Overcoming shortcomings in handling petitions for land recovery and compensation

Chief Inspector of the province Vi Van Suu proposed strengthening leadership and direction solutions to implement policies and laws on land and compensation for land acquisition and clearance to limit petitions and complaints from citizens. Photo: Thanh Le

From 2016 to June 2018, the Provincial Inspectorate received 218 complaints, denunciations and petitions from citizens, of which 130 were related to land. The total number of complaints, denunciations and petitions reflecting land disputes arising at the Provincial Inspectorate was 1,019.

Of these, there were 238 complaints, 204 denunciations, 519 petitions, and 58 land disputes. The Provincial Inspectorate forwarded 150 petitions to the competent authorities, returned 71 petitions, and directed citizens to the competent authorities. It also kept 798 petitions due to duplication, unknown addresses, and anonymity, and provided guidance and responses to citizens.

The Provincial Inspectorate has advised on the settlement of 11 complaints and denunciations (10 cases have been completed, 1 case is being settled) under the authority of the Provincial People's Committee; carried out 77 inspections and reviews proposed by district and sector levels; carried out 155 other tasks related to complaints and denunciations, etc.

Deputy Chief of the Provincial National Assembly Office Tran Nhat Minh spoke at the meeting. Photo: Thanh Le

Mr. Vi Van Suu - Chief Inspector of the province reflected that the Law on Citizen Reception and the Law on Organization of Local Government still have overlaps. Specifically, the Law on Citizen Reception requires the Chairman of the People's Committee of the district and province to directly receive citizens, but the Law on Organization of Local Government, which was issued later, stipulates that the Chairman of the district and province can authorize the Vice Chairmen to handle the matter. The Provincial National Assembly Delegation proposed that the National Assembly amend the regulations on citizen reception to be consistent.

The representative of the Provincial Inspectorate explained and clarified the content of the monitoring delegation's concerns. Photo: Thanh Le

The head of the Provincial Inspectorate recommended: Complaints and petitions related to land and compensation for land acquisition and clearance currently account for a high proportion of the contents of complaints and petitions from citizens. Therefore, it is recommended that the Provincial Delegation of National Assembly Deputies propose that the National Assembly Standing Committee and the Government issue legal documents and guidelines for implementation, and at the same time propose solutions to strengthen leadership and direction in implementing policies and laws on land and compensation for land acquisition and clearance to limit petitions and complaints from citizens.

The provincial inspectorate reported shortcomings in the inspection work related to land acquisition, with no photos to determine the current status, so there was no basis for work. It is recommended that the National Assembly supplement regulations on the requirement of photos of the current status in land acquisition and compensation for site clearance to have a basis for resolution, making it easier for future inspections.

Working scene. Photo: Thanh Le

Appreciating the work of receiving people and handling complaints and denunciations of the Provincial Inspectorate, Deputy Head of the Provincial National Assembly Delegation Tran Van Mao suggested that in the coming time, the Provincial Inspectorate should proactively advise the Provincial People's Committee to issue documents on handling complaints and denunciations.

Promoting its functional role, the Provincial Inspectorate needs to resolutely advise the Provincial People's Committee to resolve outstanding, prolonged, and complicated cases, avoid hot spots, ensure security, social order and safety; coordinate well with the sectors to do a good job of resolving land acquisition petitions.

At the same time, do a good job of propagating and disseminating the law to the people, increase dialogue with citizens to reduce petitions, complaints, etc.