Thailand's Constitutional Court ruled on Friday that Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-Ocha can continue in office as he has not reached an eight-year term limit as the Prime Minister. The move will enable Prayuth to resume his duties after being suspended last month.<br />'' <br />'' According to a statement issued by the court, Judges of the court voted six to three to decide that under the 2017 constitution, which came into effect on 6th of April, 2017, the count of Prayuth's premiership should start from that day, and thus he has not completed his term as the Prime Minister.<br />'' <br />'' Opposition lawmakers had petitioned the court to decide on their contention that Prayuth, who took power as army commander in a 2014 coup, had violated the eight-year limit for prime ministers that was included for the first time in Thailand's 2017 Constitution.<br />'' <br />'' In August, judges of the court agreed by five votes to four to suspend the premiership of Prayuth, following a petition filed by the opposition parties in the court to decide on their contention that Prayuth, who took power as army commander in a 2014 coup, had violated the eight-year limit for Prime Ministers that was included for the first time in Thailand's 2017 Constitution.<br />'' <br />'' During the period, Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan had been serving as the interim prime minister, while Prayuth remained as the Defense Minister.<br />'' <br />''Prayuth officially became Prime Minister in a military government in August 2014, and was named prime minister again after a 2019 election. Using 2014 as a starting date, he would have reached his legal limit last month.