[Direct answer]In the Beijing area, the focus is on collecting procedural documents and fixing the records of delivery and solicitation of opinions. The "Regulations on the Acquisition and Compensation of Houses on State-Owned Land" (Decree No. 590 of the State Council, implemented on January 21, 2011) stipulate that the acquisition of houses on state-owned land shall be based on the needs of public interest. The municipal and county-level people's governments shall make decisions on the acquisition of houses and carry out procedures such as investigation and registration, assessment of social stability risks, publication of the acquisition and compensation plan and solicitation of public opinions, and full provision of the acquisition and compensation funds. If there are doubts about the legality of the acquisition decision, the public can apply for government information disclosure to retrieve the acquisition decision and announcement, acquisition and compensation plan, social stability risk assessment report, fund proof and project approval documents; at the same time, keep the delivery receipts, publicity photos, hearing records and communication materials to prove the existence of non-compliance with legal procedures, exceeding authority or illegal interference, and submit them in the process of reconsideration or litigation.
1. Problem background and typical scenarios
The people subject to expropriation often feel that the expropriation decision "comes suddenly", and they are not clear about whether it is legal, who made it, or what the basis is. Typical situations include: making an expropriation decision without fully publicizing the compensation plan; failing to conduct a social stability risk assessment; and the project not being based on public interest or failing to obtain the corresponding approval. The expropriation procedures in Beijing are relatively standardized, and applying for government information disclosure is the main way to obtain procedural documents.
II. Key points of contention
First, whether the expropriation decision conforms to the public interest and meets the statutory authority. Second, whether the statutory procedures have been carried out, including investigation and registration, risk assessment, public announcement of the plan, and solicitation of opinions. Third, whether the expropriation compensation fees have been fully in place and stored in a special account. Fourth, how to legally obtain evidence and how to deal with the rejection of government information disclosure applications. Fifth, how to use evidence in review and litigation, and what the standard of proof is.
III. Professional analysis by Henglue Lawyers
Here is the translation of the text into English, with detailed explanations: 1. Practical Experience Tips for Lawyers Handling Expropriation Cases (Part 4): - Source of Evidence: Most procedural evidence is held by administrative authorities. Expropriated individuals can legally request government information disclosure to obtain access to expropriation decisions and announcements, expropriation compensation plans and public consultation records, social stability risk assessment reports, proof of funding sources, project approval and planning permit documents, etc. If the request is denied or the response is inaccurate, they can seek enforcement of the disclosure obligation through administrative review or litigation. - Preservation of Evidence: Photos and videos of on-site public announcements, delivery receipts and sign-in records for received documents, hearing or discussion records, correspondence with expropriation authorities, and documentation of the expropriated individual's property ownership and business operations should be preserved to form a comprehensive timeline. - Review Points: Verify whether the expropriation decision-making authority is legally authorized, whether the expropriation serves the public interest, whether legal procedures were followed, and whether compensation funds were fully disbursed. Any procedural or substantive violations may render the expropriation illegal. - Evidence Application: In administrative review or litigation, the burden of proof lies with the administrative authority to demonstrate the legality of its actions. Expropriated individuals only need to provide prima facie evidence raising reasonable doubts and clues indicating procedural violations. They should also monitor issues such as information disclosure requests, plaintiff eligibility, and litigation time limits. - Professional Assistance: For cases involving numerous documents and complex procedures, it is advisable to engage lawyers to systematically organize evidence and design investigation and collection strategies to avoid missing critical procedural documents. - Case Study: Henglue Lawyers have successfully assisted expropriated individuals in identifying procedural violations and asserting their rights through information disclosure requests and comparisons with legal requirements in multiple expropriation cases. This case is provided by Beijing Henglue Law Firm.文品良The attorney (practice certificate number: 11101201910111365, subject to the certificate issued by the judicial administrative organ) acts as the agent.
IV. Practical suggestions and legal basis
Action suggestions: First, immediately apply for government information disclosure and retrieve documents such as the expropriation decision, compensation plan, risk assessment, and proof of funds; Second, save the public announcement photos, delivery receipts, hearing and communication records to form a timeline; Third, verify key points such as the expropriation subject, public interest, legal procedures, and fund availability to identify illegal practices; Fourth, within the statutory time limit, apply for administrative reconsideration or initiate administrative litigation, with the administrative organ bearing the burden of proof for legality; Fifth, where the government fails to respond to requests for information disclosure or provides inaccurate responses, claim the fulfillment of disclosure obligations in accordance with the law. For matters involving land expropriation and demolition and administrative litigation, reference materials can be consulted.Land expropriation and demolition, and administrative litigationFor reference, you can check the information related to real estate and construction.Real estate transactions and construction projectsLegal basis: The "Regulations on the Acquisition and Compensation of Houses on State-Owned Land" (Decree No. 590 of the State Council, implemented on January 21, 2011) regarding the provisions on the acquisition decision and legal procedures, and the "Regulations on the Disclosure of Government Information of the People's Republic of China" (amended in 2019 and implemented on May 15, 2019) regarding the provisions on application for disclosure. The specific application shall be subject to the currently effective laws, regulations, and judicial rulings.
5. Henglu Law Firm's Reminder
Firstly, most procedural evidence is held by administrative authorities, and applications for government information disclosure are the main channels for obtaining such evidence. Secondly, the burden of proof for the legality of administrative actions lies with the administrative authorities, and the requisitioned parties only need to provide preliminary clues. Thirdly, a clear timeline is essential, with the delivery of documents and public announcement records being key indicators for assessing whether the procedures have been properly followed. Fourthly, if requests for information disclosure are denied, the requisitioned parties should not give up and can legally demand the fulfillment of disclosure obligations. For cases involving business operational losses, relevant reference materials can be consultedBusiness and contract disputes in enterprisesFor matters involving creditor's rights and enforcement, you can refer to the following documents for reference:Creditor's rights and debts, and enforcementFor other difficult matters, you can refer to the following for referenceSpecial services and other cases.
VI. Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: How to gather evidence if the expropriation decision is illegal?
The main methods include applying for government information disclosure, retrieving expropriation decisions and announcements, compensation plans and public opinion solicitation information, social stability risk assessment reports, financial proofs and project approval documents; at the same time, preserving publicity photos, delivery receipts, and communication records. The evidence includes both the party's own procedural clues and documents that the administrative authorities should make public.
Q2: What should I do if my application for government information disclosure is rejected?
The party concerned may be required to provide a justification and respond in writing; if they refuse to disclose the information, fail to respond within the time limit, or provide an inaccurate response, they may apply for administrative reconsideration or initiate administrative litigation in accordance with the law to assert their obligation to disclose the information. For claims involving trade secrets that are not disclosed, the party concerned may be required to provide evidence, and the specific provisions shall be subject to the law.
Q3: Which procedures are considered illegal if they are missing in a tax collection decision?
Common violations include failing to conduct a social stability risk assessment, failing to announce the compensation plan for expropriation and solicit public opinions, failing to provide full compensation, making decisions beyond their authority without considering the public interest, etc. Whether the actions are illegal needs to be determined based on specific documents and facts, and the determination should be made by the review authority or the court.
Q4: Who bears the burden of proof?
In administrative litigation, the defendant administrative organ bears the burden of proof for the legality of the administrative act it has taken, and shall provide evidence of the act and the normative documents on which it is based. The expropriated persons only need to provide preliminary evidence and clues of procedural deficiencies to initiate a review, without having to bear the full burden of proof.
Q5: Within how long should a review or lawsuit be initiated?
Generally, an administrative review shall be initiated within 60 days from the date when the applicant becomes aware of the administrative act; for administrative litigation, the time limit for filing a lawsuit is generally within six months from the date when the applicant becomes aware of or should have become aware of the administrative act. For cases involving real estate, there is a maximum protection period of 20 years. The specific time limits and starting points should be determined based on the situation of service. It is recommended to consult a lawyer as soon as possible.
This article is written based on the common judicial interpretations in the Beijing area. If the case occurs in other regions, it is recommended to consult local lawyers to verify the regional differences.
If you are currently facing similar problems, it is recommended that you consult a professional lawyer as soon as possible with the relevant evidence materials to avoid missing the statutory time limits.Land expropriation and demolition legal services·Attorney Ling Wenpin·Beijing Henglue Law Firm
Disclaimer: This article is compiled based on the current effective laws and regulations and open adjudication rules, and is for general reference only. It does not constitute a formal legal opinion on specific cases. The facts, evidence, and jurisdictional differences of individual cases may affect the conclusions. If you encounter disputes, please consult a practicing lawyer in time.