Thanakrit Kittiwat, the presiding judge, said the state administration and public services could be affected if the election, which was mandatory after the final term of the city assembly, was halted or postponed.

Former senator Niphon Simprayoon, also a candidate for the district council, filed the complaint on Thursday asking for an immediate halt on grounds that the Election Commission (EC), which organises all elections, was not a legitimate body because there were only three commissioners left in power out of a mandatory five.

Citing an EC explanation, the judge said more than 100,000 city and poll officials had been trained and 6,229 polling stations had been set up, with a large amount of money already spent.

"The halt, if ordered as requested by the complainant, will result in the manpower and efforts being wasted needlessly," said part of the verdict.