The present document of the International Commission of Jurists reviews the recommendations made by the Justice Malimath Committee from an international human rights perspective. It seeks to create a public and political debate on the recommendations on Criminal Reforms in light of international human rights standards and the international legal obligations of India. The ICJ would like to intervene in the legal debate to draw attention to the international standards concerning the right to a fair trial. The ICJ states that there are international standards of a non-binding nature which illustrate human rights in the administration of justice, and in particular criminal justice. These are declaratory in nature and influence international standards on the right to fair trial as interpreted by national and international human rights bodies and tribunals. On a universal level, there are, in particular the Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers.