国内英语新闻:China Focus: Top legislature holds first judicial work special inquiry

BEIJING, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- The National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee on Thursday held a special inquiry on two work reports submitted by the Supreme People's Court (SPC) and the Supreme People's Procuratorate (SPP), respectively.

It was the first NPC Standing Committee inquiry on judicial work ever held during a bimonthly session. Li Zhanshu, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, attended the inquiry and deliberation.

The two reports were on the court efforts in enforcing judgments, and procuratorates' supervision of civil lawsuits and judgment enforcement, respectively.

During the inquiry, lawmakers inquired how to force defaulters to pay debts as required in a court judgment, deal with unenforceable judgments, and curb the rise in false litigation.

Chief Justice Zhou Qiang, Procurator-General Zhang Jun and officials from the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Justice and the Finance Ministry answered lawmakers' inquiries.

Li said the inquiry was an innovative exploration of NPC supervision over judicial work, reflecting the constitutional principle that "all power belongs to the people."

The move is also designed to support judicial reform and boost the judicial system's credibility, according to Li.

Li also called on the SPC and the SPP to summarize their experience, enhance coordination with other agencies and push for the settlement of the judgment enforcement issue.

Liu Guixiang, a full-time member of the SPC judicial committee, answered questions at Thursday's meeting.

After the inquiry, he told Xinhua that he had felt pressure in the face-to-face Q&A session, which gave motivation for improving future court judgment enforcement work.

"We will push for the implementation in accordance with the opinions raised here," said Liu, adding that the inquiry would make a difference.

An official with the SPP shared similar feelings, calling the inquiry "an exam of politics and law," and a face-to-face test of the performance of duty.

Xu Hanming, a professor of law with the Zhongnan University of Economics and Law, spoke highly of Thursday's inquiry, saying that it would boost judicial justice and rule of law in China.

A total of 24 such supervisory inquiries had been organized by the NPC Standing Committee since June 2010, covering a wide-range of hot-button issues including grain security, healthcare reform, school bus safety, poverty and air pollution.

During those inquiries, senior officials from vice premiers to ministers answered questions from lawmakers.