Uzbekistan Strengthens Rules for Hearing Court Complaints

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev signed a law providing for amendments to legislation regarding the procedure for citizens and entrepreneurs appealing to economic and administrative courts. In particular, new rules have been established for the participation of administrative officials when reviewing complaints against their decisions, actions, or inaction.

The Code of Administrative Court Procedure has been supplemented with Article 148-1, which defines the consequences of the failure of an administrative body official or their representative to appear in a court session.

According to the new rule, when considering an application or complaint against a decision of an administrative body or against the action or inaction of its official, the participation of the relevant official or their representative in the court session becomes mandatory.

If the official or their representative fails to appear at the session, the consideration of the case must be postponed. Furthermore, the court is entitled to impose a judicial fine on the official if it deems the reason for non-appearance to be unjustified.

At the same time, the law provides for an exception. The court will be able to consider the case without the participation of the official or representative of the administrative body if it concludes that their absence does not prevent a comprehensive, full, and fair resolution of the case.

The new provisions apply to proceedings in which decisions of administrative bodies, as well as the actions or inaction of their officials, are appealed.