China(witness) rapid growth in dealing with cases between citizens and government departments over the past five years. But(take) officials to court (法庭)would have been unheard of 30 years ago.
“The question of whether to allow citizens to sue (起诉)government departments caused heated debates back then,” said Yang Jingyu, 82, a retired lawmakerat the time was a member of the Standing Committee of the National Peopled Congress.
He looked backdiscussions about the Maritime Traffic Safety Law, which(regard) as a basis of China's legal system. But it started a debate on whether governments could be sued, because some officials thought what they do is in the name of the country.
However Peng Zhen, who(devote) to making the laws, argued that it would be unfairwe did not allow citizens to appeal (上诉)in court. For example, sailors, especiallywho had worked many years to become captains, would be jobless or fall into trouble if they were(wrong) punished.
Now, according to the laws, courts must accept cases without(hesitate) if litigants (当事人)provide enough material.
