Messages Received from
Eminent Jurists & Legal Luminaries
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1. |
Hon'ble Madam
Justice Beverley McLachlin Chief Justice of
Canada Chambers of The
Chief Justice Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0J1 |
In his most
recent book, Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen argues that development should be
measured not in dollars but in terms of freedom. Development, in his view,
consists in the systematic elimination of obstacles to human freedom. When we
think of development in terms of freedom, we cannot ignore the importance of
law and legal systems to the enterprise of human development. In the modern
age, it is through law that we assert our freedoms and through law that we
reconcile our own freedoms with those of others. This holds true as much
between nations as it does between individual citizens. Progress in our
increasingly interconnected world will be effected in large part through the
development of international law. One measure of progress, therefore, might
be the degree of respect accorded by various nations to international law.
Article 51 of the Constitution of India embodies this idea. Please accept my
best wishes for a successful Conference. It is through such efforts that the
object of Article 51 will be achieved in letter and in spirit. |
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2. |
Hon'ble Mr. Justice Richard H. Benson Associate Justice Supreme Court of the Federated States of Micronesia P.O. Box 936, Chuuk FM 96942 Federated States of Micronesia E-mail:
rbenson@mail.fm |
I was very moved
by the care you have taken to prepare for the Conference, beginning with
efforts two years ago. I was also
touched that students of City Montessori School expressed their concern over
the state of the world by obtaining over 100,000 signatures on a petition to
Mr. Annan to safeguard world peace on behalf of the children. Surely world peace is the most important
topic. I congratulate your students
and yourself as convener on the steps you have taken. Yours efforts will bear fruit. |
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3. |
Hon'ble Mr. Justice Vivier Judge The Supreme Court of Appeal PO Box 258 Bloemfontein 9300 South Africa Fax : 051 4302215 Tel.: 051
4474013 E-mail : sec-dcj@intekom.co.za |
We wish you
every success and compliment you on your efforts to achieve world peace for
the sake of our children. |
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4. |
Hon’ble Mr Justice Richard Goldstone Judge Constitutional Court of South Africa Private Bag X7 Braamfontein 2017 South Africa Email: r_goldstone@hotmail.com |
Article 51 of
the Constitution of India articulate the principles which are essential to a
future of international peace and security. In our globalized world, an
international rule of law is essential if we are to avoid the massive
violation of fundamental human rights which has been the hallmark of the 20th
Century. The alternative to a rule of law for the international community, as
also in the case of any national state, is anarchy. The challenge is to find
and accommodation for the respect for international law consistent law
consistent with national sovereignty. Article 51
appropriately recognises the role of international law in the modern world,
the respect which all people should have for each other and the need for the
settlement of disputes before they lead to war. The
Constitutional Court of South Africa is the guardian of one of the youngest
constitutions based upon equality, democracy and the rule of law. We frequently
draw inspiration from the decisions of the courts of India, the most populous
democracy in the world. We appreciate too, the steadfast campaign by your
country in support of the anti-apartheid campaign and the friendship we have
received since South Africa has become a free and democratic country. It is this
context that I am disappointed not to be able to participate in and benefit
from your deliberations. I have no doubt that they will contribute to the
building of a better world in which there is respect for the human dignity of
all people and tolerance for the religious and cultural differences which we
should we celebrate rather than denigrate. |
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5. |
Hon’ble Mr.
Justice Terence Higgins Judge Supreme Court
Canberra, ACC Canberra Australia |
I heartily endorse
your goal of the creation of a World Parliament. The formation of such a
noble institution would elevate international law to a plane it richly
deserves: that of an incandescent beacon of justice, bringing light and hope
to those of our fellow human beings cursed by poverty, disease, slavery and
totalitarianism. |
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6. |
Hon’ble Mr Justice Sonam Tobgye, Chief
Justice of Bhutan Royal Court of Justice, High Court Thimphu, Bhutan Fax: 0975-22921 |
The Judiciary of
Bhutan presents its compliments to the City Montessori School, Lucknow on
organizing a conference pertaining to Clause (b) of Article 51 of the
Constitution of India. We are
standing at the threshold of a future with threat and crowning glory. Timely action will avert the threat and
wisdom will lead us to glorious results.
Therefore, I am glad that your institution has taken a timely and
historic role to facilitate the convergence of a galaxy of luminaries to
discuss about the subject “enacting international laws which would be
enforceable on all the countries and people of the world.” Sages and prohets
have taught the undying message of peace and security and civilization has
recognized the primacy to foster respect for international law. I wish the conference all success. |
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7. |
Hon’ble Mr. Justice Percy Blieden Judge, High Court Private
Bag X7 Johannesburg 2000 South
Africa Tel.:(011)
332-8175 Fax:(011)
337-5162 |
After reading
the literature, which you kindly attached to my invitation, I am more
convinced than ever in the importance and relevance of the forthcoming
conference. The world would be a better place if more conferences of this
nature were held. |
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8. |
Hon’ble Mr. Justice B M Griesel Judges’ Chembers High Court Private Bag X9020 Cape Town 8000 South Africa Tel.: (021) 480-2642 Fax : (021) 423-0412 Email:
bgriesel@justice.gov.za |
My best wishes
for the success of your conference. In discussing your conference topic,
namely respect for international law, you may be interested to know that the
Constitution of our young democracy (Constitution of the Republic of South
Africa, Act No 108 of 1996) contains a provision similar to your sec 51(c),
in that our sec 39(1)(b) provides that a court, tribunal or forum, when
interpreting the Bill of Rights, “must consider international law...”
it would appear, therefore, we could benefit from your experience and
deliberations in this regard. |
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9. |
Hon'ble
Justice Bernard D. Bongiorno Judge's Chambers Supreme Court of
Victoria 210 William
Street, Melbourne, 3000 Australia |
"Your
endeavours on behalf of world peace are to be applauded. I wish you every
success with the conference." |
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10. |
Greg
Reinhardt President, Australia Institute of Judicial
Administration, Australia |
The Australian
Institute of Judicial Administration, as a promoter of excellence in judicial
administration and alternative dispute resolution, wishes the Conference
well. |
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11. |
Dr Justice AR. Lakshmanan Chief Justice, Rajasthan High Court Chancellor, National Law University Jodhpur Ph: 0291-544391 (Jodhpur) 0141-380130
(Jaipur) Res: C-116, Savitri Path, Manjal Marg, Bapu Nagar, Jaipur – 302
004 Ph.
(Res) : 515698 |
I am happy to
learn that the City Montessori School (CMS), Lucknow is going to organize the
first International Conference on "World Peace and Article 51 of the
Constitution." In rapid
globalisation of the world there can be no question that nation must march
with the international community and the Municipal Law must respect rules of
International Law even as nations respect international opinion. The comity of nations requires that rules
of international law may be accommodated in the Municipal Laws even without
express legislative sanction provided then do not run in conflict with the
acts of Parliament. Law is
enforceable if there is sanction behind it. Since there is no such sanction
behind International Law there is dire need to enact enforceable
International Law to safeguard the future of world's children by peaceful
settling of territorial and international disputes. I must
congratulate the organizers for organizing such a Conference. I wish the
Conference all success. |
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12. |
Prof. Wang Li President, De
Heng College of Lawyers, China Email :
dhlbj@public.bta.net.cn |
I highly
appreciate your aspiration for discussing such topics concerning the whole
humanity, which shows an inspiring sense of responsibilities as well as a
respectable spirit of scholars. I will follow
relevant news about the Conference with great interest and sincerely wish you
success. |
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13. |
Peter Scheffel Former Judge, Federal Court of Germany Email : p.scheffel@gmx.de |
"World Peace and Global Governance are indeed of utmost
importance for the future of mankind. It is very meritorious that you foster
the awareness of the CMS students for these issues. My thoughts and good wishes will be with you and all those
present at the conference." |
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14. |
Justice T.H.
Smith Judge, Supreme
Court, 210 William Street Melbourne, 3000,
Australia Tel.: (03) 9603
6111 Fax: (03) 9670
8408 |
I wish you every
success with the conference. |
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15. |
Hon'ble Mr. Justice G N K Hetisani Judge, Venda High Court South Africa E-mail:
Mmabobo@justice.gov.za |
A Conference of
this nature can only benefit the international community. I wish you all the success in this
promising venture and hope that you will keep me in mind for future
Conference. |
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16. |
Hon'ble Mr. W. J.
Hartzenberg, Judge of the High Court of South Africa, Judges' Chambers, High
Court of South Africa P.O. Box 442, PRETORIA, 0001 Tel: 0027-012-315-7711 Fax: 0027-012-315-7600 E-mail:
whartzenberg@gmx.net |
Subsection (c)
of Article 51 calls on the Government of India to strive towards respect for
international law. This is undoubtedly a very progressive rule in the field
of Constitutional Law. I have no
doubt that other nations should look into the possible importation of such a
rule into their respective constitutions.
The co-operation between nations to maintain world peace is absolutely
essential to our survival as a human species. One only has to think of the nuclear arsenal of the world to
illuminate this pint. It is therefore
my firm opinion that the establishment of some form of "World
Parliament" is not only a possibility which needs to be explored, but an
absolute necessity. As all great
advancement in social evolution, the development of a "World Parliament"
will unfortunetely not happen overnight.
Any laws made by a "World Parliament" have to be enforced or
the laws will carry no sanction in the event of contravention. This is in my opinion the problem that the
United Nations (UN) system could not overcome. Consensus could never be reached between member states to
establish a UN Army, which could serve as enforcer of decisions made by the
UN. It is therefore submitted that a
"World Parliament" cannot function effectively without a
well-trained, well-equipped military force.
National Governments will have to understand the necessity of
surrendering at least some of their sovereignty to the "World
Parliament". If no sovereigty is
ceded to the "World Parliament", then decisions made by such a
Parliament are not supreme and therefore, in the global context, irrelevant. |
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17. |
Hon'ble Mr. Justice JJF Hefer Acting Chief Justice The Supreme Court of Appeal PO Box 258, Bloemfontein 9300 South Africa Fax : 051 4302215 Tel.: 051 4474013 E-mail : sec-dcj@intekom.co.za |
Wishing you a
successful and enjoyable conference I am. |
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18. |
Hon'ble Mr. Justice Nicholson AO RFD Chief Justice of the Family Court of
Australia |
I wish you every
success with your conference and hope that you will achieve all of the
objectives planned for the event. |
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19. |
Hon’ble Mr. Justice K. N. Singh Former Chief Justice of India A-10, Sector 36 NOIDA (U.P.) |
Article 51 of
the Constitution of India embodies the aspirations of our people and the
ethos of Indian civilization to follow the path of non-violence and to treat
the entire world as one human family propounded by our sages philosophers
since ancient times. The proposed
International Conference is a laudable effort to ensure universal peace and
harmony in the world. I commend your
efforts and wish all success to the
Conference. |
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20. |
N. Santosh
Hegde Supreme Court of
India 10, Tees January
Marg New Delhi - 110
011 Tel.: 3014989
(Res.) 3388942-44
(Off.) |
I am extremely
happy that the City Montessori School, Lucknow, has been very active in
propagating the well-cherished Indian Constitutional objective of
International Peace and Security. Apart from inculcating this worthy
objective in the minds of the younger generation by holding this Conference,
you would also be doing a great service to the society by creating social
awareness of the constitutional objectives. I wish the Conference all
success. |
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21. |
Hon'ble Petur
Kr. Hafsteem The Supreme
Court of Iceland Haestriettur
Islands Iceland Fax : (354) 562
– 3995 |
"On
behalf of Justice Petur Kr. Hafstein I would like to thank you for the kind
invitation be recently received to attend your conference, to be held on 6
May. Unfortunately, Mr. Hafstein is unable to attend the conference at the
said date due to the workload in the court." |
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22. |
Judge Annette Marfording Federal Court of Australia Email : a.marfording@unsw.edu.au |
"I wish your project every
success." |
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23. |
Ian Binnie Supreme Court of
Canada Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0J1, Canada Tel. (613)
996-5350 Fax : (613)
952-1882 |
I hope the
Conference is a great success. |
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24. |
Chief Justice Carsten Smith Supreme Court of Norway PO Box 8016 Dep 0030 OSLO, Norway Phone : +47 22 035901 Fax : + 47 22 42 8554 |
"Let me
convey my best wishes for every success with the conference and
acknowledgement of its aim for promoting international peace and security
through respect for international law." |
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25. |
Justice A. Varadarjan Former Judge Supreme Court of India F-138, Anna Nagar East Chennai 102 India |
"Wish you
success in your endeavour to effectuate article 51 of our constitutions which
will help the people of the world as whole" |
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26. |
Justice Peter Buchanan Judge's Chambers
Court of Appeal Supreme Court 210 William
Street Melbourne, 3000 Australia Phone :(03) 9603
6111 Tax : (03) 9670
8404 |
"I wish the conference success." |
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27. |
Ms Marian Trobbiani Assistant to Mr Peter Boyce Ombudsman for the Northern Territory Australia Email : marian.trobbiani@nt.gov.au |
"Mr Boyce
wishes you a successful conference." |
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28. |
Keshav Prasad
Upadhyay Chief Justice of
Nepal Supreme Court of
Nepal Ramshahapath,
Kathmandu G.P.O. Box 6062 Tel.: (977-1)
410363 Fax : (977-1)
362878 |
I appreciate
your foresight and vision behind organising a conference on Article 51 of the
Constitution of India. |
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29. |
Dr. Nasim
Hasna Shah Chief Justice of
Pakistan (Rtd.) 58-D/1.
Gulberg-III Lahore-Pakistan |