System reduces 'hindering' of lawsuits

Courts in Guangdong province handled about 14,300 administrative lawsuits in 2013, reflecting greater legal awareness of government agencies and officials, sources with the Guangdong Provincial People's High Court said.

The court also revealed that government agencies and officials above county and district levels lost 18.7 percent of these lawsuits last year.

"We have introduced a series of measures to prevent government agencies and officials from hindering cases against them and to ensure that individuals or organizations that believe their rights have been infringed by government agencies have their administrative lawsuits accepted by the court and are fairly treated," said Zheng E, president of Guangdong Provincial High People's Court.

The court implemented a pilot system for dealing with administrative lawsuits in 2012. Lawsuits against government agencies above county level are transferred to intermediate courts or courts in other counties to be handled.

"The system has helped build more transparent and fair procedures," Zheng said.

Also, the provincial high people's court has introduced a system for dealing with such lawsuits. It requires chief executives of government agencies to appear in court during the procedures.

"Government officials should not be afraid of appearing in court. To some degree, the proceedings against government agencies or officials will help enhance legal awareness among the parties involved," Zheng said.

China introduced a draft amendment to the Administrative Procedure Law at the end of 2013. It enhances the current law to better protect a person's right to sue government agencies and officials.

Ou Zhenzhi, a deputy to the Guangdong Provincial People's Congress, said courts should boost efforts to ensure people's rights and increase efficiency.

"It is of great significance to require chief executives of government bodies to appear in court in lawsuits. A county head or a mayor has to think twice in handling government affairs if they face a possible lawsuit," Ou said.