BANGKOK, May 7 (RAPSI) – The Constitutional Court of Thailand has ruled that acting Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra must step down for improperly transferring Thawil Pliensri, the secretary general of the National Security Council appointed by the opposition-led administration, in 2011, Thai PBS announced on Wednesday.

The court accepted the arguments of the plaintiffs, a group of senators who believe that Ms. Shinawatra personally benefitted from dismissing Pliensri, because she appointed the national police chief in his place and gave the vacated police post to one of her relatives, Pol Gen Pliewphan Damapong, the TV channel said.

The court has ruled that Ms. Shinawatra’s actions were unconstitutional and that her powers must therefore be terminated. It also ruled that the cabinet ministers who attended the meeting held to endorse the unlawful transfer of Mr. Pliensri must also be held responsible and their status terminated.

Experts worry that the court’s ruling could lead to an escalation of political violence in the country.