Under the PRC Constitution and the Law of Organisation of the People's Courts, the judicial system is made up of the Supreme People's Court, the local people's courts, military courts and other special people's courts. The local people's courts are comprised of the basic people's courts, the intermediate people's courts and the higher people's courts. The basic people's courts are organised into civil, criminal, economic and administrative divisions. The intermediate people's courts are organised into divisions similar to those of the basic people's courts, and are further organised into other special divisions, such as the intellectual property division. The higher level people's courts supervise the basic and intermediate people's courts. The people's procuratorates also have the right to exercise legal supervision over the civil proceedings of people's courts of the same level and lower levels. The Supreme People's Court is the highest judicial body in the PRC. It supervises the administration of justice by all of the people's courts. The people's courts employ a two-tier appellate system. A party may appeal against a judgement or order of a local people's court to the people's court at the next higher level. Second judgements or orders given at the same level and at the next higher level are final. First judgements or orders of the Supreme People's Court are also final. If, however, the Supreme People's Court or a people's court at a higher level finds an error in a judgement which has been given in any people's court at a lower level, or the presiding judge of a people's court finds an error in a judgement which has been given in the court over which he presides, the case may then be retried according to the judicial supervision procedures.+ Z. y7 J3 ?1 @. w, h# b/ N
The Civil Procedure Law of the PRC, which was adopted on April 9, 1991, sets forth the criteria for instituting a civil action, the jurisdiction of the people's courts, the procedures to be followed for conducting a civil action and the procedures for enforcement of a civil judgement or order. All parties to a civil action conducted within the PRC must comply with the Civil Procedure Law. Generally, a civil case is initially heard by a local court of the municipality or province in which the defendant resides. The parties to a contract may, by express agreement, select a jurisdiction where civil actions may be brought, provided that the jurisdiction is either the plaintiff's or the defendant's place of residence, the place of execution or implementation of the contract or the object of the action. However, such selection can not violate the stipulations of grade jurisdiction and exclusive jurisdiction in any case.
& k( {$ T% z5 `- s( V! f; D! J A foreign individual or enterprise generally has the same litigation rights and obligations as a citizen or legal person of the PRC. If a foreign country's judicial system limits the litigation rights of PRC citizens and enterprises, the PRC courts may apply the same limitations to the citizens and enterprises of that foreign country within the PRC. If any party to a civil action refuses to comply with a judgement or order made by a people's court or an award granted by an arbitration panel in the PRC, the aggrieved party may apply to the people's court to request for enforcement of the judgement, order or award. There are time limits imposed on the right to apply for such enforcement. If at least one of the parties to the dispute is an individual, the time limit is one year.) C) M' J) i' k; f5 s3 u
If both parties to the dispute are legal persons or other institutions, the time limit is six months. If a person fails to satisfy a judgement made by the court within the stipulated time, the court will, upon application by either party, mandatorily enforce the judgement.6 v8 C7 P- |; P1 G
A party seeking to enforce a judgement or order of a people's court against a party who is not located within the PRC and does not own any property in the PRC may apply to a foreign court with proper jurisdiction for recognition and enforcement of the judgement or order. A foreign judgement or ruling may also be recognised and enforced by the people's court according to the PRC enforcement procedures if the PRC has entered into, or acceded to, an international treaty with the relevant foreign country, which provides for such recognition and enforcement, or if the judgement or ruling satisfies the court's examination according to the principle of reciprocity, unless the people's court finds that the recognition or enforcement of such judgement or ruling will result in a violation of the basic legal principles of the PRC, its sovereignty or security, or for reasons of social and public interests |