BEIJING, Mar. 30 -- Media reports which talk about public dissatisfaction with the legal system can help China see a judiciary which is separate from the State as well as a truly effective system of justice, says an article in Yanzhao Metropolis News.
Wang Shengjun, secretary-general of the Committee of Political and Legislative Affairs under the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party, said judicial institutions should accept criticism in media reports as long as the reports are based on facts.
This is a good suggestion. In fact, judicial independence and justice cannot be fully realized without such media supervision.
In a society ruled by law, judicial institutions are the final guard of justice. Only under such preconditions will the rule of law become reliable and the people’s rights and interests be protected. However, our respect for judicial institutions does not mean they can act at will. Otherwise they will be dictators instead of objective judges.
People have entrusted the media to impose reasonable restrictions on the judiciary so they serve the people without abusing power. With media supervision, citizens are no longer powerless individuals, but an empowered public.
All people working with the judiciary should realize media supervision is needed to maintain judicial independence and an effective justice system. Only under media supervision will the judiciary not become an absolute power and become corrupt.
