Big win: India's nominee Dalveer Bhandari re-elected as ICJ judge
India's nominee to the Hague-based International Court of Justice (ICJ), Dalveer Bhandari, has won a re-election bid after Britain withdrew its candidate from a long, deadlocked race. Bhandari won 183 out of 193 votes in the UN General Assembly (UNGA) and all 15 votes at the Security Council (SC). Bhandari's re-election can be seen as a victory for India's diplomacy.
What context is this happening in?
Bhandari had gone head to head with Britain's nominee Sir Chris Greenwood in 11 rounds of voting at the UN for ICJ judgeship. A winning candidate must win both at the UNGA and SC. Bhandari kept winning in the GA and losing at the SC.
Bhandari's re-election crucial because of Kulbhushan Jadhav case at ICJ
Bhandari's re-election is crucial because India took Pakistan to the ICJ to seek consular access to Kulbhushan Jadhav, an Indian sentenced to death in Pakistan on espionage charges. Pakistan has appointed an ad-hoc judge to the ICJ. With Bhandari's win, India has its own judge in the ICJ. The ICJ will give its final verdict on Jadhav's case in December.
Sushma Swaraj sends her wishes
Britain pleased that 'close friend India's' candidate won
Britain said it withdrew Greenwood's candidature as it felt it was "wrong to continue to take up the valuable time" of the SC and GA with another round of elections. Britain was "naturally disappointed" but "pleased that it is a close friend like India" whose candidate got elected. This is the first time the ICJ won't have a British judge in its history.
