CJI Surya Kant calls for healthy disagreement and deeper deliberation at the BRICS Chief Justices’ Forum in New Delhi, stressing timely justice, judicial cooperation, Artificial Intelligence, mediation, arbitration, sustainable development and stronger rule of law among member and partner nations.
Chief Justice of India Justice Surya Kant on Saturday called for a culture of healthy disagreement, open deliberation and deeper judicial cooperation among BRICS countries, stressing that timely and predictable delivery of justice remains essential for strengthening the rule of law and public confidence in legal institutions.
Addressing Heads of Delegations and delegates from BRICS member states and partner countries on the second day of the BRICS Chief Justices’ Forum in New Delhi, CJI Surya Kant drew inspiration from the ancient Nalanda University and said the BRICS platform should develop into a similar space for dialogue, intellectual exchange and cooperation despite differences in legal systems, political structures and philosophical traditions.
The three-day BRICS Chief Justices’ Forum, hosted by the Supreme Court of India from September 4 to 6, brought together judicial leaders from BRICS member states and partner countries to deliberate on contemporary challenges facing justice delivery, international judicial cooperation, commercial disputes, Artificial Intelligence and sustainable development.
Recalling the historical and global stature of Nalanda University, Justice Surya Kant said the ancient institution had welcomed students and scholars from different parts of the world without discrimination or unnecessary barriers.
He said the uniqueness of Nalanda lay in its ability to accommodate different schools of thought without demanding conformity to a single legal system, philosophy or intellectual approach.
“What made Nalanda University truly unique was that it never asked its scholars to first agree upon a Common System of Law or philosophy before it admitted them,” the CJI said.
Instead, he observed, Nalanda created a healthy and hospitable environment where disagreement and deliberation could flourish.
Drawing a parallel with the BRICS grouping, CJI Surya Kant said the judicial forum should similarly emerge as a platform where countries with diverse legal traditions can exchange ideas, learn from each other’s experiences and jointly address emerging challenges.
“BRICS should also be known as the living Nalanda University,” CJI Surya Kant said, underlining the importance of maintaining a space for constructive dialogue even when participating nations may not agree on every legal, institutional or philosophical issue.
The Chief Justice stressed that healthy disagreement should not be viewed as an obstacle to cooperation. Instead, he suggested that different perspectives, when discussed through dialogue and deliberation, can contribute to stronger institutions and more effective solutions to common challenges.
The second day of the Forum witnessed addresses by senior judicial leaders from Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates, along with representatives from partner countries including Belarus, Bolivia, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Thailand, Uganda and Uzbekistan.
The discussions reflected the growing importance of judicial cooperation in an increasingly interconnected world, particularly at a time when courts are dealing with technological transformation, cross-border commercial disputes, environmental concerns and evolving expectations regarding access to justice.
Luiz Edson Fachin, President of Brazil’s Supreme Federal Court, in a video-recorded address, called for greater international collaboration and multipolarity. He stressed the importance of international law during a period marked by global instability and transition and underlined the need to uphold the rule of law within the international order.
China’s Chief Justice and President of the Supreme People’s Court, Zhang Jun, highlighted judicial cooperation as an important contribution to the development and stability of member nations.
He called for solidarity and cooperation among BRICS member and partner states and stressed the importance of promoting rule-based international trade and commerce at a time of significant industrial and technological transformation.
Zhang Jun also spoke about the expanding role of Artificial Intelligence in judicial functioning and the increasing responsibility of courts in resolving cross-border commercial disputes.
He called for greater cooperation among different legal systems and said such engagement could contribute to the formation of what he described as a “world judicial civilisation”.
The growing influence of Artificial Intelligence emerged as one of the major themes during the Forum. Judicial leaders discussed the potential of digital technologies and AI to improve administrative efficiency, assist in legal research and support justice delivery.
At the same time, the discussions reflected the need for judicial systems to ensure that technological innovation remains consistent with principles of fairness, accountability, transparency and human oversight.
The Chief Justice of the Supreme Constitutional Court of Egypt, Boulos Fahmy Iskander Boulos, spoke about the importance of a free and fair legal system and the need for a common global voice on issues concerning justice and the rule of law.
Ethiopia’s Federal Supreme Court President Tewodros Meheret Kebede focused on Alternative Dispute Resolution mechanisms and highlighted the connection between the rule of law and economic development.
Indonesia’s Chief Justice Sunarto called for the exchange of best practices and the development of a durable institutional platform for continued judicial dialogue among member nations.
Iran’s Chief Justice Ayatollah Gholam Hossein Mohseni-Eje’i said the BRICS grouping was increasingly influencing global economic and political developments. He also raised concerns regarding violations of human rights, sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as humanitarian crises and the displacement of civilians.
Russia’s Chief Justice Igor Krasnov highlighted BRICS’ role in strengthening cooperation and contributing to a multipolar world.
South Africa’s Supreme Court of Appeal President Mahube Betty Molemela called for greater cooperation on international issues and underlined the important role of the judiciary in ecological governance and environmental protection.
Environmental sustainability and judicial responsibility towards future generations also formed an important part of the discussions.
UAE Federal Supreme Court President Mohammed Hamad Al Badi Al Dhaheri said arbitration and mediation had become integral components of the modern economy, particularly as international trade and cross-border investments continue to expand.
He said digital technology and Artificial Intelligence were contributing to the advancement of justice delivery systems but cautioned that technological development should not result in the elimination of the human element from the judicial process.
He also stressed the importance of environmental law and the responsibility of present institutions to protect the rights and interests of future generations.
The deliberations at the BRICS Chief Justices’ Forum covered four major substantive themes: mediation and international commercial disputes, cross-border enforcement of arbitral awards, Artificial Intelligence and the judiciary, and judicial leadership and sustainable development.
The sessions examined mediation as a strategic mechanism for resolving international commercial disputes and explored ways of improving cooperation among legal systems.
Participants also discussed challenges related to the enforcement of arbitral awards across jurisdictions and the prospects for greater procedural harmonisation.
The impact of AI and digital innovation on judicial administration was another major area of focus. The discussions explored how courts can adopt emerging technologies while maintaining judicial independence, fairness and public trust.
Judicial leadership in ecological governance and sustainable energy systems also received attention, reflecting the expanding role of courts in addressing environmental challenges and balancing developmental priorities with long-term sustainability.
The Forum’s deliberations followed a series of bilateral meetings held by CJI Surya Kant with judicial leaders from BRICS member states and partner countries a day earlier.
The discussions focused on strengthening judicial cooperation, improving mediation and arbitration mechanisms, developing efficient commercial courts and exploring the use of Artificial Intelligence in justice delivery.
During the bilateral meetings, the CJI discussed the possibility of entering into Memoranda of Understanding for judicial cooperation and strengthening mechanisms for the mutual recognition of judicial awards and decrees.
He also emphasised the importance of exchanging best legal practices among participating countries and enhancing institutional cooperation between different judicial systems.
Efficient commercial courts, Justice Surya Kant noted during the discussions, could play an important role in strengthening the confidence of foreign investors by ensuring predictable and timely resolution of commercial disputes.
The possibility of creating common platforms for arbitration and mediation was also explored as a way to improve the resolution of cross-border commercial conflicts.
The CJI further discussed the potential use of institutions such as the National Judicial Academy in Bhopal for professional exchange programmes involving judges and legal professionals from participating countries.
The possibility of organising bilateral conferences on contemporary legal issues was also discussed as part of efforts to create stronger and more sustained channels of judicial engagement.
The discussions at the BRICS Chief Justices’ Forum demonstrated the growing recognition that courts and judicial institutions are increasingly required to respond to challenges that extend beyond national borders.
Cross-border commerce, technological transformation, international arbitration, environmental governance and the rapid development of Artificial Intelligence are creating new legal questions that require greater communication and cooperation among judicial institutions.
CJI Surya Kant’s call for a culture of healthy disagreement and deliberation placed particular emphasis on the value of dialogue among countries with different legal traditions.
By invoking the legacy of Nalanda University, he presented the BRICS judicial platform as a potential space where differences can coexist with cooperation and where diverse legal systems can engage without the requirement of uniformity.
The day’s deliberations concluded with a renewed emphasis on deeper judicial dialogue, the exchange of experiences and stronger cooperation among BRICS member states and partner countries in addressing emerging legal and institutional challenges.
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As the three-day Forum concluded, the discussions underscored the importance of timely justice, international judicial cooperation, responsible use of Artificial Intelligence, effective mediation and arbitration mechanisms, and sustainable development.
The BRICS Chief Justices’ Forum ultimately reflected a shared effort to strengthen the rule of law while creating new opportunities for judicial institutions to learn from one another and collectively respond to the challenges of a rapidly changing global environment.
