Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant described the Supreme Court-hosted BRICS Chief Justices' Forum as a modern fabric woven with traditional threads, with a shared quest to seek solutions that serve humanity. According to reports from Business Standard, CJI Kant emphasized that the delegates are not merely a collection of jurisdictions but a fellowship of judicial minds bound together by the shared belief that enduring values of justice can meet dynamic challenges of their time.
Highlighting the importance of judicial cooperation in constructing coordinated bilateral cooperation, CJI Kant proposed building a common platform for arbitration and mediation to tackle international commercial disputes. As reported by the Supreme Court, Friday's bilateral discussions centered around MoUs for judicial cooperation to strengthen relations between countries, the importance of mediation and arbitration in resolving business and corporate disputes, and creating a healthy environment for commercial activities between nations. The CJI emphasized that efficient commercial courts are essential for enhancing trust of foreign investors. During the forum, CJI Kant also discussed technology advancement integration for increasing judicial efficiency, especially through AI integration, and the requirement of efficient commercial courts to enhance foreign investor trust. The discussions also covered possibilities of mutual recognition of judicial awards and decrees and use of state institutions like the National Judicial Academy, Bhopal, for professional exchange programmes.
The three-day forum, hosted by the Supreme Court of India from September 4 to 6, provided a comprehensive platform for dialogue among participating judiciaries. CJI Kant held bilateral meetings with key judicial leaders including 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 Egypt's Supreme Constitutional Court; and Sunarto, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Indonesia. The CJI also met with 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 Uzbekistan's Supreme Court. The forum also included discussions on exchange of best legal practices from different countries, the need for bilateral conferences on laws on contemporary issues, and enhancing people-to-people ties through expeditious judicial processes. The bilateral meetings provided opportunities for direct interaction and exchange of views on matters of mutual judicial interest, with the Supreme Court stating that these discussions will further strengthen engagement among participating judiciaries.
The forum brought together judicial leaders representing BRICS member states and partner countries, including Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, South Africa and UAE, along with partner countries including Belarus, Bolivia, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Thailand, Uganda and Uzbekistan. As reported by the Supreme Court, CJI Kant addressed the delegates as guardians of constitutional principles and interpreters of their countries' highest ideals, emphasizing their role in inscribing a new chapter in international legal cooperation. The forum will continue on the second day with heads of delegations from BRICS member states and partner countries addressing the forum and sharing perspectives on common judicial interests, with discussions focusing on contemporary issues relating to justice delivery, international dispute resolution, technology and sustainable development.
