Cases promote law-based governance

Courts across Beijing have handled 16,281 cases involving "individuals suing the government" since the country's new Administrative Procedure Law came into force on May 1, 2015, an increase of 99 percent year-on-year. Local governments have lost 29 percent of them.

The continuous increase in such lawsuits reflects people's disapproval of the government's administrative behavior and a growing awareness they can use the courts to protect their rights and interests.

Since its enactment, the new law on administrative procedure has raised higher requirements for governance. The increasing number of cases being filed by individuals against the government, which mainly involve land requisitions, demolitions, traffic punishments and administrative adjudication, will be of positive significance to promoting the rule of law and improving governance.