Chinese top judge Monday called on the country's courts to better protect the interests of the disadvantaged groups, such as farmers, farmers working in urban areas, poor citizens, women, children and other minors.

Xiao Yang, president of China's Supreme People's Court, issued the order while addressing a national conference attended by heads of the country's province-level courts.

He urged judges across the country to punish those found to have engaged in criminal activities damaging farming-related facilities and infrastructure, production and sales of fake and substandard seeds, farm chemicals and chemical fertilizers.

Xiao also called for efforts to pay more attention to cases involving farmland contracts and transfer of land-use rights to protect farmers' legitimate interests.

The country's courts were also ordered to hear cases concerning delayed payment of wages for farmers working in urban areas.

(Xinhua News Agency December 16, 2003)