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International Public Law Notes Praveen Kumar 1 Contents UNIT 1 ..................................................................................................................................................... 4 1. Define International Law. Discuss its nature. .......................................

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International Public Law Notes by Praveen Kumar

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Contents UNIT 1 ..................................................................................................................................................... 4 1.

Define International Law. Discuss its nature. ................................................................................. 4

2.

Briefly explain the origin and development of International Law. ................................................. 8

3.

What are the theories as to the basis of International Law? ....................................................... 15

4.

Explain the various sources of International Law. ........................................................................ 20

5. Who are the subjects of International Law? Explain. Examine how far individuals and international organisations are subjects of international law.............................................................. 27 6.

Examine the theories as to the relation between International Law and State Law. .................. 30

7.

Explain the theories relating to relationship between International law and Municipal law ...... 33

8.

Whether International Law is Law in the true sense of the term? ............................................... 38

9.

Write short notes on: .................................................................................................................... 42 a)

Weakness of International Law. ............................................................................................... 42

UNIT – II................................................................................................................................................. 43 1.

Define State. What are the essential elements of the State? Explain the different kinds of States. 43

2.

What is ‘Recognition’? Explain the legal effects of recognition of a new state............................ 48

3. Briefly explain the various modes of acquiring and loss of territorial sovereignty under International Law. ................................................................................................................................. 57 4.

Problems: ...................................................................................................................................... 61 a)

Problem 1 .................................................................................................................................. 61

b)

Problem 2 .................................................................................................................................. 61

c)

Problem 3 .................................................................................................................................. 61

d)

Problem 4 .................................................................................................................................. 61

e)

Problem 5 .................................................................................................................................. 61

f)

Problem 6 .................................................................................................................................. 61

UNIT – III ............................................................................................................................................... 62 1. What is territorial jurisdiction of the State? State the principles governing the territorial jurisdiction. Who are exempted from territorial jurisdiction and to what extent? ............................. 62 2.

Explain personal jurisdiction and jurisdiction according to protective principle.......................... 68

3.

What is State Succession? Explain the rights and duties arising out of State Succession. ........... 70

4.

Discuss state responsibility. .......................................................................................................... 76

5.

‘As to inter-oceanic canals, special treaty rules are applicable.’ – Explain................................... 85

6.

Explain ‘territorial sea’ and ‘continental shelf’. ............................................................................ 87

7.

Write short note on : .................................................................................................................... 93 a)

Freedom of High Seas ............................................................................................................... 93

b)

Exclusive economic zone........................................................................................................... 94 2

8.

Problems: ...................................................................................................................................... 96 Problem 1 .......................................................................................................................................... 96 Problem 2 .......................................................................................................................................... 96 Problem 3 .......................................................................................................................................... 96 Problem 4 .......................................................................................................................................... 96 Problem 5 .......................................................................................................................................... 96

UNIT – IV ............................................................................................................................................... 97 1.

What is Asylum? Explain the different kinds of Asylum recognised under International Law ..... 97

2.

Discuss the various stages of concluding a Treaty. ..................................................................... 101

3.

Define the term ‘Treaty’. Explain termination of treaties. ......................................................... 105

4.

What is meant by extradition? State the conditions for extradition. ......................................... 110

5.

Discuss the privileges and immunities of diplomatic envoys. .................................................... 116

6. What is nationality? Explain the international importance of nationality. State the different modes of acquisition and loss of nationality. ..................................................................................... 122 7.

8.

Write short note on : .................................................................................................................. 128 a)

Double Nationality .................................................................................................................. 128

b)

Statelessness ........................................................................................................................... 128

c)

Classification of International Treaties. .................................................................................. 129

d)

Interpretation of treaties ........................................................................................................ 130

e)

Consuls .................................................................................................................................... 130 Problems: .................................................................................................................................... 132

Problem 1 ........................................................................................................................................ 132 Problem 2 ........................................................................................................................................ 132 Problem 3 ........................................................................................................................................ 132 Problem 4 ........................................................................................................................................ 132 Problem 5 ........................................................................................................................................ 132 Problem 6 ........................................................................................................................................ 132 Problem 7 ........................................................................................................................................ 132 UNIT – V .............................................................................................................................................. 133 1.

Explain the purposes and principles of United Nations Organisation ........................................ 133

2.

International Court of Justice...................................................................................................... 139

3.

Discuss the main features of World Trade Organisation. ........................................................... 144

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UNIT 1 1. Define International Law. Discuss its nature. Definition International law may be defined as that body of law which is composed for its greater part, of the principles and rules of conduct which states feel themselves bound to observe, and therefore, do commonly observe in their relations with each other, and which includes also: a. The rules of law relating to the functioning of international institutions or organisations, their relations with each other, and their relations with states and b. Certain rules of law relating to individuals and non-state entities so far as the rights or duties of such individuals and non-state entities are the concern of the international community. Discussion This definition goes beyond the traditional definition of international law as a system composed solely of rules governing the relations between states only. Such traditional definition of the subject, with its restriction to the conduct of states inter se, will be found set out in the majority of the older standard works of international law, but in view of developments during the last five decades, it cannot stand as a comprehensive description of all the rules now acknowledged to form part of the subject. These developments are principally: (i) The establishment of a large number of permanent international institutions or organisations such as, for example the United Nations and the World Health Organisation, regarded as possessing international legal personality, and entering into relations with each other and with states; and (ii) The present movement (sponsored by the United Nations and the Council of Europe) to protect human rights and fundamental freedoms of individuals, the creation of new rules for the punishment of persons committing the international crime of genocide or race destruction, and the imposition of duties on individuals under the historic judgment in 1946 of the International Military Tribunal of Nuremberg, by which certain acts were declared to be international crimes, namely, crimes against peace, crimes against humanity, and conspiracy to commit these crimes. Both categories of developments have given rise to new rules of international law, and may be expected to influence the growth of new rules in the future. The definition given above is intended to cover such new rules under heads (a) and (b). Nevertheless, from the practical point of view, it is well to remember that international law is primarily a system regulating the rights and duties of states inter se. So much is hinted at in the very title 'international law', or in another title frequently given to the subject-'the law of nations', although strictly speaking the word 'nation' is only in a crude way a synonym for the word 'state'." 4

Indeed, it is a very good practical working rule to regard international law as mainly composed of principles whereby certain rights belong to, or certain duties are imposed upon, states. Objective The main object of international law has been to produce an ordered rather than a just system of international relations, yet in later developments (for example, in the rules as to state responsibility concerning denial of justice, and in the rules and practice as to international arbitration) there has been evidence of some striving to ensure that, objectively, justice be done between states. Moreover, apart from seeing that states receive just treatment, the modern law of nations aims at securing justice for human beings. It is significant further that the word 'Justice' appears in the titles respectively of the Permanent Court of International Justice and its successor the International Court of Justice, both being judicial tribunals set up to decide disputes between states and to give advisory opinions according to international law. That justice is a primary purpose of the law of nations emphasises its kinship to state law. Expression of Rules a) Non-Binding Form Although the principal component of the system is represented by binding rules, imposing duties and conferring rights upon states, international lawyers have now increasingly to concern themselves with desiderata, guidelines, and recommended standards expressed in a non-binding form (e.g., as in the Declarations adopted by the United Nations General Assembly, the Recommendations and, even, Resolutions of the International Labour Conference, and the Recommendations of the periodical Consultative Meetings held under the Antarctic Treaty of 1959), but which many states concerned feel constrained to observe. Examples Further relatively recent examples are those of the standards formulated in the Guidelines adopted by the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) in 1980 on the Protection of Privacy and Transborder Flows of Personal Data, in the Code of Practice on Safety and Health in the Construction of Fixed Offshore Drilling Installations in the Petroleum Industry adopted by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) in 1981 and the International Code on the Marketing of Breastmilk substitutes approved by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in the same year. b) Quasi- Norms with Hortatory effect These may indeed eventually evolve into binding legal rules, e.g., by general acceptance or approval (cf art IX, para 4 of the Treaty on Antarctica of 1959 under which recommended measures may become 'effective' upon approval by the parties concerned). These guidelines or standards are sometimes characterised as being only of a 'hortatory' effect (urging to some course of conduct or action; exhorting; encouraging: a hortatory speech.), and, as well, have been described by certain French writers as 'normes sauvages', a broad translation of which expression' is 'quasi-norms'. c) Gentlemen's Agreements There are, apart from these, the so-called 'gentlemen's agreements', i.e. accepted undertakings governing, e.g., the equitable allocation to different regions of the world of the number of Judges of 5

the International Court of Justice that may be elected from the countries of each particular region/ or the pattern of the number of members for each region to be elected to the United Nations International Law Commission. d) Moral or Political Precepts; It is also possible that treaties, or provisions in treaties, may impose no binding obligations, or be intended not to create legal relations between the parties, but serve simply to formulate moral or political precepts; see the judgment of Gibbs C J of the High Court of Australia in Commonwealth of Australia v Tasmania (1983) 158 CLR 1 . General and regional rules of international law There is a recognised distinction between general and regional rules of international law, that is to say between, on the one hand, rules which, practically speaking, are of universal application, and, on the other hand, rules which have developed in a particular region of the world as between the states there located, without becoming rules of a universal character. Examples The best illustration of such regional rules are those which have been commonly followed by the group of Latin American states, for example, the special rules relating to diplomatic asylum. This socalled 'Latin American international law' and the nature of regional rules were discussed by the International Court of Justice in the Colombian-Peruvian Asylum Case (1950); According to the judgments in this case: a. Regional rules are not necessarily subordinate to general rules of international law but may be in a sense 'complementary' or 'correlated' thereto, and b. An international tribunal must, as between states in the particular region concerned, give effect to such regional rules as are duly proved to the satisfaction of the tribunal. In this connection, there may perhaps be noted also the modern tendency towards regionalism in international organisation, reflected in the fusion of states into regional 'functional' groupings (for example the European Economic Community (now the European Union) under the Treaty of Rome of 25 March 1957, establishing this Community), the conclusion of regional security treaties (for example, the North Atlantic Security Pact of 4 April 1949), the creation of regional international organs (for example, the South Pacific Commission established in 1948), and the establishment of regional international tribunals (for example, the European Court of Justice, and the European Court of Human Rights). Community Law The common rules (including the judge-made law of the European Court of Justice) applicable within the legal and administrative framework of the European Communities (of which the United Kingdom became a member in 1972-1973) have developed to such an extent since 1957 as to merit the designation of 'Community Law' (droit communautaire).

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One of the distinctive characteristics of this Community Law may be its direct applicability, in certain cases and under certain conditions, in the systems of national law of each member of the European Communities, with national Courts also ready to give effect to. Community Law where its primacy or supremacy ought to be recognised, e.g., if the Community rule or norm is clear and precise, and unconditional, without the need for further implementary action. In the United Kingdom, the applicability of Community Law and its legal effect as such are provided for in s 2 (1) of the European Communities Act 1972. The acceptance of the supremacy of Community Law over national domestic law has not been uniform throughout the member states of the Communities, with variations even in the approach of courts of the one member country. Community Law should not be regarded as a form of regional international law, but as sui generis. Community institutions, including the Court itself, recognise in appropriate circumstances the binding effect of general international law, for the Community itself is an institution of international law, being an independent sovereign entity with its own sovereign rights and its own legal system, independent of the member states.

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2. Briefly explain the origin and development of International Law. Introduction The modern system of international law is a product, roughly speaking, of o...