Administrative Appeals Act

General law on administrative appeals. Law No. 160 of 1962. It provides for simple and quick relief procedures for administrative agency dispositions and other actions that involve the exercise of public power. Administrative appeals are different from administrative litigation, which seeks relief in court, in that they are appeals against administrative agencies, and from pre-procedures such as notices and hearings, which hear the side of the disposition before the disposition, in that they are ex post facto relief procedures after an administrative disposition has been made. The matters subject to appeal are so-called general generality, and in principle, all administrative dispositions and other public power activities that directly infringe on the legal interests of the people are subject to appeals. There are two types of appeals: objections to the dispositional or inaction agency, and requests for review against other administrative agencies. In principle, the latter is used when the dispositional agency has a higher administrative agency. In addition, there are cases where a request for re-examination can be made. In principle, requests for review and objections must be made within 60 days of learning of the disposition. While the hearing procedure is based on the principle of written review, if requested by the appellant, an opportunity to express opinions orally must be given. The appellant is also granted the right to submit a written rebuttal after reviewing the written explanation of the disposition agency, and furthermore, has the right to submit documentary evidence and other evidence. The progress of the hearing is more of an official system, unlike civil litigation, which is based on the principle of the parties proceeding first. The decision in the appeal review cannot change the disposition to the appellant's disadvantage (principle of prohibition of changes to the disadvantage). The rules for filing appeals under this law are complex and there are many exceptions, and many people miss the opportunity for relief by misunderstanding the rules. Therefore, when an administrative agency makes a written decision that allows appeals, it is required to inform the other party that they may file an appeal, the administrative agency to which they should file the appeal, and the period during which they may file the appeal.

[Yasuhito Abe]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

行政上の不服申立てに関する一般法。昭和37年法律第160号。行政庁の処分その他公権力の行使にあたる行為について簡易迅速な救済手続を定める。行政不服審査は行政庁に対する不服申立てである点で、裁判所に救済を求める行政訴訟と区別され、また、行政処分がなされた後の事後救済手続である点で、処分前に被処分者等の言い分を聴く告知、聴聞等の事前手続と区別される。不服申立て事項はいわゆる一般概括主義で、国民の法律上の利益を直接に侵害する行政処分その他の公権力活動はすべて不服審査の対象となるのが原則である。不服申立ての種類は、処分庁または不作為庁に対する異議申立てと、それ以外の行政庁に対する審査請求があり、処分庁に上級行政庁があるときには後者を原則とする。さらに再審査請求ができる場合がある。審査請求や異議申立ては処分を知ってから60日以内にしなければならないのが原則である。審理手続は書面審理主義を原則としつつ、不服申立人からの請求があれば、かならず口頭で意見を述べる機会を与えなければならない。また、不服申立人には処分庁の弁明書をみて、これに対し反論書を提出する権利が認められ、さらに、証拠書類、証拠物を提出する権利がある。審理の進行については、当事者進行主義をとる民事訴訟と異なり職権主義的色彩が濃い。不服審査の裁決では不服申立人の不利益に当該処分を変更することはできない（不利益変更禁止の原則）。本法の不服申立てルールは複雑で例外も多く、ルールを見誤って救済の機会を失う者が少なくない。そこで行政庁は、不服申立てをすることができる処分を書面でする場合には、処分の相手方に対し、不服申立てをすることができる旨、不服申立てをすべき行政庁、不服申立てをすることができる期間を教示しなければならないとされている。

［阿部泰隆］

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