China News Service, Jinan, September 23 (Zhou Yiwei) Fu Guoqing, deputy secretary of the Party Leadership Group and Vice President of the Shandong Provincial Higher People's Court, said on the 23rd that Shandong courts accurately meet the goals and tasks of agricultural and rural modernization, and strive to promote high-quality and efficient agriculture, livable and workable villages, and prosperity for farmers. Since 2023, it has properly concluded 52,000 agricultural-related disputes in accordance with the law.
On the same day, the Shandong Provincial Higher People's Court held a press conference to report on Shandong's court services and work to ensure agricultural and rural modernization, and released typical cases.
Fu Guoqing introduced that Shandong courts strictly adhere to the red line of farmland protection and crack down on illegal occupation of agricultural land, illegal mining, soil pollution, destruction of agricultural production and other illegal and criminal activities in accordance with the law. Since 2023, the provincial courts have concluded 928 illegal and criminal cases of illegal occupation, illegal excavation, illegal mining and other damage to cultivated land resources in accordance with the law, resolutely curbing the "non-agriculturalization" and "non-grain conversion" of cultivated land.
At the same time, Shandong courts have increased their efforts to protect major agricultural scientific and technological achievements and new plant varieties with independent intellectual property rights. Since 2023, 665 new plant variety rights cases have been accepted, 539 cases have been concluded, and 6 cases have been selected as typical cases of judicial protection of intellectual property rights in the seed industry by the People's Court.
Fu Guoqing said that Shandong courts have also strengthened the judicial protection of scientific and technological achievements in agricultural machinery and equipment, improved the technical fact-finding mechanism, and created the first intelligent 3D evidence management system in the country to scan and model large-scale agricultural equipment such as seeders and fertilizer spreaders, effectively solving the problem of evidence storage for patent infringement litigation, and promoting the development of modern agricultural machinery and equipment and smart agriculture.
"Shandong courts prudently hear disputes involving the transfer of rural land management rights, and serve the scale, intensification, and modernization of land management. Since 2023, they have concluded 17,000 cases involving rural land contracting and transfer in accordance with the law." Fu Guoqing gave an example, which involved more than 1,100 acres. In the land lease dispute, the Zhoucun District People's Court of Zibo City adopted the "suspension of credit penalties + grace period" model, actively introduced cooperative enterprises, revitalized land and industrial resources, and promoted the implementation of the photovoltaic power generation industry while retaining the traditional planting industry, effectively safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of farmers.
Fu Guoqing said that since 2023, Shandong courts have concluded 2,194 cases involving new fishery farming, marine ranching, etc. in accordance with the law. In handling cases such as illegal fishing and marine environmental pollution, the provincial courts have explored including the loss of marine carbon sinks in the scope of ecological environment damage compensation, and guided illegal actors to bear alternative restoration responsibilities by subscribing to marine carbon sinks and participating in marine ecological restoration.
When hearing a dispute over a company's marine ranch platform construction contract, the Qingdao Maritime Court found that the marine ranch lacked acceptance rules and standards. It promptly sent judicial suggestions to the competent authorities, collaborated with the Shandong Provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs to improve the province's marine ranch management mechanism, and contributed judicial wisdom to the promulgation of the country's first local regulations on maritime ranches - the "Shandong Province Marine Ranch Regulations."
"Shandong courts regularly carry out the struggle against gangs and evil in rural areas, and have concluded criminal cases in accordance with the law in which criminals such as Bu Moubo have long relied on family clans to control grassroots power, illegally controlled rural resources, and severely damaged rural economic and social order." Fu Guoqing said that since 2023, the provincial courts have concluded 446 first-instance gang-related cases involving 2,436 people, and a group of "village tyrants" who harmed one party have been brought to justice.
At the same time, Shandong courts have regulated high-priced betrothal gifts in rural areas in accordance with the law. By clarifying the adjudication rules, they have guided the public to view the issue of betrothal gifts more rationally and classified betrothal gifts as "rituals." Since 2023, the provincial courts have tried 13,000 cases of marriage contract and property disputes, promoting the formation of a new trend of healthy, frugal and civilized marriages.
