A judicial interpretation is under way to coordinate judicial rulings in duty dereliction cases, a move believed to address a tendency among judges in China to impose relatively light penalties on under performing officials.

Miao Youshui, vice-director of the second Criminal Tribunal of the Supreme People's Court, said the bylaw will set a standard for penalties applied to duty dereliction cases and, to some extent, will ease the tendency of imposing light penalties on those crimes.

He said the draft has been discussed and passed by the criminal committee of the top court, although he did not indicate when the review will come into effect.

Miao made the remarks at a news conference on July 31.