The government believes it will be able to reinstate Thawil Pliensri as secretary-general of the National Security Council (NSC) within 45 days as ordered by the Supreme Administrative Court, caretaker Deputy Prime Minister Pongthep Thepkanchana said before Tuesday's cabinet meeting at the Police Academy at Sam Phran.
Mr Pongthep said he would first consult the Civil Service Commission (CSC) about a suitable position for Lt Gen Paradorn Pattanatabut, who is currently in the job, before forwarding the matter to the cabinet for consideration.
The cabinet decision would then be forwarded to the Election Commission (EC) for consideration.
He affirmed that the government would follow legal procedure and he hoped every agency concerned would also ensure justice in this matter.
Pol Gen Adul Saengsingkaew, the national police chief, said whether to lift the emergency decree or not would not be raised for discussion at today's cabinet meeting. They were awaiting a situation assessment by the Centre for Maintaining Peace and Order (CMPO).
Mr Pongthep said the prosecution's appeal against the Civil Court's order prohibiting the CMPO from enforcing its restrictions against the People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) protesters had nothing to do with the emergency decree.
It was up to the CMPO to decide whether to lift the decree or not, he said.