Judicial Interpretation of the Justiciability of Internal Administrative Replies —Based on the Case of Shanghai Shangjin Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. v. Shanghai Municipal Drug Administration for the Cancellation of the Administrative Reply
On February 25, 2019, Shanghai Shangjin Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. filed an administrative lawsuit with the Pudong New Area People's Court of Shanghai, alleging that the reply issued byShanghai Municipal Drug Administration to Market Supervision Bureau of Jinshan District in Shanghai had acquired external legal effect and severely infringed upon its own legitimate rights and interests. The company sought a court order to revoke the contested reply according to law. After first-instance and second-instance trials, the appellate court, in its review, further ascertained relevant facts and specifically elucidated the external effects of internal administrative replies, ultimately ruling to uphold the original judgment and dismiss the plaintiff ’s lawsuit. The case involves key aspects of administrative law, including the clear definition of the administrative reply, the internal versus external nature of administrative act, and the justiciability of administrative replies. The choices made by administrative counterparts, the facilitation of administrative legal relationships, and the impact on the substantial rights and obligations of the parties are all related to the justiciability of internal administrative replies.