Bimal Patel Sworn In as ITLOS Judge

Bimal N. Patel, an Indian jurist and academician, was sworn in as a Judge of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) on 1 October 2026 at Hamburg, Germany. He will serve a nine-year term from 2026 to 2035 in the tribunal that adjudicates disputes under the law of the sea.

International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea

ITLOS is a judicial body established under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). It has its headquarters in Hamburg and consists of 21 independent members elected by States Parties to UNCLOS.

Election and Tenure

Patel was elected on 18 June 2026 at the Thirty-Sixth Meeting of States Parties to UNCLOS held at United Nations Headquarters in New York. He secured 115 ballots out of 168 valid votes during the election process.

Important Facts for Exams

• ITLOS is the principal judicial institution for disputes arising under UNCLOS.
• ITLOS has 21 judges elected with due regard to equitable geographical distribution.
• Bimal N. Patel succeeded Neeru Chadha, whose tenure ended on 30 September 2026.
• Patel served as Vice-Chancellor of Rashtriya Raksha University in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, before this appointment.

India and International Law Bodies

Bimal Patel has served on the United Nations International Law Commission since January 2023. His appointment continued India’s representation in ITLOS after the tenure of Neeru Chadha.