BRICS Chief Justices’ Forum opens in Delhi as CJI Surya Kant holds bilateral talks

The BRICS Chief Justices’ Forum opened in New Delhi with India’s Chief Justice Surya Kant meeting judicial leaders from across the grouping and its partner countries.

The Supreme Court of India is hosting the forum from September 4 to 6. On its opening day, Surya Kant held bilateral talks with judicial heads from Russia, China, Egypt, Indonesia, the United Arab Emirates, Belarus, Kazakhstan, South Africa, Iran and Uzbekistan.

The discussions focused on practical cooperation between judicial systems. Topics included mediation and arbitration for commercial disputes, stronger commercial courts to improve investor confidence, and possible mutual recognition of judicial awards and decrees. The participants also discussed professional exchange programmes through institutions such as India’s National Judicial Academy, the sharing of legal practices and bilateral conferences on current legal issues.

Technology featured prominently in the talks, including the use of artificial intelligence to improve judicial efficiency. The leaders also discussed faster judicial processes as a way to strengthen ties between people in the participating countries. Surya Kant highlighted the judiciary’s role in building coordinated bilateral cooperation and proposed a common platform for commercial arbitration and mediation.

Among those meeting the Indian chief justice were Russian Supreme Court Chief Justice Igor Krasnov, Chinese Supreme People’s Court President Zhang Jun, Indonesian Supreme Court Chief Justice Sunarto, UAE Federal Supreme Court President Mohammed Hamad Al Badi Al Dhaheri and Belarus Supreme Court Chairman Andrei Shved. Representatives from Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, South Africa and the UAE, along with partner countries, are taking part in the meeting.