The government Thursday gave its approval for accession to an international pact that would make it easier to collect evidence from abroad in civil or commercial matters. The approval of accession to the Hague Convention of 1970 was given at the meeting of the Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh [Images].

Briefing reporters after the meeting, Finance Minister P Chidambaram [Images] said the decision would establish a uniform procedure for sending, receiving and executing requests for taking of evidence to and from other countries. This would benefit the parties involved in the litigation by simplifying the process and assure greater certainty regarding admissibility of the evidence obtained before Indian courts and thereby facilitate speedier settlement of cases by the Indian courts, he said.

At present there are 43 countries in the Convention which include states where there is a large number of People of Indian Origin and Non-Resident Indians, like Australia [Images], the US, the UK, Germany [Images], Russia [Images], Sri Lanka [Images] and Singapore.

Separate bilateral agreements with the countries would not be required after India became party to the Convention. The Instrument of Accession to the Convention would be deposited with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Netherlands which is the depositary for the Convention. As per the requirement of the Convention, the Law Ministry and High Courts of all states and Union Territories would be designated as Central Authorities, he said.