China to punish judicial officials for illegal interference

A regulation was unveiled on Monday that will see judges, prosecutors and police officers blacklisted and punished for illegally intervening in investigations and court proceedings.

The document was adopted by the Commission for Political and Legal Affairs of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee with the aim of safeguarding judicial independence.

According to the 15-article rules, any judicial official who looks into cases will be put on record and those who interfere in investigations or court proceedings will be named publicly or held accountable.

Violations identified include interceding for litigants, asking personnel handling cases to meet with litigants or their defenders privately, as well as handing over case-related materials, inquiring about cases and tipping off litigants.

Judicial officials who retaliate against personnel handling cases or whose interference creates further problems shall be given disciplinary penalties and even criminal penalties if their behavior constitutes crimes.

The regulation requires that judicial personnel should keep the whole process faithfully recorded no matter who is involved, otherwise they will be punished.

Some judicial officials have taken advantage of their position or personal connections to interfere in the handling of judicial cases, seriously harming judicial fairness.

Also on Monday, another regulation banning officials from interfering in judicial cases was also released by the General Office of the CPC Central Committee and the General Office of the State Council, in the latest effort to advance the rule of law. Endi