New Delhi, September 5:Chief Justice of India Surya Kant on Saturday called for BRICS to evolve into a “living Nalanda University”, drawing inspiration from the ancient seat of learning that brought scholars from diverse civilisations together for intellectual exchange and debate.
Addressing the second day of the BRICS Chief Justices’ Forum at the Supreme Court of India, the CJI said Nalanda, more than a millennium ago, served as a centre of intellectual inquiry where scholars from distant lands came together to debate, exchange ideas and refine their understanding beyond geographical and cultural boundaries.
He noted that Nalanda’s uniqueness lay in its willingness to accommodate differences rather than demand agreement on a common system of law or philosophy. It provided a “healthy and hospitable space for disagreement and deliberation”, he said.
CJI Surya Kant said the same spirit should guide the BRICS judicial forum, which seeks to bring different legal traditions and schools of thought together for direct engagement rather than distant observation.
“That, I would submit, is the truest precedent for what BRICS Forum now seeks to do,” he said, adding that BRICS should provide a similar platform for judicial systems and traditions to learn from and engage with one another.
“BRICS should also be known as the living Nalanda University,” the CJI said.
Timely justice vital for economic growth
The Chief Justice also underlined the importance of timely, consistent and predictable justice, describing it as a foundation for economic development, technological progress, dispute resolution and sustainable energy.
Drawing an analogy with a building, he described the justice delivery system as a “load-bearing wall” — something that may not always be visible but without which the structure cannot stand.
He said uncertainty over how quickly and fairly a dispute would be resolved could impose significant costs on foreign investors by increasing risk premiums, requiring additional securities and leading to stricter exit clauses.
“Courts that deliver judgments swiftly, consistently, and in language the world can rely upon, are capable to remove that hidden cost altogether,” he said.
Four key areas of deliberation
The BRICS Chief Justices’ Forum is focusing its substantive discussions on four broad areas: mediation and international commercial disputes; cross-border enforcement of arbitral awards; artificial intelligence and the judiciary; and judicial leadership and sustainable development.
The session on mediation examined its potential as a strategic tool for resolving international commercial disputes. Discussions on cross-border enforcement of arbitral awards focused on existing challenges and the possibility of greater procedural harmonisation among jurisdictions.
The session on artificial intelligence explored the use of digital technologies in judicial administration, including AI-assisted case listing and triage as well as predictive analytics for court management. Participants also discussed the need to ensure that human judgment remains central to judicial decision-making.
The final session examined judicial leadership in ecological governance and the role of courts as countries move towards solar, wind and other sustainable energy systems. The discussions also covered legal disputes involving renewable-energy infrastructure, forests, wildlife and water bodies.
Judicial leaders from BRICS and partner nations attend
The forum has brought together judicial representatives from Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, South Africa and the UAE, along with representatives from partner countries including Belarus, Bolivia, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Thailand, Uganda and Uzbekistan.
Among the judicial leaders addressing the gathering were Justice Luiz Edson Fachin, President of Brazil’s Supreme Federal Court; Justice Zhang Jun, Chief Justice of China and President of the Supreme People’s Court; Justice Boulos Fahmy Iskander Boulos, Chief Justice of Egypt’s Supreme Constitutional Court; Justice Tewodros Meheret Kebede, President of Ethiopia’s Federal Supreme Court; Justice Sunarto, Chief Justice of Indonesia; Justice Gholam Hossein Mohseni-Eje’I, Chief Justice of Iran; and Justice Igor Krasnov, Chief Justice of Russia’s Supreme Court.
