Japan Press Weekly

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2013 February 27 - March 5 [WELFARE]

City gives up challenging court ruling on illegality of turning away welfare assistance applicants

Saitama’s Misato City government on March 4 announced its decision to not appeal to a higher court the February 20 Saitama District Court ruling that the city’s denial of application by plaintiffs for welfare assistance was illegal. With this decision, the ruling has become final.

Following the city government announcement, plaintiffs’ lawyer Nakayama Fukuji said, “I hope that the city administrators will reflect on what the ruling points out and take measures to prevent any recurrence of similar cases.”

A plaintiffs’ support group on the same day made representations to the municipal office, urging it to implement welfare policies by taking into account the court judgment. The group had submitted to the municipality 9,000 signatures in support of a petition demanding that it not challenge the ruling.

The lawsuit was filed in 2007 by a married couple, who used to live in Misato City, claiming that the city infringed on their right to apply for welfare.

The Misato City government repeatedly denied the couple’s application for welfare benefits for 18 months since January 2005. With the lawyer’s help, the couple in June 2006 succeeded in receiving benefit payments. Two months later, however, they were instructed by the city government to relocate to Tokyo and not apply for public assistance at any municipality to which they relocated.

Related past article:
> Court finds denial of application for welfare assistance to be illegal