ARCHIVED MEDIA RELEASE
PA/14/2006 16 March 2006
Former Indian Attorney-General, Soli Sorabjee, awarded Australian honour
Senior Advocate of India’s Supreme Court and former Attorney-General and Solicitor-General of India, Mr Soli Sorabjee, has been appointed an honorary Member (AM) in the General Division of the Order of Australia, for service to Australia-India bilateral legal relations.
The award was announced on 16 March after approval by Australia’s Governor-General, His Excellency Major General Michael Jeffery AC CVO MC (Ret'd).
“The award recognizes Mr Sorabjee’s outstanding contribution to the development of closer links between Australia and India in the legal field,” said Australia’s High Commissioner to India, Mr John McCarthy
“Mr Sorabjee’s professional links with Australia’s judiciary, law academics and other eminent legal figures continue to open opportunities for expanding the links between India and Australia,” the High Commissioner added.
“I am delighted that Mr Sorabjee’s important work – and by implication the significance of the expanding legal links - are being recognized with this important award,” Mr McCarthy said.
On a visit to Australia in 2000, Mr Sorabjee was an early advocate of the benefits for both India and Australia in using more of each other’s superior court judgments for guidance in cases involving similar areas of law. In a recent legal services mission to India, led by Australia’s Solicitor-General, Mr Sorabjee’s active involvement was vital to the mission’s success. Mr Sorabjee’s support continues to assist Australia’s International Legal Services Advisory Council (ILSAC) in its work in developing Australia-India links in law and legal services.
Apart from being a former Attorney-General and Solicitor-General of India, Mr Sorabjee has been active in the field of international human rights law, serving as Special Rapporteur reporting on the human rights situation in Nigeria. In 1999, he was appointed Personal Envoy of the United Nations High Commission for Human Rights in East Timor.
In 2004, Mr Sorabjee was elected as Chairperson of the 56 th session of the United Nations Sub-Commission on Promotion and Protection of Human Rights.
In addition to his work in the human rights field, Mr Sorabjee is highly respected for his expertise on constitutional issues and administrative law. He has argued cases of constitutional importance in the Supreme Court.
For further information contact: Ms Megan Jones, Australian High Commission, ph 414 94319; 9810408466 (mobile).