UN General Assembly and Security Council to vote today for last seat at ICJ

The UN General Assembly and the Security Council will meet today for a new round of voting for the last seat at the International Court of Justice as the battle between India's nominee Dalveer Bhandari and Britain's Christopher Greenwood remained deadlocked. The election would be presided over by the General Assembly President, Miroslav Lajcak. Under the election procedure, the balloting would be held simultaneously by the Assembly and the Council. 

India has asked world community to back its candidate Justice Dalveer Bhandari. India's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Syed Akbaruddin told representatives from more than 160 countries at a reception hosted for Bhandari in UN Headquarters that momentum lies with India and it will ensure that the will of the majority prevails. He asked the



representatives to extend their support for Judge Bhandari. 

Meanwhile, media reports say that UK is looking to invoke a mechanism of Joint Conference of General Assembly and Security Council, which has never been used in the history of ICJ, to choose the judge. The move intends to invalidate popular support for Bhandari. The UK's candidate Christopher Greenwood holds on to a slender lead in the 15-member Council. 

Under the present rules, this is enough to offset the nearly two-thirds support for Bhandari in the General Assembly.

Bhandari and Greenwood, who are seeking re-election at the Hague-based ICJ, are locked in a major battle as 11 rounds of elections held in both the UNGA and UNSC have failed to yield results.