Cases in Chinese courts increase 28 percent after reform

Cases filed in Chinese courts have increased 28.4 percent year on year after case registration reform, the Supreme People's Court (SPC) said Tuesday.

Between May 1 last year when the change came into force and March 31, over 14.2 million cases were filed, an increase of 28.4 percent, the SPC said at a seminar marking the first anniversary of the reform.

Courts now accept indictments and place cases on file on the spot, without examination. Previously, courts could decide whether to file cases before they reviewed the litigation.

Jing Hanchao, vice president of the SPC, told the seminar that the protection of the right to take action is more thorough and judicial procedure more transparent.

"The difficulty in filing court cases has become a thing of the past," said Jing.

Civil cases increased by 25.4 percent, administrative cases by 61 percent and criminal cases by 58 percent, compared to the same period of last year.

Jiang Qibo, a senior judge with the SPC, said some ridiculous cases had appeared and officials in some areas had prevented some sensitive cases from being filed on the pretext of maintaining social stability.

Jing urged courts at all levels to firmly implement the system and prevent officials from interfering in the judicial process.

Source: XINHUA