What is citizen reception? Cases of refusal of citizen reception in Vietnam

What is citizen reception? Cases of refusal of citizen reception in Vietnam (Internet image)

1. What is citizen reception?

According to Clause 1, Article 2 of the Law on Reception of Citizen 2013, citizen reception means the reception by an agency or organization or a unit or person provided in Article 4 of this Law of a citizen to listen to and receive his/her complaint, denunciation, petition or report and gives him/her explanations and instructions on making complaints, denunciations, petitions or reports in accordance with law.

Citizen reception includes regular, periodical and irregular receptions of citizens.

2. Cases of refusal of citizen reception in Vietnam

According to Article 9 of the Law on Reception of Citizen 2013, a citizen reception officer may refuse to receive a person at a citizen reception place when:

- That person is drunk due to the use of stimulants or suffers a mental illness or another disease which deprives him/her of the capacity to perceive or control his/her acts.

- That person intimidates or offends the citizen reception agency, organization, unit or officer or other officials on duty, or violates the rules of the citizen reception place.

- That person makes a complaint or denunciation about a case which has been settled properly in accordance with policies and law and examined, reviewed and notified in writing by competent state agencies and he/she has been received and provided with explanations and instructions but deliberately makes the complaint or denunciation to prolong the case.

- Other cases as prescribed by law.

3. Responsibilities of a citizen reception officer in Vietnam

- When receiving citizens, to be properly dressed and wear the civil servant or public employee card or badge under regulations.

- To request persons making complaints, denunciations, petitions or reports to state their full names and addresses or produce their personal identity papers and letters of authorization (if any); clearly present their complaints, denunciations, petitions or reports in writing or verbally; and provide information and documents necessary for receiving and processing the matter.

- To show proper attitude toward and respect for citizens, to listen to and receive written complaints, denunciations, petitions or reports, or fully and precisely record the contents of the presented complaints, denunciations, petitions or reports.

- To give explanations and instructions for persons making complaints, denunciations, petitions or reports to observe guidelines, policies, laws, conclusions and legally effective settlement decisions of competent agencies; to refer persons making complaints, denunciations, petitions or reports to agencies or persons competent to settle their complaints, denunciations, petitions or reports.

- To directly process or classify, forward or submit to competent persons for settlement complaints, denunciations, petitions or reports; to notify results of settlement of complaints, denunciations, petitions or reports to citizens.

- To request violators of the rules of the citizen reception place to terminate their violations; when necessary, to make records of violations and request functional agencies to handle violations in accordance with law.

(Article 8 of the Law on Reception of Citizen 2013)

4. Responsibility for citizen reception in Vietnam

- State agencies responsible for receiving citizens include:

+ The Government;

+ Ministries, ministerial-level agencies; directorates and equivalent organizations; state management departments;

+ People’s Committees of all levels;

+ Specialized agencies of provincial-level People’s Committees; specialized agencies of district-level People’s Committees;

+ Agencies of the National Assembly;

+ People’s Councils of all levels;

+ People’s Courts, People’s Procuracies and State Audit Offices.

- National Assembly deputies and deputies of People’s Councils of all levels shall receive citizens in accordance with this Law and other relevant legal documents.

- Within the ambit of their functions, tasks and powers, political organizations, the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee, socio-political organizations, government-attached agencies and public non-business units shall receive citizens in conformity with the requirements, scope and characteristics of their operations.

Pursuant to Law on Reception of Citizen 2013, central agencies of political organizations, the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee and socio-political organizations shall prescribe citizen reception at agencies and organizations within their systems. The Government shall prescribe citizen reception at government-attached agencies and public non-business units.

(Article 4 of the Law on Reception of Citizen 2013)

Diem My

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