The conference organised by the Qatar Law Forum last week in Doha attracted large number of lawyers, judges and jurists from different parts of the world, including India. The theme was ‘Global Commitment to the Rule of Law’. The warmth and geniality of Lord Harry Woolf of Barnes, the moving spirit of the conference, greatly contributed to its success

It was highlighted that Rule of Law is not a mere legalistic slogan. It denotes a way of life, commitment to certain principles and values. It is the priceless inheritance of civilisation. It transcends national frontiers and geographical boundaries, there is nothing Western or Eastern about it. The PM of Qatar emphasised that consolidation of the rule of law at the national level was not sufficient unless adopted at the international level. In his brilliant speech, Lord Phillips, President-elect of the Supreme Court of the UK, made an eloquent plea that without a universal commitment to the ultimate authority of law, founded on principles and administered through independent, stable and respected judicial systems, the world as we know it is not going to survive.

One of the documents circulated during the conference was ‘Judicial Guidelines’ from the second Khalifa of Islam in 1300 A.D. approx. to the Governor of Basra. Some of these guidelines are of abiding relevance. For example, “It is useless to talk of a right that is not enforceable”. Again, the admonition to “treat the people equally in your court...so that the noble shall not aspire to your partiality, nor the humble despair of your justice”. As regards precedents, it is stated, “Do not let a judgment that you judged yesterday, and then reconsidered prevent you from returning to the truth...which is better than persistence in error”. This is in keeping with our Supreme Court judgments.

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