By TIOL News Service

NEW DELHI, SEP 20, 2024: ON September 18, 2024, the Department of Legal Affairs, Ministry of Law and Justice, participated in the BRICS Ministers of Justice Meeting via video conferencing. The Indian delegation was led by Dr. Anju Rathi Rana, Additional Secretary of the Department of Legal Affairs. Representatives from the Department of Justice, the Legislative Department, and the Ministry of External Affairs were also present.

In her address, Dr. Rana invited attention of the participants to the evolution of India's legal landscape and the country's significant achievements in the legal sector. She reaffirmed the Ministry of Law and Justice's role as the central agency overseeing India's legal system, which has introduced transformative reforms and initiatives aimed at reshaping the legal framework and fostering collaboration within the BRICS community.

Emphasis was placed on the focus of the Ministry on improving legal infrastructure and enhancing the delivery of justice, particularly through Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms to the litigants and citizens. The enactment of the Mediation Act as a landmark reform that provides a structured, cost-effective way to resolve disputes while preserving relationships was highlighted. The potential of the Mediation Act, for BRICS Nations, where ADR is increasingly recognized as a vital tool for reducing judicial burdens and providing timely, equitable conflict resolution, was underscored.

The speech also put forth the government's efforts to reform litigation processes by addressing case backlogs and improving the state's role as a responsible litigant. These reforms, aimed at streamlining government litigation, are highly relevant for the BRICS community, where shared experiences can lead to innovative solutions for reducing delays and building efficient legal systems.

Further, special emphasis was placed by Dr. Rana on the Administrative Mechanism for Resolution of CPSEs Disputes (AMRCD) in the domestic set up, highlighting it as an effective tool for resolving commercial disputes, without taking recourse to litigation.

The other participating countries such as Brazil, Egypt, Iran and United Arab Emirates highlighted the importance of forums like this to enhance legal cooperation, not only among the governments of BRICS member nations but also in addressing broader human rights concerns that impact the large populations within these countries. The Ministers of Justice from China, Russia, and South Africa underscored the potential of such cooperation in fostering a more equitable global order, strengthening people-to-people connections, advancing the sustainable development agenda, and upholding the rule of law. They also stressed that emerging challenges in areas such as cyber security, the misuse of AI, and extradition issues could be effectively tackled through collaboration rooted in the principles of justice and law.