SPC releases typical cases involving disputes in campus management

In order to effectively fulfill the role of judicial adjudication in safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of minors, the Supreme People's Court has released six typical civil cases involving disputes in campus management.

The cases address issues concerning school responsibilities for student injuries, the boundaries of educational discipline, and parental supervision.

In one case where an eighth-grader hit other students during class break, the court handling the case found failure of the school to effectively fulfill its educational and management responsibilities and decided that the school should bear corresponding liability for the infringement of students’ rights. This judgment served as guidance for schools to fulfill their responsibilities.

The newly released cases also show support for schools to uphold normal teaching order and carry out reasonable disciplinary actions.

In three of the cases, the courts identified the entities that should bear liability for infringements of students’ rights and decided that the schools have fulfilled their educational and management responsibilities and therefore should not be held accountable in these cases. The judgments thereof effectively corrected the misunderstanding that "if a minor is injured at school, the school must be held responsible".

In another case, the court supported the school to appropriately discipline students in order to help them rectify their mistakes, thereby facilitating their healthy growth.

The typical cases also clarify the limits of parental oversight and urge cooperation between schools and parents to ensure minors' well-being.

One of the cases involved a parent who, dissatisfied with the school's educational management practices, used a social media platform to publish false and derogatory information against the school, which was widely viewed and shared. The court handling the case decided that the parent's behavior infringed upon the school's reputation and must bear corresponding civil liability.

The Law on the Protection of Minors establishes a comprehensive system for the protection of minors, encompassing the family, schools, society, the internet, government, and the judiciary, in response to increasing calls for enhanced protection of minors.

Courts nationwide will fully perform judicial functions, and continuously improve the quality and efficiency of juvenile-related adjudication, in order to enhance the protection of minors' lawful rights and interests and create a positive social and legal environment for their healthy growth.