Fifteen Judges from Seven High Courts participate in the two-day Judicial Workshop
GANDHINAGAR: Gujarat Maritime University (GMU), in association with the National Judicial Academy (NJA), on Saturday inaugurated a two-day Judicial Workshop on “Admiralty & Shipping Laws” at Gujarat Maritime University. The workshop brings together Hon’ble Judges from several High Courts across India and distinguished judicial resource persons to deliberate on contemporary developments and emerging challenges in admiralty and Shipping laws.
The workshop was inaugurated by Hon’ble Mr. Justice N. V. Anjaria, Judge, Supreme Court of India, as Chief Guest. Hon’ble Mr. Justice Aniruddha Bose, Former Judge, Supreme Court of India, and Director, National Judicial Academy, delivered the keynote address.
Fifteen judges from seven High Courts — Andhra Pradesh, Bombay, Calcutta, Gujarat, Kerala, Madras and Orissa — exercising admiralty jurisdiction are participating in the two-day workshop, with the following four distinguished judges serving as resource persons:
• Hon’ble Mr. Justice K. R. Shriram, Former Chief Justice, High Court of Madras, and Former Chief Justice, High Court of Rajasthan
• Hon’ble Mr. Justice D. V. S. S. Somayajulu, Former Judge, High Court of Andhra Pradesh
• Hon’ble Mr. Justice Abdul Quddhose, Judge, High Court of Madras
• Hon’ble Mr. Justice Syam Kumar V. M., Judge, High Court of Kerala
Inaugural Address by Justice N. V. Anjaria
Delivering the inaugural address, Justice Anjaria described admiralty and shipping law as a significant yet relatively distinctive subject within contemporary legal discourse. He observed that maritime law deserves greater attention given India’s extensive coastline, its strategic position in the Indian Ocean, and the central role of maritime activity in commerce and human enterprise.
Justice Anjaria traced the historical evolution of admiralty jurisdiction in India, particularly its development through the High Courts of Bombay, Calcutta and Madras, and the subsequent judicial developments that followed. He reflected on the landmark M.V. Elisabeth judgment of the Supreme Court of India, which played an important role in moving Indian admiralty law beyond the limitations of its colonial statutory inheritance.
He also referred to subsequent legislative developments culminating in the Admiralty (Jurisdiction and Settlement of Maritime Claims) Act, 2017, observing that this legislation opened a new chapter in Indian admiralty law, and expressed the hope that the workshop’s deliberations would further the development and understanding of this important area of law.
Keynote Address by Justice Aniruddha Bose
In his keynote address, Justice Bose emphasised the importance of bringing judicial institutions and universities together to strengthen the understanding and development of specialised areas of law. He observed that collaborative programmes between judicial institutions and universities help bridge the gap between academic scholarship and judicial practice, creating a meaningful space for dialogue and reflection.
Justice Bose highlighted the appropriateness of Gujarat as the venue for a workshop on maritime law, given the State’s historic relationship with maritime trade and its contemporary significance in India’s maritime economy. He reflected on the evolution of admiralty jurisdiction in India and the continuing importance of judicial developments in shaping the country’s maritime legal framework.
He further noted that the scope of maritime law is expanding beyond traditional shipping disputes to encompass emerging concerns such as marine environmental degradation, exploitation of marine resources, and maritime security, stressing the need to continuously update legal understanding in response to these evolving challenges. He commended Gujarat Maritime University for its specialised focus on maritime law.
Welcome Address by GMU Provost
In his welcome address, GMU Provost Prof. (Dr.) S. Shanthakumar highlighted the University’s growing engagement with the maritime industry, leading shipping companies, maritime law firms and international institutions. He emphasised GMU’s commitment to advancing maritime legal education, research, capacity building and policy engagement through specialised academic centres, professional programmes and international collaborations.
He underlined the significance of the workshop in the context of India’s evolving maritime legal landscape, noting that the expansion of admiralty jurisdiction beyond the traditional three High Courts to the coastal High Courts under the Admiralty (Jurisdiction and Settlement of Maritime Claims) Act, 2017 has resulted in an increasingly complex body of maritime litigation. The workshop, he observed, provides an important forum for judicial reflection on issues relating to maritime claims, ship arrest, limitation of liability, marine insurance, cargo disputes, and the harmonisation of domestic admiralty law with international maritime standards.
Prof. Shanthakumar also highlighted the preparation of a comprehensive compilation of significant and landmark judgments relating to admiralty law, prepared under the guidance of Justice K. R. Shriram. Running to nearly 3,000 pages, the compilation has been circulated electronically among the participating judges to facilitate academic and judicial engagement while reducing the use of printed material.
About the Workshop
The two-day workshop provides a structured platform for judicial deliberation on contemporary issues in admiralty and shipping law, including maritime claims, ship arrest, carriage of goods, marine insurance, limitation of liability, and the interplay between domestic admiralty law and international maritime standards. It is expected to contribute to greater consistency, clarity and effectiveness in the adjudication of maritime disputes in India.
The workshop marks an important step in strengthening the collaboration between Gujarat Maritime University and the National Judicial Academy, and reinforces GMU’s commitment to serving as a leading institutional platform for maritime legal education, judicial capacity building and research.
List of Hon’ble Judges Participating in the Workshop
Hon’ble Mr. Justice Subba Reddy Satti, Judge, High Court of Andhra Pradesh
Hon’ble Mr. Justice Arindam Mukherjee, Judge, High Court of Calcutta
Hon’ble Mr. Justice Raja Basu Chowdhury, Judge, High Court of Calcutta
Hon’ble Mr. Justice Kamal R. Khata, Judge, High Court of Bombay
Hon’ble Mr. Justice Sandeep V. Marne, Judge, High Court of Bombay
Hon’ble Mr. Justice Firdosh Phiroze Pooniwalla, Judge, High Court of Bombay
Hon’ble Mr. Justice P. B. Balaji, Judge, High Court of Madras
Hon’ble Mr. Justice V. Lakshminarayanan, Judge, High Court of Madras
Hon’ble Mr. Justice Aniruddha P. Mayee, Judge, High Court of Gujarat
Hon’ble Ms. Justice Nisha M. Thakore, Judge, High Court of Gujarat
Hon’ble Mr. Justice V. Narasingh, Judge, High Court of Orissa
Hon’ble Mr. Justice Murahari Sri Raman, Judge, High Court of Orissa
Hon’ble Mr. Justice Sathish Ninan, Judge, High Court of Kerala
Hon’ble Mr. Justice M. A. Abdul Hakhim, Judge, High Court of Kerala
Hon’ble Mr. Justice S. Manu, Judge, High Court of Kerala
