Abstract

Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, 1963 (hereinafter �VCCR�) and Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, 1961 (hereinafter �VCDR�) are considered to be self-contained and to be very forthcoming in terms of there implementation by the countries who are party to it.1 The functioning of these treaties works on complete reciprocity. These instruments confer immunities to various diplomats and consular officers from both civil and criminal liabilities. It is well settled that the conferment of these immunities is absolutely necessary for these officers to perform their duties in the receiving states.4 However, despite its importance in the international law dynamics, immunity to diplomats has been one of the most debated subjects throughout the life of these instruments. The debate has centred around the misuse of immunity to commit serious crimes and various human rights violations. Many human rights having been largely codified in ICCPR and UDHR have attained the status of �jus cogens� and have thus become sacrosanct. Diplomatic immunity is, on the other hand, �jus cogens� as well. Thus, there has been a clash between these sacrosanct principles in the form that there have been instances both pre and post 2010 of serious crimes and human rights violations committed by diplomats and consular officers in the receiving state

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