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Why Article 51

An appeal by the students of CMS on behalf of the children of the world
Why does CMS organise Internatinal Conference of Chief Justices of the World ?
Enforceable International Law
The Last Hope for Humanity's Survival
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International Terrorism can be Curbed Only by International Law and Not by War
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Why does CMS organise Internatinal Conference of Chief Justices of the World ?
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...APPEAL TO WORLD LEADERS
Upon arriving in New York for the Millennium Forum of NGO's and Civil Societies held at the UN headquarters from 22nd to 26th May 2000, Mr Gandhi, while attending a dinner for the Indian participants at the Permanent Indian Mission, learned that the demand for discussing a 'New International Political and Economic Order’ had been deleted from the Agenda of the Millennium Summit at the behest of a veto power (USA). Mr Gandhi then chose to participate in the Thematic Drafting Group VI on ‘Strengthening and Democratizing the United Nations and International institutions’.
Leaders of various countries who participated in the Un’s Millennium Summit
failed to agree on the formation fo a New International Political and Economic Order
There he proposed the inclusion of the clause for the establishment of a ‘New International Political and Economic Order’ in the Declaration of the ‘Millennium Forum’. This was approved unanimously. The said declaration formed the agenda item of the UN’s Millennium Summit held from 6th to 8th September 2000 at UN headquarters in New York. It was the biggest ever gathering of the Heads of State and the Heads of Government.

MR GANDHI WROTE LETTERS TO RULERS AND KINGS OF THE WORLD

Mr Gandhi then wrote letters, on behalf of CMS students, to all the Heads of State and Heads of Government participating in the Millennium Summit, urging them to provide to the children of the world born and yet-to-be-born, their ‘Right to a Safe Future' by supporting the call for a 'New International Political and Economic Order' at the Millennium Summit. CMS received letters of support from many world leaders including the Prime Ministers of India, Australia, New Zealand, the President of Slovakia and leaders of some other countries. However, at the Millennium Summit itself, no decision was taken on the formation of a 'New International Political and Economic Order' which could lead to the elimination of large stockpiles of nuclear armaments, ensure global peace and prosperity and ensure globally coordinated ecological and environmental conservation. At the Millennium Summit, all the world leaders emphasized less important issues. The Summit came and went but nothing came out of this potentially path-setting meeting of the world leaders.

MILLENNIUM SUMMIT FAILED TO AGREE ON THE FORMATION OF A NEW WORLD ORDER
CMS efforts through the UN did not bring about the intended results inasmuch as the world leaders who attended the Millennium Summit in New York from 6th to 8th September 2000 did not consider the children’s appeal for a ‘New International Political and Economic Order’ an agenda item for the summit which was dropped at the last minute at the request of a powerful veto power, USA.

APPEAL TO THE WORLD JUDICIARY
When the children’s heart-rending appeal to safeguard their future against mortal threats failed to elicit a positive response or any concrete action from the United Nations as well as from the political leadership, CMS continued to seek solutions. A national crisis in India provided precedence, when the important role of the judiciary was highlighted in the case of the infamous forest brigand called Veerappan. Veerappan had kidnapped Rajkumar, one of the most popular film stars of South India, and demanded that 51 of his accomplices who were in prison be released in exchange for Rajkumar’s freedom. As the governments of the two concerned states, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, prepared to concede Veerappan’s demand, a retired officer of the Karnataka Police who had lost his only son in action against the bandit Veerappan, filed a public interest petition in the Supreme Court pleading
Eminent participants at the 2nd International Conference of Chief Justices
of the World on Article 51(c) of the Constitution of India
that the Court prevents the governments of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu from releasing the jailed accomplices of Veerappan in exchange for Rajkumar. In a historic judgement, the Supreme Court of India ordered both the governments not to release the jailed criminals. A few days later, Rajkumar managed to get away from Veerappan’s custody and the crisis blew over. The incident highlighted the exalted stature and reputation of the judiciary which is potent enough to influence the politicians in power. Now Mr Gandhi saw a new ray of hope in a united World Judiciary that could compel national governments to surrender a part of their sovereignty, particularly the right to wage war, in order to safeguard the rights of the world’s children and generations yet unborn.
MR GANDHI CONSULTS JUSTICES
Mr Gandhi discussed the issue with Hon’ble Mr Justice Syed Saghir Ahmed, a former Judge of the Supreme Court of India and convened a Round-table Conference on 14th January 2001. Heartened by the support of the judicial fraternity, Mr Gandhi then convened a National level seminar on 25th February, 2001, which was inaugurated by Hon’ble Mr Justice R. S. Pathak, a former Chief Justice of India, former Judge, International Court of Justice, Member, Permanent Court of Arbitration (The Hague) and Honorary Member of the Bench, Gray’s Inn, London. Many other eminent jurists also participated.

THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON ARTICLE 51: 6TH MAY 2001
The success of the national level seminar inspired CMS to convene the First International Conference on Article 51 of the Constitution of India which was held on 6th May 2001. The Conference was inaugurated by Hon’ble Mr Justice K. T. Thomas, Judge, Supreme Court of India and many other eminent judges and legal luminaries also participated. The response from the international judicial fraternity to the First International Conference reassured all about the support for the children’s cause from the world’s judiciary. The point was how to translate this support into a movement for compelling sovereignties to give up their right to wage war for the sake of the children’s future.

HON’BLE JUDGES COMMAND RESPECT
Since the Chief Justice of a country is the head of its judicial wing and commands a respectable position vis-a-vis the head of its executive and legislative wings, it was decided to appeal directly to the Chief Justices of the World. Thus, Mr Gandhi convened the 2nd International Conference of the Chief Justices of the World on 23rd December 2001. The Conference was attended by a galaxy of legal luminaries. The 3rd International Conference of the Chief Justices of the World was held from 6th to 8th December 2002 and was inaugurated by His Excellency, Dr Paul Kagame, President of the Republic of Rwanda, while His Excellency, Sir Daniel Charles Williams, GCMG, QC, the Governor General of Grenada (West Indies) was the Chief Guest. The 4th International Conference of the Chief Justices of the World, held from 12th to 14th December, 2003, was inaugurated by Hon’ble Mr Justice B. J. Odoki, Chief Justice of Uganda and Member of the Permanent Court of Arbitration while Dr A. T. Ariyaratne, founder of Sarvodaya International and famous as “Sri Lankan Gandhi” was the Chief Guest. The 5th International Conference of Chief Justices of the World was held on 10th to 12th December, 2004 and was inaugurated by Hon'ble Mr. H. R. Bhardwaj, Minister for Law and Justice, Government of India. Hon'ble Mr. Justice C.G. Weeramantry, Former Vice-President of International Court of Justice and Chief Justices and Justices from large number of countries participated and addressed the conference. Chief Justices and Judges nominated by their respective Chief Justices along with eminent peace promoters from nearly seventy countries expressed their growing support for the efforts of CMS which has successfully provided a global platform to the world judiciary to discuss the issue of safeguarding the future of the world’s children and generations yet unborn by supporting the children’s call for a legally-constituted World Parliament empowered to enact Enforceable International Law.