitutional Court judges, or entities with potential mutual benefits, like contractors and government agencies. A particular focus of criticism is the Court of Justice's BACC course, which requested a 16 million baht budget this year. Mr. Pris voiced his objection to the budget allocation, emphasizing that the judiciary is expected to operate impartially and independently. He noted the potential conflict of interest if a judge forms relationships with outsiders who may later become involved in cases presided over by the same judge.
Furthermore, Mr. Pris emphasized the importance of maintaining the judiciary's image in society. Public trust in the justice system hinges not only on judges' impartiality but also on the perception of their fairness. If training programs like the SJEC risk undermining this image, it could erode public confidence in the justice system. He argued that if the societal benefits of these programs are difficult to quantify or don't outweigh the risks, they may not justify the costs involved.
The issue is not only being raised externally but also concerns some within the judiciary. In January 2015, two Supreme Court judges called for the cancellation of the BAAC program and restrictions on judges participating in similar external training. A survey conducted in mid-2015 revealed that 87% of 1,455 judges believed the BAAC program damages judicial credibility, and 82% supported its abolition.
Mr. Pris proposed that the House of Representatives consider either a complete 16 million baht budget cut, effectively canceling the NBTC curriculum, or a partial reduction to reform the program to minimize risk and cost. Suggestions included shifting to an online format to limit recreational interactions and restructuring the curriculum to focus on specific topics and participants.
Additionally, Mr. Pris recommended revising the student composition to separate internal judges from external participants and increasing transparency about the program's societal benefits, such as publishing teaching materials. He also suggested maintaining a student database to prevent judges from handling cases involving former program participants.