From Supreme Court Bar to Global Bench: Pinky Anand Appointed Judge in Bahrain
(By Syed Ali Taher Abedi)
Delhi, 23, October, 2025- In a landmark development for international jurisprudence, Senior Advocate and former Additional Solicitor General of India, Ms. Pinky Anand, has been appointed as a judge of the Bahrain International Commercial Court (BICC). The court, which is modelled on the Singapore International Commercial Court, is set to officially launch on November 5, 2025, with a swearing-in ceremony attended by Bahrain’s monarchy and Prime Minister.
Ms. Anand brings to the bench over 40 years of distinguished legal experience, having served as Additional Solicitor General of India from 2014 to 2020. Her expertise spans constitutional law, civil and criminal litigation, and international arbitration. She has acted as an arbitrator in high-stakes commercial disputes across India, Dubai, Malaysia, and Singapore, earning recognition for her cross-border legal acumen.
Notably, Ms. Anand has also represented India in the BRICS group of leading emerging economies, where she served as a founding member of the BRICS Legal Forum, contributing to the development of collaborative legal frameworks among member nations.
With her appointment, the BICC now comprises 17 judges, including seven women and ten men, reflecting a growing commitment to gender diversity in global judicial institutions. The court will adjudicate complex international commercial disputes in English and Arabic, offering a unique appellate structure that includes Singapore’s international committee for English-language cases and a dedicated BICC appellate tribunal for Arabic proceedings.
Union Minister for Law and Justice, Mr. Arjun Ram Meghwal, expressed his happiness and pride over Ms. Anand’s elevation, calling it a moment of honour for India’s legal fraternity. Despite her new international role, Ms. Anand will continue her full-time legal practice in India while fulfilling her judicial responsibilities at the BICC.
This appointment not only underscores Ms. Anand’s stature in the legal world but also highlights India’s growing influence in shaping international commercial law.
