Dalveer Bhandari

Dalveer Bhandari (born 1 October 1947) is an Indian jurist. He is currently one of the judges of the International Court of Justice. He is a former judge of the Supreme Court of India and former chief justice of the Bombay High Court. Bhandari was also a judge of the Delhi High Court.

Early life and education Dalveer Bhandari's father, Mahaveer Chand Bhandari, and grandfather, B.C. Bhandari, were members of the Rajasthan bar. He acquired degrees in the humanities and law from Jodhpur University and practised in the Rajasthan High Court from 1968 to 1970. In June 1970, he was invited to a six-week workshop organized by the University of Chicago on research on Indian law in Chicago on an international scholarship and subsequently on another international scholarship, he obtained a Masters of Law from Northwestern University School of Law. He worked at the Northwestern Legal Assistance Clinic and appeared in Chicago courts on behalf of litigants of that clinic. He also worked with the Centre for Research in Chicago. In June 1973, on an international fellowship, he visited Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore and Sri Lanka on an observational-cum-lecture tour on legal aid and clinical legal educational programmes associated with the law courts and law schools. He also worked with a United Nations project called "Delay in the Administration of Criminal Justice in India."

As a judge in the Delhi High Court, 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. He was also the Chairperson of the Advisory Board of Delhi State on the Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act, 1974 (COFEPOSA) and the National Security Act (NSA) for a number of years. He delivered a large number of judgements while exercising the Supreme Court's jurisdiction under article 131 between the Government of India and one or more States; between the Government of India and any State or States on one side and one or more other States on the other; or between two or more States. He has also delivered a large number of judgements on comparative law, public interest litigation, constitutional law, criminal law, civil procedure code, administrative law, arbitration laws, insurance and banking and family laws. Keeping in view his landmark judgement in a divorce case, the Union of India is seriously considering his suggestion and amending the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, incorporating irretrievable breakdown of marriage as a ground for divorce.

His various orders in the food-grains matter led to the release of a higher quantum of supply of food grains to the population living below the poverty line. His several orders in the night-shelter matter led to state governments making provision for night shelters for homeless people all over the country. His orders in the right to free and compulsory education for children matter led to availability of basic infrastructural amenities in primary and secondary schools all over the country. In the elections held on 27 April 2012, Bhandari secured 122 votes in the United Nations General Assembly against 58 for his rival, Florentino Feliciano, who was nominated by the Government of the Philippines.

He was re-elected for a second term on 20 November 2017 after UK's nominee Christopher Greenwood withdrew his nomination

Awards and honours

Conferred the degree of Doctor of Letters by Vardhaman Mahaveer Open University Kota in May 2016. In 2014, President of India conferred Bhandari with Padma Bhushan, third highest civilian award in India. Bhandari was selected by the Northwestern University School of Law, Chicago, United States, while celebrating its 150-year anniversary (1859-2009), his alma mater, as one of the 16 most illustrious and distinguished alumni. Conferred the degree of Doctor of Laws (LL.D.) by Tumkur University. Conferred an Honorary Doctoral Degree in International Law by The University of Cambodia Conferred an Honorary Doctor of Laws (L.L.D.) by The School of Law, KIIT University. Tumkur University, Karnataka, conferred the degree of Doctor of Laws (LL.D.) on Justice Bhandari for his magnanimous contribution to law and justice.