“Concerns Over Wasteful Office Space Usage: A Balancing Act for Efficient Utilization”

On June 3, at the 46th session of the National Assembly Standing Committee (NA), opinions were given on the revision and explanation of the draft Law Amending and Supplementing a Number of Articles of the Law on the Organization of the People’s Courts.

The bill proposes a three-tier structure for the People’s Court system, consisting of the Supreme People’s Court, provincial-level People’s Courts, and regional People’s Courts. The draft law also introduces appellate courts under the Supreme People’s Court and specialized courts.

Speaking at the session, National Assembly Chair Tran Thanh Man emphasized that the current amendments to the Law on the Organization of the People’s Courts aim to streamline the apparatus, thus requiring clear definitions of the jurisdiction of regional People’s Courts.

Specifically, there should be detailed transitional provisions to ensure a smooth transition of tasks, powers, and case files, without affecting the rights of organizations and individuals.

Chair Tran Thanh Man requested attention to the handling of existing assets and physical facilities, investment in modern equipment for the post-reorganization phase, and the training and development of local judges.

To implement the Resolution No. 66 of the Politburo on renewing the work of building and perfecting the legal system to meet the requirements of the country’s development in the new era and Resolution No. 68 of the Politburo on developing the private economy, the National Assembly has recently issued two resolutions.

Therefore, the National Assembly Chair stated that in activities such as courts and prosecution, there should be a mechanism for strict and fair judgment, thereby facilitating production and business activities.

Citing an article by General Secretary To Lam on “Practicing Thrift” and practical experiences, the National Assembly Chair requested that in the upcoming reorganization process, not only the courts but also other agencies must have plans to proactively utilize existing facilities to avoid waste or a situation of “shortage in new locations while old locations are not fully utilized.”

National Assembly Chair Tran Thanh Man requested that the Supreme People’s Court closely coordinate with the Committee for Legal Affairs and Judiciary to continue reviewing and ensuring the consistency of the legal system, avoiding overlaps or legal gaps, thereby creating a legal corridor for the operation of the court system…

At the session, Chief Judge Le Minh Tri of the Supreme People’s Court provided explanations and clarifications on the contents of the draft law that were of concern to the NA Standing Committee and the delegates. According to Mr. Le Minh Tri, this amendment must ensure several requirements, including the establishment of a three-tier court model, the elimination of intermediaries, and enhanced decentralization and devolution of power.

Mr. Le Minh Tri pointed out that this period witnessed significant changes in the judicial sector. Firstly, the establishment of regional courts. Previously, there were 693 district-level courts, but now, with the reorganization, there will be only 355 regional courts.

Meanwhile, the functions, tasks, and nature of the work assigned to these regional courts are substantial, encompassing civil and administrative cases. Therefore, Mr. Le Minh Tri emphasized the responsibility of the Supreme People’s Court to strengthen resources and personnel to ensure the effective functioning of the regional courts in their new roles.