Indian jurist Bimal Patel has taken oath as a judge of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea in Hamburg…reports Asian Lite News Desk
Indian international jurist Bimal Patel has been sworn in as a judge of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS), beginning a nine-year term at the maritime law tribunal in Hamburg.
Patel took the oath of office on Thursday, succeeding Neeru Chadha, whose term ended on Wednesday. His appointment continues India’s representation on the tribunal, which adjudicates disputes concerning the seas and oceans and interprets international maritime law.
Patel was elected to the tribunal last year by countries that have acceded to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). He secured 115 of the 168 valid votes cast in the election held at the United Nations headquarters in New York.
At the time of his election, Patel was a member of the UN International Law Commission and vice chancellor of Rashtriya Raksha University in Gujarat. He has also served in several other positions, including as a member of the National Security Advisory Board of the National Security Council Secretariat.
The ITLOS was established under UNCLOS, the 1982 international convention that sets out the legal framework governing the world’s oceans and seas. The tribunal is an independent judicial body headquartered in Hamburg.
A total of 172 countries have acceded to UNCLOS, which provides the legal basis for the tribunal’s jurisdiction over maritime disputes and other matters related to the law of the sea.
The tribunal comprises 21 judges, with its membership structured to reflect equitable geographical representation. Judges serve staggered nine-year terms, with elections held periodically to fill vacancies.
Patel was among five judges sworn in at the tribunal this week. The other four are Sylvia Ama Adusu of Ghana, George Rodrigo Bandeira Galindo of Brazil, Slim Laghmani of Tunisia and Lan-Anh Thi Nguyen of Viet Nam.
Patel holds PhDs in international law from Leiden University in the Netherlands and Jaipur National University. His academic and professional career has focused on international law, national security and strategic affairs.
His appointment comes as India continues its participation in international institutions dealing with maritime law and the interpretation of UNCLOS.
ITLOS hears disputes submitted by states and other entities covered by its jurisdiction and provides judicial interpretations of provisions of UNCLOS.
