Global Trust in Indian Judiciary: Justice S. Muralidhar Appointed Chair of UN Inquiry on Palestine and Israel
In a moment of rare international recognition for the Indian judiciary, Dr. Justice S. Muralidhar, former Chief Justice of the Odisha High Court and a distinguished Senior Advocate, has been appointed Chair of the United Nations Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel.
The appointment is being widely seen not merely as a personal milestone for Justice Muralidhar, but as a profound affirmation of the credibility, independence, and moral authority of Indian judicial institutions on the global stage.
With this decision, Justice Muralidhar will now lead the three-member Commission established by the UN Human Rights Council to investigate alleged violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law in one of the world’s most complex and sensitive conflict zones.
He succeeds renowned Brazilian jurist Paulo Sérgio Pinheiro, who completed his tenure as Chair after steering the Commission through a critical phase of its work.
A Mandate Rooted in Accountability and Justice
The Commission’s mandate is both expansive and exacting. It is tasked with examining all alleged violations of international humanitarian law and abuses of international human rights law, identifying those responsible, and issuing concrete recommendations to ensure accountability and justice for victims.
Beyond documenting individual incidents, the Commission has also been entrusted with addressing the deeper, structural causes of the conflict—recurring cycles of violence, prolonged instability, and systemic patterns of discrimination and repression based on national, ethnic, racial, or religious identity.
The leadership of such a mandate demands not only legal expertise, but moral clarity, independence of thought, and global credibility—qualities widely associated with Justice Muralidhar’s judicial career.
An Internationally Respected Panel
Justice Muralidhar will work alongside Florence Mumba of Zambia, an internationally respected jurist, and Chris Sidoti of Australia, who has been reappointed to the Commission after previously serving as a member.
The continuity provided by Sidoti, combined with Justice Muralidhar’s leadership, is expected to lend both experience and renewed institutional confidence to the Commission’s work.
The Commission itself was established in 2021 through Human Rights Council Resolution S-30/1, which called for an urgent, ongoing, and independent inquiry into alleged violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Israel since April 13 of that year.
Expanded Role Amid Heightened Global Scrutiny
The significance of Justice Muralidhar’s appointment is further amplified by the evolving scope of the Commission’s work.
In 2024, the Human Rights Council expanded its directives, instructing the Commission to submit additional reports on Israeli settlers and on arms sales, including weapons used during Israeli military operations in Gaza since October 7, 2023.
In a report released in September 2025, the Commission concluded that Israel had committed genocide against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip—a finding that placed the Commission at the centre of intense global debate and scrutiny.
Steering such a body requires exceptional judicial temperament and the confidence of the international community—trust now explicitly vested in Justice Muralidhar.
A Moment of Pride for India
As news of the appointment spread, a palpable wave of pride and happiness swept through India’s legal fraternity.
Judges, senior advocates, and legal scholars viewed the development as recognition not only of Justice Muralidhar’s integrity and scholarship, but also of India’s long tradition of judicial independence and constitutional values.
This appointment stands as a reminder that Indian judges are not merely interpreters of domestic law, but contributors to the global legal conscience.
In an era marked by polarisation and contested narratives, the international community’s decision to entrust such a sensitive mandate to an Indian jurist carries deep symbolic and substantive significance.
Justice Muralidhar’s elevation to this role underscores a simple but powerful truth: when credibility, courage, and commitment to justice converge, national boundaries recede—and the rule of law becomes truly universal.
#JusticeSMuralidhar #IndianJudiciary #GlobalRecognition #UnitedNations #HumanRights #RuleOfLaw #IndiaAtUN #JudicialExcellence #InternationalTrust #GlobalJustice
