Lok Sabha Question No. 2203 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-15
Subject: Meeting of Ministers of Justice of SCO
Ministry: LAW AND JUSTICE
Asked by: L.S. Tejasvi Surya

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE DEPARTMENT OF LEGAL AFFAIRS

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## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2203 TO BE ANSWERED ON FRIDAY, THE 15 TH  DECEMBER, 2023

## Meeting of Ministers of Justice of SCO

2203. SHRI L.S. TEJASVI SURYA:

Will the Minister of LAW AND JUSTICE be pleased to state:

- (a)    the details of issues discussed in the 10 th  SCO Meeting of Ministers of Justice and the outcome thereof;
- (b)    the steps taken by the Government in connection with SCO Charter commitments along with the status thereof;
- (c)     the details of the representatives and the Ministers of Justice who attended the said meeting along with the details of the previous last nine such SCO meetings; and
- (d)  the general outcomes and the achievements of such meetings?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE; MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS; AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CULTURE

## (SHRI ARJUN RAM MEGHWAL) *****

- (a)   The  10 th   Meeting  of  Ministers  of  Justice  of  the  Shanghai  Cooperation Organisation (SCO) held on 5th September 2023 discussed issues including matters  pertaining  to  provision  of  legal  services  to  individuals  or  legal entities,  ensuring  rule  of  law,  cooperation  in  legal  and  judicial  spheres, organising  conferences,  legal  cooperation  forums  and  seminars  etc.  At  the conclusion of the meeting a Joint Statement  was adopted by the Member States.

(b)   India  is  participating  in  the  negotiations  on  the  Reforms  of  the SCO, including  its  Charter.  As  the  negotiations  are  at  a  nascent  stage  and  are subject to consensus of all the Member States, no firm commitments have been made by India at this stage. (c)    The  representatives of 9 Member States of SCO, namely the Republic of India, the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the People's Republic of China, the Kyrgyz  Republic, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the Russian Federation, the Republic of Tajikistan, the Republic of Uzbekistan, participated in the 10th meeting. Indian was represented  by Hon'ble Minister of State (Independent Charge) for  Law  &  Justice,  who  participated  virtually,  in  the  said  meeting  on  5 th September, 2023. India  has  been  participating  in  SCO  Justice  Ministers  Conference  from  the year,  2017.  The  details  of  previous  SCO  meetings,  where  India  had participated, are as under: (i)     The 5 th  Session of the Ministers of Justice of SCO Member States was held in Tashkent on 20-21 October, 2017. (ii)    The 6 th  Session of the Ministers of Justice of SCO Member States was held in Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyzstan on 24 th  August, 2018. (iii)    The 7 th  Session of the Ministers of Justice of SCO Member States was hosted by India on 16 th  October, 2020 through video conferencing. (iv)   The 8 th  Session of the Ministers of Justice of SCO Member States was held on 6 th  August, 2021 through video conferencing. (v)    The 9 th  Session of the Ministers of Justice of SCO Member States was held on 9 th  December, 2022 through video conferencing. (d)  The meetings are a regular mechanism of cooperation amongst the SCO Members  States.  The  participants  work  on  agreed  agenda  on  various cooperation activities in the field of Law and Justice.

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