Cabinet clears legal cooperation between India and Afghanistan

Seeking to strengthen cooperation in the judicial and legal spheres, the Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved a pact on legal and judicial cooperation in civil and commercial matters between India and Afghanistan.

The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi also approved for signing and ratification of a similar agreement with Oman. “The Cabinet has given its approval for the agreement on legal and judicial cooperation in civil and commercial matters for the service of summons, judicial documents, commissions, execution of judgements and arbitral awards between India and Afghanistan,” an official statement said.

The various features of the agreement with Afghanistan include service of judicial orders, summons and other legal and judicial documents or processes and taking of evidence through request, execution of judgments, settlements and arbitral awards.

The agreement also applies to any request for reciprocal legal assistance relating to civil and commercial matters submitted before or after its entry into force.

“The service of summons and other judicial documents shall also not be refused on the ground that the request does not show sufficient grounds supporting merits of the case, unless the requested state considers that compliance with the request would infringe its sovereignty, security or public policy,” the statement said.