CPC officials ordered to stop meddling judicial cases

BEIJING - China will establish a system in which officials will be given demerits or held accountable if they are found interfering in judicial cases.

According to a communique released after a key meeting of the Communist Party of China (CPC) on Thursday, officials will be criticized in public notices if they influence judicial activities or meddle in a particular case.

The communique, adopted at the Fourth Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee, hails justice as the "lifeline" of rule of law.

Judicial injustice can inflict a "lethal damage" to social justice, reads the communique.

China will improve the system in which judicial powers are exercised and strengthen supervision over judicial activities, it says.

The Supreme People's Court will set up circuit courts to facilitate the handling of judicial cases filed by the public from local communities. The country will explore establishing courts and procuratorates with jurisdictions spanning across different administrative regions, and building a system in which prosecuting bodies can institute public interest litigations, according to the communique.

Trial judges and procurators will assume lifelong accountability to their cases, and public participation will be ensured in judicial procedures, it reads.

No illegal mitigation of a sentence is allowed, and the handling of judicial cases should not be influenced by personal connections, favors or bribery, according to the communique.