Courts want humane approach in demolitions

BEIJING - Local courts should deal with demolition cases with caution, and demolition work must stop if residents involved threaten to commit suicide, top court in China said on Friday.

Back in January, the State Council released regulations instructing local governments to apply for approval from the courts before carrying out demolition work.

However, the police are sometimes misused in forced demolitions, and residents involved have been wounded or killed. A spate of suicides - including self-immolation - and confrontations due to enforced demolition also have occurred in recent years, according to the statement released on the official website of the Supreme People's Court.