sc-signs-mou-with-bhutan-apex-court-for-exchange-of-law-clerks

 

Chief Justice of India Surya Kant on Monday said that the Supreme Court has entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the apex court of Bhutan to facilitate the exchange of young legal professionals.

 

The CJI, at the outset of the proceedings, said that under the MoU, two law clerks from Bhutan will be engaged by the Supreme Court here for a period of three months.The clerks will receive the same honorarium as Indian law clerks, and their travel expenses will be borne by the Supreme Court, the CJI said. Introducing the law clerks to the packed courtroom, the CJI described them as “young and bright” and said they would be assigned to work in different courts during their tenure.

 

“We have entered into an MOU with the Supreme Court of Bhutan and on the basis of which there will be two law clerks who will be paid on the basis of our honorarium and will be there for period of three months, we will be taking care of their travelling, both will be working in different courts, both are very bright,” the CJI said.

 

 

The initiative is aimed at strengthening judicial cooperation and enhancing institutional ties between the two countries, he said.

Pertinently, the Supreme Court of India (SCI) facilitates international legal exchange through formal Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) signed with the apex courts of other nations to promote judicial cooperation.

 

As for Bhutan,an MoU with the Supreme Court of Bhutan allows for the exchange of young law clerks for a period of three months to work in different courts, with the SCI covering travel and honorarium expenses.With regard to Nepal a separate MoU has been signed with the Supreme Court of Nepal to enhance judicial cooperation, share information on legal developments and technology, and facilitate interaction among judges and officials.

 

India also participates in judicial exchange programs via institutions like the CEELI Institute, which involves training for Indian judges on transnational crimes and counter-terrorism in collaboration with the U.S. Federal Judicial Center. Beyond the apex court's direct initiatives, several prominent Indian law universities (such as the National Law School of India University and National Law University Delhi) have independent student and faculty exchange programs with numerous foreign universities.