The International Court of Justice (Review and Reconsideration) Bill 2021

Subject – IR

Context – New Pak. law allows Jadhav to file appeal

Concept –

The International Court of Justice (Review and Reconsideration) Bill, 2021 is aimed at fulfilling the obligation under the verdict of the ICJ.
The law allowed Mr. Jadhav to challenge his conviction in the High Court through a review process, which was a requirement of the ICJ verdict.
Jadhav, a 51-year-old retired Indian Navy officer, was sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court on charges of espionage and terrorism in April 2017.
India approached the International Court of Justice (ICJ). After hearing both sides, The Hague-based ICJ issued a verdict in July 2019, asking Pakistan to give India consular access to Mr. Jadhav and also ensure review of his conviction.

International Court of Justice

ICJ is a principal judicial organization of the United Nations (UN). It was established in 1945 by a UN Charter and began working in 1946 as the successor to the Permanent Court of International Justice.
It settles legal disputes between member countries and gives advisory opinions to authorized UN Organs and Specialized Agencies.
An Indian, Judge Dalveer Bhandari has been a member of the ICJ since April 2012.
It is seated in the Peace Palace of Hague, Netherlands.
Unlike the six principal organs of the United Nations, it is the only one not located in New York (USA).

Consular Access

Consular access is the ability of foreign nationals to have access to consulate or embassy officials of their own country in the host nation.
India had demanded the consular access to former Indian Navy officer Kulbhushan Jadhav in Pakistan under the rules of the Vienna Convention.
The convention allows foreign nationals who are arrested or detained to have the access.