Jaishankar congratulates Prof Bimal Patel on election as ITLOS judge

New Delhi [India], August 11 (ANI): External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday met Bimal N Patel and extended his felicitations on his recent election as a Judge of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS).

"Glad to meet Prof Dr Bimal N Patel today. Congratulated him on his recent election as a Judge of the International Tribunal of the Law of the Sea. Wished him the best for a successful tenure," EAM Jaishankar wrote on X.

Patel secured his position through a vote among states parties to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and is scheduled to assume his responsibilities at the judicial body in September.

His successful candidacy guarantees sustained Indian representation at ITLOS as Neeru Chadha completes her nine-year tenure in September, where she presently serves as Vice President.

An eminent international jurist, Patel is currently a member of the UN's International Law Commission alongside his role as Vice Chancellor of the Rashtriya Raksha University in Gujarat.

His administrative profile also includes a tenure on the National Security Advisory Board within the National Security Council Secretariat.

Highlighting the diplomatic significance of the development, India's UN Mission noted on X that his "election takes forward India's enduring commitment to multilateralism and Law of the Sea".

The voting process was conducted during the thirty-sixth meeting of States Parties to the Law of the Sea Convention.

Headquartered in Hamburg, Germany, the 21-judge tribunal is tasked with adjudicating maritime disputes and interpreting global ocean law frameworks. (ANI)

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