Pune, Maharashtra, [India], July 18, 2025: On the occasion of International Justice Day, Rest The Case, India’s leading legal platform, hosted a thought-provoking panel discussion titled “Beyond Borders: Law, India & The UN.” The conversation centered around the evolving role of international law in India’s legal framework, how global norms influence domestic legal reasoning, and the tension between national sovereignty and global accountability.
The panel brought together a diverse group of legal professionals and scholars, including Adv. Khush Brahmbhatt, a public policy advocate from Vadodara, Adv. Ranesh Anand, a seasoned lawyer practicing at the Jharkhand High Court, Adv. Adhiraj Surana, founder of Adhiraj Devraj Surana & Associates and head of its litigation and IPR practice, and Akash Chatterjee, a PhD scholar in Intellectual Property Law.
The discussion opened with reflections on how legal challenges today are no longer confined by borders. In an interconnected world, international conventions and norms are beginning to shape domestic policies, legal judgments, and public discourse in India.
Adv. Adhiraj Surana emphasized that India’s interaction with international law is not new. “We’ve had engagement with the UN since 1945,” he noted, citing landmark cases like Vishaka v. State of Rajasthan that relied on international conventions to fill legislative gaps. He described international law as a valuable interpretive tool, especially where codified statutes may fall short.
Adv. Ranesh Anand provided a broader geopolitical context, highlighting that the United Nations was created post-World War II by the victors and remains a political body. He noted that while India participates in global institutions, its legal system retains a focus on national priorities and public welfare.
Adv. Khush Brahmbhatt addressed India’s measured approach to global legal institutions like the International Criminal Court (ICC). He pointed out India’s concerns about sovereignty, prosecutorial overreach, and geopolitical imbalance, particularly when international pressure appears misaligned with local contexts, such as the UN’s stance on the FCRA amendments.
Adding a scholarly lens, Akash Chatterjee highlighted how India stands at a critical juncture. He argued that India has the opportunity to lead calls for a more equitable international legal order—one that empowers developing nations and ensures that global standards are shaped by, and responsive to, regional realities.
Throughout the session, speakers acknowledged that India’s relationship with international law is layered, evolving, and complex, marked by strategic engagement, occasional resistance, and selective adoption. Yet, what remains clear is that international justice frameworks increasingly shape India’s human rights discourse, judicial decisions, and legal reform efforts.
Miss Shreya Sharma, Founder and Director of Rest The Case, concluded by stating, “For India to navigate global law effectively, it must strike a balance between universal values and local needs. Legal reform must keep pace with international developments, but always stay rooted in the lived realities of the people.”
As India continues to evolve on the world stage, such discussions remind us that law is not just a national construct—it is also a global conversation. Rest The Case remains committed to hosting these dialogues and making the law more accessible, inclusive, and future-ready.
For updates on future events, insights, and legal resources, visit www.restthecase.com or follow @restthecase__india on Instagram and LinkedIn.
