Supreme Court hosts the 18th SCO Chief Justices Meeting in Delhi from March 10 to 12, fostering international judicial cooperation among member states.
India is set to host the 18th edition of the prestigious meeting of the Chief Justices of the Supreme Courts from the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) member states, marking a significant event in the realm of international judicial cooperation. Scheduled to take place from March 10 to 12 in the vibrant city of Delhi, this gathering aims to foster dialogue and collaboration among the judiciary of the SCO nations.
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The SCO, established in 2001 from the roots of the ‘Shanghai Five’, comprises Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, China, Russia, and Tajikistan, with the primary objective of building mutual trust, friendship, and neighborliness. It has since expanded to include India, Pakistan, and Uzbekistan, with Afghanistan, Belarus, Iran, and Mongolia as observer states and Armenia, Azerbaijan, Cambodia, and Nepal as dialogue partners. This diverse conglomerate of nations underscores the SCO’s commitment to facilitating effective cooperation across various sectors.
The upcoming meeting in Delhi is set to explore pivotal subjects crucial for the advancement of the judiciary in contemporary times. Deliberations will center on the notion of ‘Smart Courts’ and the trajectory of the judiciary in the future.
Additionally, strategies to augment ‘Access to Justice’ will be addressed, alongside tackling institutional challenges encompassing delays, infrastructure deficiencies, representation concerns, and the imperative for heightened transparency. These conversations hold immense significance for fostering a more adept and responsive judicial system throughout the member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).
A press release from India’s Supreme Court highlighted the meeting’s agenda, emphasizing the importance of judicial cooperation for the development of relations and the improvement of judiciary work among the SCO countries. The event will feature joint interactions among chief justices, judges, and chairpersons from the member and observer states, alongside representatives from the SCO secretariat. It will culminate in the signing of a joint statement, symbolizing the collective commitment to advancing judicial cooperation.
The significance of this meeting is further underscored by the statement,
“Meeting of the Presidents of the Supreme Courts allows for a constant dialogue on a wide range of issues, giving a new impetus to the development of relations and allowing the development of mechanisms for further improving the work of the judiciary.”
Since the first SCO meeting on September 22, 2006, in Shanghai, the collaboration among the Chief Justices of the Supreme Courts has emerged as a fundamental aspect of the organization’s distinctive cooperative practices. With India taking on the rotational presidency of the SCO in September 2022 under the Samarkand declaration, it is actively contributing to sustaining the tradition of judicial dialogue and cooperation within the organization.
The Chief Justice of India, DY Chandrachud, is expected to lead the Indian delegation at the SCO. Alongside other respected judges from the Supreme Court, their participation reflects India’s commitment to contributing meaningfully to the SCO’s goals and fostering collaborative judicial efforts for the benefit of all member states.
