New Delhi, September 16, 2024 — The Indian Supreme Court has ruled to reject a petition that sought to prohibit the supply of arms and military aid to Israel from Indian companies. The court stated that it lacks jurisdiction to intervene in foreign policy matters.This is reported by HindustanTimes
Reasons for Petition Rejection
The petition was filed by Ashok Kumar Sharma and others through lawyer Prashant Bhushan. The petitioners argued that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza and that arms exports from India violate the Genocide Convention. They called on the Indian government to cancel all licenses for arms exports to Israel.
Supreme Court Decision
Chief Justice D. Y. Chandrachud, along with Justices J. B. Pardiwala and Manoj Mishra, noted that the Indian government holds exclusive powers in foreign policy. The Supreme Court does not have the authority to judge the actions of Israel, an independent sovereign state. “Indian companies supplying arms to Israel could face legal consequences for breaching contractual obligations if they choose to halt exports,” the court added.
Strategic Partnership Between India and Israel
India and Israel are close strategic partners with growing cooperation in advanced defense technologies and military equipment. Israel supplies India with counter-terrorism equipment, including surveillance and cybersecurity systems.
The ongoing conflict between Israel and Gaza has resulted in significant casualties on both sides. On October 7, 2023, armed Hamas militants breached the Gaza-Israel border, killing around 1,200 people.
