Soli Sorabjee

New Delhi: The former Attorney General, Soli Sorabjee, has been appointed honorary member of the General Division of the Order of Australia in recognition of his contribution to strengthening the legal relations between New Delhi and Canberra.

The award was announced on Thursday, after approval by Australia's Governor-General, Major General Michael Jeffery, AC CVO MC (Retd.), according to an Australian High Commission release.

"The award recognises Mr. Sorabjee's outstanding contribution to development of closer links between Australia and India in the legal field," said Australia's High Commissioner John McCarthy.

Important work

"Mr. Sorabjee's professional links with Australian judiciary, law academics and other eminent legal figures continue to open opportunities for expanding the links between India and Australia. I am delighted that his important work — and by implication the significance of the expanding legal links — are being recognised with this important award."

When in Australia in 2000, Mr. Sorabjee highlighted the need for both countries to use each other's superior court judgments in cases involving similar areas of law. During a recent mission by a team, led by Australia's Solicitor-General, Mr. Sorabjee involved himself actively for its success.

"Mr. Sorabjee's support continues to assist Australia's International Legal Services Advisory Council in its work in developing Australia-India links in law and legal services," the release said.

Active in rights law

Mr. Sorabjee has been active in international human rights law, serving as Special Rapporteur reporting on the 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, he was elected chairperson of the 56th sessions of the United Nations Sub Commission on Promotion and Protection of Human Rights.

Mr. Sorabjee is an expert in constitutional issues and administrative law and he has argued cases of Constitutional importance in the Supreme Court

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