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BRICS+ Legal Forum Delegates Visit Supreme Court, Hold Bilateral Talks Ahead of Inauguration
A 60-member international delegation of senior legal professionals from BRICS+ jurisdictions converged in New Delhi this week for a series of bilateral consultations and a landmark visit to the , setting the stage for the formal inauguration of the 11th BRICS+ Legal Forum on . Hosted by the (BAI), these preliminary engagements underscore a growing commitment among member nations to deepen institutional cooperation and forge practical legal frameworks for , innovation, and sustainability.
The bilateral meetings, held on Friday at the India Habitat Centre, brought together representatives from across the BRICS+ family—including Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, and the expanded partner states. The Indian delegation was led by BAI President and President-Elect , alongside other office-bearers. Their counterparts engaged in detailed discussions aimed at strengthening cooperation among legal institutions, bar associations, and the wider legal profession across the participating jurisdictions.
A Prelude to Cooperation: Bilateral Consultations and Supreme Court Visit
According to the
, the bilateral talks focused on
"strengthening legal cooperation across BRICS+ jurisdictions and exploring areas of mutual engagement, including
,
,
and emerging regulatory challenges."
This agenda reflects a broader shift from high-level dialogue to actionable initiatives. Participants specifically addressed the need for harmonised standards in legal training,
, and enhanced collaboration on
.
Later that day, the international delegation visited the , a symbolic and substantive highlight of the pre-forum programme. The delegates toured the National Judicial Museum and Archive, the War Room, and the Court complex, before interacting with Chief Justice of India Justice Surya Kant. This visit not only allowed foreign legal experts to witness India's judicial infrastructure first-hand but also reinforced the message of and institutional capacity that the BRICS+ forum seeks to promote.
Justice Surya Kant will serve as the Chief Guest at the inaugural plenary on
, where he is expected to deliver a keynote address on
"
in a Multipolar World
: Building Legal Capacity for
."
The Attorney General for India,
, will also address the gathering, adding a high-level government perspective to the forum's deliberations.
The Forum's Ambitious Agenda
The 11th BRICS+ Legal Forum is being held under the theme
"
Frameworks
and
for
, Innovation and Sustainability."
The programme moves beyond broad declarations to focus on practical legal and institutional frameworks for cooperation. The substantive agenda covers a wide array of pressing legal issues:
- and the : Sessions will explore how robust legal systems can underpin economic stability and growth in a multipolar world.
- : Delegates will discuss legal mechanisms to channel climate finance to developing nations and ensure equitable development.
- and : The forum aims to promote uniform standards in and strengthen the capacity of legal institutions across BRICS+ countries.
- Proposed : A key initiative to establish a dedicated arbitration network to facilitate efficient among member states.
- : With the rapid growth of artificial intelligence, the forum will address legal frameworks for , , and .
- : Experts will examine reforms to the international investment regime to better protect investors and host states.
The closing plenary is scheduled to consider the 11th BRICS+ Legal Forum Declaration, formally constitute working groups emerging from the deliberations, and set the mandate for the 12th Forum. This structure ensures continuity and concrete outcomes, rather than a one-off conference.
Legal Implications and Professional Impact
For legal professionals in India and across the BRICS+ bloc, the forum's outcomes could have significant practical implications. The emphasis on may lead to collaborative training programmes, exchange of best practices in judicial administration, and joint research on comparative law. The proposed BRICS Arbitration Network, if realised, could offer a credible alternative to established arbitration hubs, particularly for intra-BRICS commercial disputes.
Moreover, the focus on is timely: as countries race to regulate artificial intelligence, BRICS+ could emerge as a voice for developing nations, advocating for balanced frameworks that foster innovation without sacrificing ethical safeguards. Similarly, the discussions on signal an intention to integrate environmental sustainability into legal cooperation, potentially influencing future international environmental law negotiations.
The bilateral consultations also highlighted the role of bar associations as drivers of legal cooperation. By engaging directly with the , delegations acknowledged the importance of professional bodies in shaping , ethics, and practice standards. This bottom-up approach complements the top-down governmental diplomacy often seen in BRICS summits.
Looking Ahead: The Declaration and Working Groups
As the legal community in New Delhi prepares for the formal inauguration, anticipation is high regarding the content of the 11th BRICS+ Legal Forum Declaration. The document is expected to articulate a shared vision for the in a multipolar world, with specific commitments to , , and . The working groups constituted at the closing session will be tasked with turning these commitments into actionable projects over the next year.
The visit to the Supreme Court and the bilateral consultations have already set a collaborative tone. For the 60 international delegates—comprising judges, bar leaders, academics, and legal practitioners—the experience of walking through the corridors of India's highest court and meeting its Chief Justice was a powerful reminder that the is not merely an abstract principle but a living institution. As the 11th BRICS+ Legal Forum gets underway, the challenge will be to translate that inspiration into enduring legal frameworks that benefit all member nations.
In a world increasingly defined by geopolitical fragmentation and economic uncertainty, the BRICS+ legal cooperation model offers a pragmatic counterpoint: a platform where lawyers and judges lead the way in building bridges, resolving disputes, and ensuring that is anchored in justice and the .
