Strait of Hormuz: IRGC Seizes India Tanker — UNCLOS Art 37-38 | CLAT 2027

International & Indian Legal Framework

• UNCLOS 1982, Articles 37-38 — Transit passage through international straits; non-suspendable; ships and aircraft of all states entitled.
• UNCLOS Art 87 — Freedom of the high seas (navigation, overflight, fishing, submarine cables).
• UNCLOS Art 17-21 — Innocent passage through territorial sea (contrast with transit passage).
• SUA Convention 1988 — Suppression of Unlawful Acts against Maritime Safety (post-Achille Lauro).
• Merchant Shipping Act, 1958 (India) — Registration, flag, crew standards.
• Maritime Zones Act, 1976 (India) — Territorial waters (12 nm), contiguous zone (24 nm), EEZ (200 nm).
• Article 51, Constitution of India (DPSP) — State to promote international peace and respect for international law.

CLAT Angle: Public International Law Bonanza

Law of the sea and diaspora evacuation are staple CLAT 2027 topics. Expect: UNCLOS article numbers, the Enrica Lexie arbitration, the distinction between innocent passage (suspendable) and transit passage (non-suspendable), and operation names (Sankalp, Kaveri, Ganga, Sindhu).

Key Cases, Operations, Facts

Mnemonic: “37-38 & You Can’t Wait”

Transit passage (Art 37-38) is non-suspendable — coastal state cannot pause it. Contrast innocent passage (Art 17-21) which can be suspended for security.

India’s evacuation ops — “SKGS“: Sankalp (escort), Kaveri (Sudan), Ganga (Ukraine), Sindhu (Iran).

Practice Quiz — 10 CLAT-Style Questions

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