Judges in the Beijing No 2 Intermediate People's Court have promised to carry out in word and deed the law-stipulated equality between plaintiffs and defendants to guarantee judicial fairness.
The court's new rule ensures that both sides in a case will be given an equal amount of time for gathering evidence and making clear their own positions in hearings.
They will also spend a similar amount of time meeting judges if necessary.
Although China's civil procedure law stipulates that parties should enjoy the same rights in hearings, unfairness resulted from the judges' biased treatment towards plaintiffs and defendants.
This has been a major complaint among the public since regulations stipulate that judges are required to remain neutral, said Li Ke, the court's president. "They should spend the same amount of time listening to plaintiffs and defendants," Li said.
"They should not interrupt or prevent any of the parties from speaking out their views. The parties have the rights to fully present their opinions in courts."
Judges still have the right to stop parties from making repetitive or irrelevant opinions in hearings, according to the regulations.
The latest measure by the court is among a series of actions taken in recent years to ensure judicial fairness.
Except for those that have been specially stipulated by law, court hearings are now open to the general public in China.
In some courts, past court verdicts are now accessible to the public.
"Court hearings will become more transparent under the new regulation," said Bi Yuqian of the National Judges College. Such practice also goes in line with State laws.
(China Daily March 12, 2002)
