Crackdown begins on court officials' behavior

A crackdown to regulate court officials' behavior while enforcing verdicts was launched Wednesday, China's top court said.

The Supreme People's Court has taken verdict enforcement as a priority since last year, saying it has made efforts to speed up its implementation this year, as well as regulating enforcers' behavior.

On Wednesday, it issued a guideline with 10 bans for judicial officials related to the enforcement department of Chinese courts, such as asking them not to release case secrets or improperly meet litigants during enforcement work.

"Every enforcer cannot delete or withdraw information on those who do not comply with the verdict from the court's blacklist improperly," said Wu Shaojun, deputy director of the enforcement department under the top court.

Living with, having meals or traveling with litigants are also banned for legal workers, he said, and they are ordered to strictly abide by all procedures to implement verdicts.

He compared the 10 restrictions to "high-tension cables" for court officials, saying those disobeying them will be seriously punished.

He said the guideline was made based on the top court's research in grassroots courts, in which it found some officials neglected their duties regarding enforcement.

"As urging defaulters, such as debtors, to carry out verdicts as soon as possible, court work should be also regulated and improved," he said.

Chinese courts should take initiative to play a role in enforcement, providing justice for litigants in a timely manner, he added.