CJI Surya Kant Proposes Common BRICS Platform For Arbitration, Mediation To Resolve Commercial Disputes

Addressing the BRICS Chief Justices’ Forum being hosted by the Supreme Court, CJI Kant highlighted the role of judiciaries in strengthening coordinated bilateral cooperation and enhancing ties between participating countries.

The three-day Forum brings together Chief Justices, Presidents of Supreme Courts and senior judicial leaders from BRICS member states and partner countries.

On the opening day, CJI Kant held bilateral meetings with heads of judicial delegations from Russia, China, Egypt, Indonesia, the UAE, Belarus, Kazakhstan, South Africa, Iran and Uzbekistan.

The discussions focused on strengthening judicial cooperation through Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs), promoting mediation and arbitration for business and corporate disputes, and creating a conducive environment for commercial activities between participating countries.

The judicial leaders also discussed the need for efficient commercial courts to enhance foreign investor confidence, possibilities of mutual recognition of judicial awards and decrees, and professional exchange programmes through institutions such as the National Judicial Academy, Bhopal.

During the meetings, CJI Kant also emphasised the importance of exchanging best legal practices and holding bilateral conferences on contemporary legal issues.

The discussions further covered the integration of technology to improve judicial efficiency, particularly through artificial intelligence (AI), as well as strengthening people-to-people ties through expeditious judicial processes.

Among the judicial leaders who met CJI Kant were 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.

Other judicial leaders included 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 is being attended by judicial leaders representing BRICS member states including Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, South Africa and the UAE, along with partner countries including Belarus, Bolivia, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Thailand, Uganda and Uzbekistan.

On the second day, heads of delegations from BRICS member states and partner countries are scheduled to address the Forum and share their perspectives on issues of common interest to judicial institutions.

The Supreme Court said the bilateral meetings provided an opportunity for direct interaction and exchange of views on matters of mutual judicial interest and would further strengthen engagement among participating judiciaries.

Key Themes of the Forum

The substantive sessions of the Forum will focus on four important areas:

1. Mediation and International Commercial Disputes– examining mediation as a strategic mechanism for resolving international commercial disputes in a globalised economy;
2. Cross-Border Enforcement of Arbitral Awards- discussing challenges in enforcement and the prospects for greater procedural harmonisation;
3. Artificial Intelligence and the Judiciary- exploring digital innovation, Artificial Intelligence and the future of judicial administration; and
4. Judicial Leadership and Sustainable Development– considering the role of the judiciary in ecological governance and the advancement of sustainable energy systems.

The Forum is expected to encourage closer judicial dialogue, promote exchange of experiences and deepen cooperation among BRICS Member States and Partner Countries on emerging legal and institutional issues.