China's judiciary is to set up a system to expose interference
from local party and administrative officials in court
decisions.
A notice jointly issued by the Central Commission for Discipline
Inspection of the Communist Party of China, the Supreme People's
Court and the Ministry of Supervision ordered courts to report
swiftly any meddling by local cadres in the enforcement of court
rulings.
Party officials have been found abusing their power to illegally
meddle in or hinder the execution of court rulings, seeking to
protect vested personal or departmental interests.
Some officials refuse to cooperate with local courts despite
their legal obligations in the execution of court rulings, while
others have been known to incite riots to resist the
enforcement.
The notice instructs judicial officials to build a report
system, under which all local courts should report promptly all
kinds of interference from local cadres to their party committees,
or to courts of higher levels if necessary.
Local courts should pass on allegations and evidence of illegal
interference to discipline and supervision departments, and
officials involved in these cases should be held accountable,
according to the system.
(Xinhua News Agency June 22, 2006)