Beijing court sees sharp rise in administrative cases

The Beijing No 4 Intermediate People's Court recorded a sharp increase in administrative cases last year, many of which centered on land acquisition, relocation and shantytown renovation amid ongoing housing and urban-rural development efforts.

According to a report released by the court on Thursday, it handled 1,610 administrative disputes in 2024, up 46 percent from the previous year. Among them, 484 cases were related to house demolition and 130 involved urban and rural planning.

The number of cases in which district governments in Beijing were named as defendants rose by 762 compared with 2023, a surge of 107 percent. The report said the trend highlights the need to further advance law-based governance.

"In some instances, it remains unclear which specific department within the district government should appear in court to respond to litigation, revealing a lack of clear division of responsibilities," the report said.

"In other cases, officials from the government departments being sued who appeared in court were not well-versed in legal provisions, nor were they familiar with the facts and evidence of the disputes," it added.

To support the development of a law-based government and better regulate official conduct, the report called for improved prevention and resolution of disputes at the source, especially in areas involving land acquisition and demolition, in a bid to reduce litigation.

It also urged stronger oversight of administrative actions that knowingly violate laws or worsen existing tensions, as well as greater accountability for failing to comply with court rulings in a timely manner.