Renowned legal expert, Worachet Pakeerut, has quit the government-appointed committee on civil administrative work practice only hours after his appointment was endorsed, citing a prior conflict with the panel's chairman.
Mr Worachet, long known for his anti-coup stance, yesterday confirmed his resignation from the newly-formed committee after he learned Borwornsak Uwanno -- with whom he has had conflict -- was named as committee chairman.
Worachet: Clashes with panel chair
In a Facebook post, Mr Worachet said he pulled out of the panel because the issue between him and Mr Borwornsak would undermine their working relationship.
The law expert, however, did not say what the nature of the conflict was.
Mr Borwornsak formerly chaired the constitution drafting body set up by the now-defunct National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO).
Mr Worachet said he thought the chairmanship would go to another contender.
He added the person who approached him to be on the panel apparently did not know about the rift between him and Mr Borwornsak.
He said they had once worked on the same committee before the NCPO came to power, but his name was later removed.
"Honestly, I was rather surprised that this cabinet approved [his appointment as a member]," said Mr Worachet.
He said he is still embroiled in a legal case for flouting the NCPO's order.
The regime ordered him to report himself soon after it seized power from the Pheu Thai Party-led administration in 2014. He has petitioned the Constitutional Court to interpret whether the NCPO's order was legally valid. The case is pending a court ruling.