Abstract
Judicial control of administrative acts of omission is indispensable for ensuring sustainable development. Despite advancements of environmental legislation, deficient implementation is a serious problem in many countries. This issue grows in importance, especially because in the field of environmental law the executive branch is usually given considerable discretion as to how and when to exercise its regulatory power. This article analyses recent developments in case law on judicial control of administrative acts of omission in Japan. State liability cases and mandamus cases are typical measures for challenging omissions of public authorities. Recently, State liability lawsuits, such as Minamata and asbestos cases, have proven to be an effective measure to challenge the non-use of the regulatory power. Although such kind of lawsuit is a direct measure to compensate the victims, it also plays an important role as an indirect measure to push the government to exercise its regulatory power. The mandamus action is more a direct measure to control illegal failures. It is a new type of administrative litigation expected to demonstrate more effectiveness in the future.
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Notes
- 1.
Act No. 139 of 16 May 1962, latest revision: Act No. 59 of 17 July 2015. The text of the 2007 law is available in English at http://www.env.go.jp/en/laws/policy/basic/index.html (last accessed on 15 June 2015).
- 2.
Constitution of 3 November 1946. The text is available in English at http://www.env.go.jp/en/laws/policy/basic/index.html (last accessed on 15 June 2015).
- 3.
Act on the Settlement of Environmental Pollution Disputes, Act No. 108 of 1 June 1970, latest revision: Act No. 69 of 13 June 2014. The text of the 2007 law is available in English at http://www.env.go.jp/en/laws/policy/basic/index.html (last accessed on 15 June 2015).
- 4.
Act No. 109 of 26 June 1996, latest revision: Act No. 30 of 8 May 2012. The text of the 2011 law is available in English at http://www.env.go.jp/en/laws/policy/basic/index.html (last accessed on 15 June 2015).
- 5.
Act No. 89 of 27 April 1896, latest revision: Act No. 94 of 11 December 2013. The text of the 2006 law is available in English at http://www.env.go.jp/en/laws/policy/basic/index.html (last accessed on 15 June 2015).
- 6.
Act No. 125 of 27 October 1947. The text is available in English at http://www.env.go.jp/en/laws/policy/basic/index.html (last accessed on 15 June 2015).
- 7.
Act No. 67 of 17 April 1947, latest revision: Act No. 50 of 26 June 2015.
- 8.
For example, Awase Wetland case. See Naha Branch, Fukuoka High Court 15 October 2009, Hanrei Jiho No. 2066, 3.
- 9.
Supreme Court 24 November 1989, Minshu Vol. 43, No. 10, 1169, Supreme Court 23 June 1995, Minshu Vol. 49, No. 6, 1600.
- 10.
Ibid.
- 11.
Supreme Court 27 April 2004, Minshu Vol.58, No. 4, 1032. The judgement is available in English at http://www.courts.go.jp/app/hanrei_en/detail?id=696 (last accessed on 15 June 2015).
- 12.
Act No. 70 of 16 May 1949, latest revision: Act No. 69 of 13 June 2014.
- 13.
Kumamoto District Court 20 March 1973, Hanrei Jiho No. 696, 15.
- 14.
Supreme Court 15 October 2004, Minshu Vol. 58, No. 7, 1802. The judgement is available in English at http://www.courts.go.jp/app/hanrei_en/detail?id=1260 (last accessed on 15 June 2015).
- 15.
Act No. 49 of 7 April 1947, latest revision: Act No. 31 of 29 May 2015. The text of the 2012 law is available in English at http://www.env.go.jp/en/laws/policy/basic/index.html (last accessed on 15 June 2015).
- 16.
Act No. 57 of 8 June 1972, latest revision: Act No. 82 of 25 June 2014. The text of the 2006 law is available in English at http://www.env.go.jp/en/laws/policy/basic/index.html (last accessed on 15 June 2015).
- 17.
Act No. 4 of 10 February 2006, latest revision: Act No. 69 of 13 June 2014. The text of the 2006 law is available in English at http://www.env.go.jp/en/laws/policy/basic/index.html (last accessed on 15 June 2015).
- 18.
Osaka District Court 19 May 2010, Hanrei Jiho No. 2093, 3.
- 19.
Osaka High Court 25 August 2011, Hanrei Jiho No. 2135, 60.
- 20.
Osaka District Court 28 March 2012, Hanrei Times No. 1386, 117.
- 21.
Osaka High Court 25 December 2013, Minshu Vol. 68, No. 8, 900.
- 22.
Supreme Court 9 October 2014, Minshu Vol. 68, No. 8, 799. The judgement is available in English at http://www.courts.go.jp/app/hanrei_en/detail?id=1296 (last accessed on 15 June 2015).
- 23.
Supreme Court 9 October 2014, Hanrei Jiho No. 2241, 13.
- 24.
Act No. 111 of 5 October 1973, latest revision: Act No. 69 of 13 June 2014.
- 25.
Fukuoka High Court 27 February 2012, Shomu Geppo Vol. 59, No. 2, 209.
- 26.
Supreme Court 16 April 2013, Hanrei Jiho No. 2188, 42. See also another Judgement in the Osaka Minamata mandamus case on the same day, Supreme Court 16 April 2013, Minshu Vol. 67, No. 4, 1115. The latter judgement is available in English at http://www.courts.go.jp/app/hanrei_en/detail?id=1197 (last accessed on 15 June 2015).
- 27.
For example, Sendai District Court 28 February 1992, Hanrei Jiho No. 1429, 109.
- 28.
Fukuoka High Court 7 February 2011, Hanrei Jiho No. 2122, 45.
- 29.
Supreme Court 3 July 2012, LEX/DB25482345.
- 30.
Supreme Court 16 December 1981, Minshu Vol. 35, No. 10, 1369. The judgement is available in English at http://www.courts.go.jp/app/hanrei_en/detail?id=66 (last accessed on 15 June 2015).
- 31.
Ibid.
- 32.
For example, Kobe District Court 31 January 2000, Hanrei Jiho No. 1726, 20.
- 33.
For example, Supreme Court 25 February 1993, Shomu Geppo Vol. 40, No. 3, 452.
- 34.
Yokohama District Court 21 May 2014, LEX/DB 25446437.
- 35.
Act No. 88 of 12 November 1993, latest revision: Act No. 69 of 13 June 2014. The text of the 2005 law is available in English at http://www.env.go.jp/en/laws/policy/basic/index.html (last accessed on 15 June 2015).
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Okubo, N. (2016). Judicial Control Over Acts of Administrative Omission: Environmental Rule of Law and Recent Case Law in Japan. In: Mauerhofer, V. (eds) Legal Aspects of Sustainable Development. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-26021-1_10
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