The judges voted 6-3 to declare the Feb 02,2014 election unconstitutional because voting was not held that day in 28 constituencies where anti-government protesters had prevented candidates from registering. The constitution says the election must be held on the same day nationwide.
"The process (now) is to have a new general election," Pimol Thampitakpong, the court's secretary-general, said at a news conference announcing the decision.
There was no immediate indication of when new polls might be held.
The date is normally set by the government in consultation with the Election Commission.
The ruling would appear to have little practical effect in either alleviating or worsening Thailand's political crisis, which began late last year when protesters demanded that the administration of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra be replaced by an unelected "people's council" to implement reforms they say are needed to end corruption and money politics.
Thailand's Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra refused to resign and called early elections in a bid to ensure a fresh mandate. But the protesters tried to prevent the election from taking place, physically blocking and intimidating both potential candidates and voters. It was their efforts that prevented voting from being completed on the same day.
At the same time, the main opposition Democrat Party — closely linked to the protest movement — boycotted the polls.
Thailand has seen political conflict since 2006, when then-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, Yingluck's brother, was ousted by a military coup after being accused of corruption and abuse of power. Thaksin's supporters and opponents have since taken to the streets for extended periods in a power struggle.
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