Justice Lokur’s Legacy:

• Justice Lokur served on the Supreme Court of India from June 2012 to December 2018, delivering landmark judgments across diverse areas of law.
• In August 2019, he was appointed to the non-resident panel of the Supreme Court of Fiji and reappointed for another three-year term in January 2022.
• His notable judgments include:
  • Electoral Disqualification on Religious Grounds (January 2017): Authored a concurring opinion in a seven-judge bench ruling disqualifying electoral candidates for seeking votes based on religion, race, caste, or other identity markers.
  • Raising the Age of Consent in Marriages (October 2017): Alongside Justice Deepak Gupta, ruled to raise the age of consent within marriages to 18 years, bolstering child protection laws.

• • Established in 2009 to reform and strengthen the UN’s internal justice system.
• Ensures the system operates effectively, impartially, and transparently, addressing workplace disputes within the UN.

• Safeguards the independence and integrity of the internal justice system.
• The IJC is responsible for overseeing the administration of the UN’s internal justice system.
• It supervises:

1. Office of Staff Legal Assistance (OSLA)
2. UN Dispute Tribunal (UNDT)
3. UN Appeals Tribunal (UNAT)

• Recommends measures to ensure judicial independence and efficiency in dispute resolution.

Composition:

• 5 members: 2 tribunal judges (from UNDT and UNAT), two staff representatives, and one external legal expert.
• Chairperson is selected by consensus and appointed by the UN Secretary-General.
• Members serve a four-year term, renewable once.

• Recommends candidates for UNDT and UNAT judge positions based on merit and judicial competence.
• Proposes a shortlist for final selection by the Secretary-General.

Oversight and Accountability:

• Monitors tribunal functioning to ensure fairness and transparency.
• Identifies and addresses systemic issues, proposing improvements.

Judicial Independence:

• Protects the impartiality of tribunal judges and safeguards judicial integrity.
• Advocates for institutional protections against external influence.

Advisory Role:

• Provides expert advice on internal justice reform.
• Evaluates tribunal processes to enhance efficiency and accessibility for UN staff.

Scope of Jurisdiction:

• Covers grievances related to administrative decisions, employment conditions, and workplace disputes brought forward by UN staff worldwide.