CJI Surya Kant proposes a common arbitration platform as BRICS judicial leaders meet in Delhi

Chief Justice of India Surya Kant on Friday proposed creating a common platform for arbitration and mediation to resolve international commercial disputes as the BRICS Chief Justices’ Forum began in New Delhi, bringing together senior judicial leaders from member states and partner countries.

The Supreme Court of India is hosting the three-day forum from September 4 to 6. On the opening day, CJI Surya Kant held bilateral meetings with heads of judicial delegations from Russia, China, Egypt, Indonesia, the UAE, Belarus, Kazakhstan, South Africa, Iran and Uzbekistan, with discussions focusing on strengthening judicial cooperation and exchanging best practices.

Commercial disputes in focus

The bilateral discussions covered cooperation through memoranda of understanding, the role of mediation and arbitration in resolving business and corporate disputes, efficient commercial courts and the possibility of mutual recognition of judicial awards and decrees. The meetings also explored professional exchange programmes through institutions such as the National Judicial Academy in Bhopal.

The CJI underlined the judiciary’s role in strengthening bilateral cooperation and proposed a common arbitration and mediation platform to address commercial disputes. Discussions also covered the use of technological advances, particularly artificial intelligence, to improve judicial efficiency, as well as greater exchanges on contemporary legal issues.

Among those who met Justice Surya Kant were Russian Supreme Court Chief Justice Igor Krasnov, Chinese Chief Justice and Supreme People’s Court President Zhang Jun, Egyptian Supreme Constitutional Court Chief Justice Boulos Gahmy Iskander Boulos and Indonesian Supreme Court Chief Justice Sunarto. Judicial leaders from the UAE, Belarus, Kazakhstan, South Africa, Iran and Uzbekistan also held meetings with the CJI.

AI, sustainability on agenda

The forum’s substantive deliberations are centred on four broad areas — mediation in international commercial disputes, cross-border enforcement of arbitral awards, artificial intelligence and the judiciary, and judicial leadership in advancing sustainable development.

Judicial leaders from Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, South Africa and the UAE are participating. Partner countries represented at the gathering include Belarus, Bolivia, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Thailand, Uganda and Uzbekistan.

Heads of delegations from participating countries are scheduled to address the forum on its second day and present their perspectives on issues confronting judicial institutions. The gathering is aimed at strengthening dialogue between judiciaries while developing greater cooperation on emerging challenges in justice delivery and international dispute resolution.