Executive Summary:
The Minister of Law and Justice addressed Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 190 on August 1, 2025, regarding the bilateral legal cooperation agreement between India and Morocco. The agreement aims to enhance cooperation in judicial and legal spheres through Mutual Legal Assistance Treaties (MLATs) and a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The MoU focuses on strengthening institutional linkages, promoting the exchange of legal knowledge and expertise, and encouraging collaborative activities such as training and research.
Key Points / Main Content:
Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT):
* Facilitates mutual legal assistance in civil and commercial matters, according to national laws.
* Covers service of summons, judicial documents, evidence taking via Letters of Request, and execution of judicial judgments, decrees, settlements, and arbitral awards.
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU):
* Aims to enhance mutual cooperation in the legal field between India and Morocco.
* Strengthens institutional linkages and promotes exchange of legal knowledge, experiences, and expertise.
* Encourages collaborative activities like training, research, and capacity building.
* Involves a joint coordination committee for planning annual cooperation programs.
Key Features of the MoU:
* Exchange of Expertise: Sharing experiences related to the functioning of Ministries and judicial systems.
* Legislation Exchange: Sharing legal publications, bulletins, and legislative materials.
* Capacity Building: Organizing symposiums, conferences, and joint courses on legal issues.
* Legal Training and Delegation Exchange: Facilitating visits and training for lawyers and legal experts.
* Judicial Information Systems: Cooperation in developing national legal information systems and technological advancements.
Legal Modernization:
* Promoting legal modernization through structured cooperation based on the MoU.
* Facilitates exchange of experiences, legislation, and expertise in civil and criminal justice systems.
* Promotes mutual visits, delegation exchanges, and training opportunities for lawyers and legal experts.
Diplomatic and Developmental Outcomes:
* Enhances diplomatic relations through mutual understanding and capacity building in the legal field.
* Promotes joint organization of symposiums, conferences, and training programs.
* Fosters development through shared digital practices and tools in justice delivery.
* Contributes to institutional strengthening, capacity development, and modernization of legal frameworks.
Impact Analysis:
Ministry of Law and Justice of the Republic of India and the Ministry of Justice of the Kingdom of Morocco:
*Impact: Enhanced cooperation, exchange of expertise, and modernization of legal systems.
*Action Required: Participate in joint coordination committee activities and implement annual cooperation programs.
Lawyers and Legal Experts in India and Morocco:
*Impact: Opportunities for training, exchange of knowledge, and participation in joint courses and conferences.
*Action Required: Participate in training programs and exchange opportunities to enhance legal expertise.
Judicial Systems of India and Morocco:
*Impact: Modernization through shared digital practices, exchange of information systems, and capacity building.
*Action Required: Implement shared practices and tools to improve justice delivery.
Key Entities Referenced
India: One of the two countries involved in the Bilateral Legal Cooperation agreement.
Morocco: One of the two countries involved in the Bilateral Legal Cooperation agreement.
Ministry of Law and Justice: The Indian ministry responsible for legal affairs and implementing the agreement with Morocco.
Ministry of Justice of the Kingdom of Morocco: The Moroccan ministry responsible for justice and implementing the agreement with India.
Mutual Legal Assistance Treaties MLAT: An agreement between India and Morocco for promoting fruitful cooperation in the Judicial and legal spheres.
Memorandum of Understanding MoU: An agreement between the Ministry of Law Justice of the Republic of India and the Ministry of Justice of the Kingdom of Morocco to enhance mutual cooperation in the legal field.
Shri Vishnu Dayal Ram: Member of Parliament who raised the question about Bilateral Legal Cooperation with Morocco in Lok Sabha.
Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal: Minister of State in the Ministry of Law and Justice; and Minister of State in the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, who provided the answer to the question.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE
DEPARTMENT OF LEGAL AFFAIRS
LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO. *190
TO BE ANSWERED ON FRIDAY, THE 01st AUGUST, 2025
Bilateral Legal Cooperation with Morocco
*190. Shri Vishnu Dayal Ram:
Will the Minister of LAW AND JUSTICE be pleased to state:
(a) the objective and features of the agreement signed between India and Morocco
for Bilateral Legal Cooperation;
(b) the manner in which the Government is working to improve legal modernisation
through Indo-Moroccan collaboration; and
(c) the details on the wider diplomatic and developmental outcomes achieved through
these legal and technological exchanges?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF LAW AND
JUSTICE; AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PARLIAMENTARY
AFFAIRS
(SHRI ARJUN RAM MEGHWAL)
(a) to (c) : A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) to (c) OF THE LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO. *190 FOR ANSWER ON 01-08-2025 REGARDING
“BILATERAL LEGAL COOPERATION WITH MOROCCO”
(a) The objective and features of the agreement signed between India and Morocco i.e.
Mutual Legal Assistance Treaties (MLAT) for promoting fruitful cooperation in the Judicial
and legal spheres, this agreement facilitates the widest measures of mutual legal assistance
in civil and commercial matters in accordance with national laws. Assistance under the
agreement applies specifically to:
• The service of summons and other judicial documents or processes;
• The taking of evidence by means of Letters of Request;
• The execution of judicial judgments (in the case of the Kingdom of Morocco),
decrees (in the case of the Republic of India), settlements, and arbitral awards.
Aligned with the objective of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between
the Ministry of Law & Justice of the Republic of India and the Ministry of Justice of the
Kingdom of Morocco is to enhance mutual cooperation in the legal field. This MoU aims to
strengthen institutional linkages, promote the exchange of legal knowledge, experiences,
and expertise, and encourage collaborative activities such as training, research, and
capacity-building between the two countries.
Key features of the MoU include:
• Exchange of Expertise: Sharing experiences and expertise related to the
functioning of the respective Ministries and judicial systems.
• Legislation Exchange: Mutual sharing of legal publications, bulletins, and legislative
materials to enhance legal understanding and cooperation.
• Capacity Building: Organising symposiums, conferences, and joint courses on
various legal issues and applications.
• Legal Training and Delegation Exchange: Facilitating visits and training
opportunities for lawyers and legal experts, including participation in each other’s
training programs.
• Judicial Information Systems: Cooperation in developing national legal information
systems and related technological advancements.• Implementation Mechanism: Formation of a joint coordination committee
responsible for planning annual cooperation programs that are practical and within
the financial capabilities of both parties.
This MoU provide opportunity to legal fraternity in India and Morocco to exchange their
experience and expertise, in the fields of law and legislation.
(b) Based on the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Ministry of Law &
Justice of the Republic of India and the Ministry of Justice of the Kingdom of Morocco, the
Government is promoting legal modernization through structured cooperation in several key
areas: The MoU facilitates exchange of experiences, legislation, and expertise between the
two countries, in civil and criminal justice systems.
Additionally, the MoU promotes the exchange of legal publications, bulletins, and
research, MoU provides for mutual visits and delegation exchanges to study each other’s
legal institutions and administrative frameworks and also the training opportunities for
lawyers through mutual exchange of legal experts.
(c) The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) facilitates exchange of legal and judicial
expertise between the two countries, enhancing diplomatic relations through mutual
understanding and capacity building in the legal field. It promotes joint organization of
symposiums, conferences, and training programs, allowing both nations to learn from each
other’s civil and criminal justice systems and legal reforms.
From a technological perspective, the agreement emphasizes exchange of national
information systems related to judicial and legal areas, fostering development through
shared digital practices and tools in justice delivery. These exchanges contribute to
institutional strengthening, capacity development, and modernization of legal frameworks,
ultimately promoting rule of law and justice cooperation at a bilateral level.
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