ICJ Election 2017: Know all about India's Dalveer Bhandari

After locking horns with Britain's Christopher Greenwood, India's Dalveer Bhandari received an overwhelming majority of the votes needed to be a member of the International Court of Justice (ICJ). 

In a dramatic turn of events, the British Permanent Representative to the UN, Matthew Rycroft, wrote identical letters to the presidents of the United Nations General Assembly and the Security Council, before the two chambers were scheduled to meet at 3 pm (local time) for the 12th round of voting. 

Bhandari received 183-193 votes in the General Assembly and secured all the 15 votes in the Security Council after separate and simultaneous elections were held at the UN headquarters in New York.

Bhandari's re-election reflects the aspirations of a New World order. Let us walk through the former Supreme Court Judge's life and career before being elected as a member of the ICJ. 

Early life and education: 

Born to an illustrious family line of lawyers both his father Mahaveer Chand Bhandari, and grandfather, B.C. Bhandari, were members of the Rajasthan bar. 
After acquiring degrees in humanities and law from  Jodhpur University Dalveer Bhandari practiced at the Rajasthan High Court in 1968-1970. 

Career as a lawyer: 

Dalveer Bhandari's international exposure as a lawyer is unparalleled. He worked at Centre for Research in Chicago and visited Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore and Sri Lanka on an international fellowship as an observational-cum-lecturer. 

In the domestic side Bhandari also chaired the Delhi High Court Legal Services Committee, the Advisory Board of Delhi State, and the Delhi chapter of the International Law Association for a number of years.

Contribution to law and justice: 

Dalveer Bhandari is highly notable for his contribution in computerization and intellectual property law. He has been on the forefront of promoting legal education, both to professionals and to the general public who might be litigants.

He has established mediation and conciliation centers in Maharashtra and an information centre for litigants in the Bombay High Court.