Legislative Affairs Commission of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress: Abolish the "joint sitting" of close relatives of local criminals to protect citizens' rights.
Recently, the Legislative Affairs Committee of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress issued a report on the filing and review work in 2023, which clearly stated that the perpetrators of violations and crimes bear their own responsibility and cannot be connected or affected by others. This move is seen as an important step in protecting the rights of citizens, abolishing restrictions on "joint sitting" of close relatives of local criminals. For a long time in Chinese history, the system of joint sitting was closely linked to the fate of the family and the family, and if a family member committed a crime, the entire family was held responsible. However, with the progress of society and the improvement of the rule of law, this system has gradually become obsolete.
This decision of the Legislative Affairs Committee of the NPC Standing Committee is undoubtedly a manifestation of the progress of the rule of law. It emphasizes the principle of equality before the law and self-responsibility. Regardless of an individual's status, as long as the criminal act is established, he or she shall be investigated for criminal responsibility in accordance with the law. The close relatives of persons involved in crimes should not be unjustifiably implicated and punished for the criminal acts of their family members.
Abolishing the restriction on "joint sitting" for close relatives of persons involved in crimes is conducive to safeguarding social fairness and justice. In past practice, some innocent close relatives have been implicated in the criminal acts of family members, and have lost their jobs, social status and even personal freedom. This unjust phenomenon seriously infringes upon the legitimate rights and interests of citizens and violates the spirit of the rule of law.
The implementation of this provision will help to enhance citizens' awareness of their rights and belief in the law. When everyone can clearly understand that their actions will not implicate others for no reason, the rule of law environment in society will be further optimized. Citizens will be more conscious of abiding by the law and maintaining social stability and harmony.
At the same time, this provision will also have a certain binding effect on the public authorities. Prior to the abolition of the "joint sitting" restriction, some local authorities may abuse their power to unfairly restrict or punish the close relatives of those involved in crimes. Now, thanks to the clear legal provisions, public authorities must act in accordance with the law when exercising their rights, and must not arbitrarily infringe upon the legitimate rights and interests of citizens.
However, we should also note that although this provision is an important step forward in protecting the rights of citizens, in practice care is still needed to prevent the emergence of new injustices. For example, in some cases, innocent close relatives may be subjected to pressure and discrimination from society. Therefore, while implementing this provision, it is also necessary to strengthen publicity and education to raise citizens' legal awareness and moral level.
In addition, in order to ensure the smooth implementation of this regulation, it is necessary to further improve the relevant laws and regulations. For example, more detailed procedural provisions could be developed to clarify the rights and obligations of the close relatives of persons involved in crimes;Strengthen judicial interpretation to ensure the correct use of laws;At the same time, it is also necessary to strengthen supervision and restraint over the organs of public power to prevent abuse of power.
In short, the abolition of the "joint sitting" of close relatives of local criminals by the Legislative Affairs Committee of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress is a landmark move. It not only embodies the progress of the rule of law and the spirit of fairness and justice, but also guarantees the basic rights of citizens. We have reason to believe that with the continuous advancement and improvement of the rule of law, China's rule of law environment will become more just, fair and transparent.