In a significant step towards deepening judicial diplomacy among emerging economies, the BRICS Chief Justices’ Forum opened in New Delhi today, bringing top judicial leaders from across the Global South onto a common platform for the first time on Indian soil.
The three-day Forum, being hosted by the Supreme Court of India from September 4 to 6, has drawn Chief Justices, Presidents of Supreme Courts and senior judges from BRICS Member States and Partner Countries.
The meet is aimed at building a framework for sustained judicial cooperation beyond traditional government-to-government channels. On the opening day, the focus was firmly on bilateral engagement.
Chief Justice of India Justice Surya Kant held a marathon series of one-on-one meetings with heads of judicial delegations in his chambers at the Supreme Court.
Those who called on the CJI today included Igor Krasnov, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation; Zhang Jun, Chief Justice of China and President of the Supreme People’s Court; Boulos Gahmy Iskander Boulos, Chief Justice of the Supreme Constitutional Court of Egypt; Prof. Dr. Sunarto, Chief Justice of Indonesia; Mohammed Hamad Al Badi Al Dhaheri, President of the UAE Federal Supreme Court; Andrei Shved, Chairman of the Supreme Court of Belarus; Aslambek Mergaliyev, Chairman of the Supreme Court of Kazakhstan; Mahube Betty Molemela, President of the Supreme Court of Appeal of South Africa; Ayatollah Gholam Hossein Mohseni-Eje’I, Chief Justice of Iran, and Malikakhon Kalandarova, Deputy Chairperson of the Supreme Court of Uzbekistan.
A Supreme Court press note said the discussions ranged far beyond protocol. At the heart of the talks were concrete proposals for signing MoUs for judicial cooperation, a move seen as crucial for strengthening legal ties between member nations. Justice Surya Kant underlined the pivotal role of the judiciary in constructing coordinated bilateral cooperation and enhancing overall ties.
He proposed building a common platform for Arbitration and Mediation to tackle commercial disputes — a proposal that found resonance among several delegations grappling with rising cross-border business litigation.
Other key themes that dominated the day-long parleys included the importance of mediation and arbitration in creating a healthy environment for commerce, the requirement for efficient commercial courts to boost the confidence of foreign investors, and the possibilities of mutual recognition of judicial awards and decrees.
Technology emerged as another major talking point.
The Indian side mooted integration of advanced technologies, especially Artificial Intelligence, to increase efficiency and reduce pendency, an issue common to almost all BRICS judiciaries.
The CJI also offered State institutions like the National Judicial Academy, Bhopal, for professional exchange programmes and training of judges and court administrators. Exchange of best legal practices, holding bilateral conferences on contemporary legal issues, and enhancing people-to-people ties through expeditious judicial processes were also discussed.
Officials said bilateral meetings were also held among other attending member countries and partner countries on the sidelines, indicating that the Forum is evolving into a hub for multi-lateral judicial networking.
Besides the ten leaders who met the CJI today, the Forum is being attended by judicial leaders representing Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, South Africa and UAE, along with Partner Countries including Belarus, Bolivia, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Thailand, Uganda and Uzbekistan.
The Chief Justice also met all delegates collectively later in the day. The Forum will continue over the next two days, with thematic sessions expected on access to justice, judicial technology and commercial dispute resolution.
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