The National Legislative Assembly (NLA) will be asked to pass about 50 Section 44 orders into law to ensure they remain in effect after the dissolution of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said on Wednesday.
NCPO orders that were issued under Section 44 of the interim constitution and considered necessary to remain in force would be proposed to the NLA for legislation. Otherwise, these orders would lapse upon the dissolution of the NCPO after the general election, he said.
About 50 Section 44 orders would be proposed to the NLA. They would include an order concerning land reform for farming, Mr Wissanu said.
Section 44 orders are issued by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha in his capacity as head of the junta's National Council for Peace and Order. Section 44 gives him power to override laws and regulations.
Mr Wissanu said that at the NCPO meeting on Tuesday Gen Prayut ordered the criteria for Section 44 orders to be officially written down. Previously they had been known by heart to NCPO members, the deputy prime minister said.
The written criteria would be used as guidelines for ministerial officials, who had actively sought Section 44 orders in the past to facilitate their work.
According to Mr Wissanu, Section 44 orders have been issued to quickly solve important problems relating to national reform, restructuring, security, public safety and economic issues.
Such orders have administrative and legislative effect, and have never been issued to intervene in any judicial matter, Mr Wissanu said.