WORLD COURT CONCLUDES HEARINGS ON ISSUE OF JURISDICTION IN CASE OF 10 AUGUST 1999 "RIAL INCIDENT (PAKISTAN V. INDIA)

Press Release
ICJ/598

WORLD COURT CONCLUDES HEARINGS ON ISSUE OF JURISDICTION IN CASE OF 10 AUGUST 1999 AERIAL INCIDENT (PAKISTAN V. INDIA)

THE HAGUE, 6 April (ICJ) –- The public hearings in the case concerning the Aerial Incident of 10 August 1999 (Pakistan v. India) at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which started on Monday, 3 April, were concluded today, enabling Members of the Court to start their deliberations.

The Court has to decide whether it has jurisdiction to deal with the merits of the dispute. India has challenged that jurisdiction by raising preliminary objections.

The Court’s Judgment will be delivered in three to four months’ time. It will be read during a public sitting at a date to be announced later.

During the hearings, the delegation of Pakistan was led by Amir A. Shadani, Chargé d’affaires ad interim of the Embassy of Pakistan in the Netherlands, Acting Agent, and the delegation of India by Prabhakar Menon, Ambassador of India to the Netherlands, Agent.

Internal Judicial Practice of Court with Respect to Deliberations

As outlined in the International Judicial Practice of the Court with respect to deliberations, Members of the Court will soon hold a preliminary discussion at which the President will outline the issues which require discussion and decision by the Court.

After initial consideration, a full deliberation will be held during which, on the basis of the views expressed, a Drafting Committee will be chosen by secret ballot. That Committee will consist of two judges holding the majority view and the President if he shares that view.

The draft text prepared by the Drafting Committee will go through two readings. Meanwhile, judges who wish to do so may prepare a separate or dissenting opinion. The final vote will be taken after adoption of the final text in the second meeting.

The transcripts of the hearings of 3 to 6 April as well as the written pleadings, are available on the Court’s Web site (address: http://www.icj-cij.org)

Information Department: Arthur Witteveen, First Secretary (+31 70 302 23 36); Laurence Blairon, Information Officer (+31 70 302 23 37). E-mail address: information@icj-cij.org.

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