Indian legal expert Bimal Patel has been elected as a judge of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS), marking a significant achievement for India on the global legal stage.
Patel currently serves as a member of the UN International Law Commission. He also chairs the Working Group Succession of States in Respect of State Responsibility and is the Vice-Chancellor of Rashtriya Raksha University, where he teaches public international law.
In addition, he is a member of the National Security Advisory Board under the National Security Council Secretariat.
Welcoming his election, India's Permanent Mission to the United Nations said Patel's appointment reflects India's long-standing commitment to multilateral cooperation and the principles of the Law of the Sea.
The mission also thanked member states for supporting India's candidature and appreciated all candidates who took part in the election process under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
Over a career spanning more than 30 years, Patel has built a strong reputation as an academic, legal scholar and administrator. He has previously served as Director of Gujarat National Law University and as a member of the 21st Law Commission of India.
As per his profile on the Rashtriya Raksha University website, Patel has also spent around 15 years working with international organisations, including the United Nations of Youth and the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) in The Hague, Netherlands.
ITLOS is an independent judicial body established under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. It deals with disputes related to the interpretation and implementation of the convention.
The tribunal hears cases involving maritime boundaries, navigation rights, protection of marine resources, conservation of sea life, environmental protection and marine scientific research.
ITLOS consists of 21 independent judges elected by the countries that are parties to the convention. Another Indian legal expert, Neeru Chadha, currently serves as the tribunal's Vice-President.
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