Maritime Zones Act, 1976 and the Draft Treaty: The Question of Ratification

This paper makes a comparative analysis between the Indian Maritime Zones Act, 1976 and the Draft Treaty on the Law of the Sea. The Treaty will constrict the rights of the coastal state to control overflight and navigation of foreign vessels in the exclusive economic zone and on the continental shelf. It will also impose obligations on the coastal state beyond those enumerated in the Indian Maritime Zones Act. The Treaty however, will still deserve to be ratified and supported by India because the advantages of ratification will greatly outweigh the disadvantages.