India has secured continued representation at the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) after Professor Bimal N. Patel was elected as a judge for the 2026–2035 term.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar congratulated Patel on his election and thanked member states of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) for their support. He wrote, “Congratulations Dr Bimal Patel! Sincerely thank UNCLOS member states for their support.”
Congratulations Dr. Bimal Patel! Sincerely thank UNCLOS member states for their support. https://t.co/noO00rCWnH
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) June 18, 2026
The election took place during the 36th Conference of States Parties to UNCLOS, held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York from June 15 to June 19.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal described the result as a significant achievement and expressed gratitude to member states for their confidence in India. The Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations also congratulated Patel, stating that his election reflects India’s long-standing commitment to multilateralism and the Law of the Sea.
Patel, a noted legal scholar in maritime law, currently serves on the International Law Commission and is Vice Chancellor of Rashtriya Raksha University in Gujarat.
He will assume office on October 1. The tribunal, comprising 21 elected members, adjudicates disputes related to the interpretation and application of international maritime law.
