Bimal N. Patel was elected as a Judge of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea

Bimal N. Patel was elected as a Judge of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea

¨     Bimal N. Patel was elected as a Judge of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) on 19 June 2026.

¨     The election took place at the United Nations Headquarters, New York, during the 36th Meeting of States Parties to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

¨     He secured 115 votes out of 168 valid votes cast by member states.

¨     ITLOS is an independent international judicial body established under UNCLOS.

¨     UNCLOS was adopted in 1982 and entered into force in 1994.

¨     ITLOS is headquartered in Hamburg, Germany.

¨     The tribunal settles disputes related to the interpretation and application of the Law of the Sea.

¨     Bimal N. Patel will serve a nine-year term (2026–2035).

¨     He will assume office on 1 October 2026.

¨     Seven new judges were elected for the 2026–2035 term.

¨     The newly elected judges are from India, Vietnam, Ghana, Tunisia, Russia, Brazil, and the Netherlands.

¨    Patel will succeed Neeru Chadha, whose term as India's representative ends in September 2026.

¨     ITLOS consists of 21 judges.

¨     Judges are elected by the States Parties to UNCLOS and serve staggered nine-year terms.