The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations. Judges of the ICJ are elected by which organs of the United Nations?

Introduction / Context:
The International Court of Justice, or ICJ, is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations and settles legal disputes between states and gives advisory opinions on legal questions. Understanding how ICJ judges are elected helps students grasp the balance of power and representation within the UN system. This question asks which organs of the United Nations are responsible for electing judges to the ICJ, a fact that is regularly tested in world organisations and international law sections.

Given Data / Assumptions:

We are dealing with the International Court of Justice, ICJ.
The question concerns the election of ICJ judges.
The options provide different combinations of UN organs, including the General Assembly, Security Council, Economic and Social Council and Trusteeship Council.
We assume the question refers to the standard procedure followed for ICJ judge elections as described in the UN Charter and ICJ Statute.

Concept / Approach:
According to the UN Charter and ICJ Statute, judges of the International Court of Justice are elected independently but concurrently by the United Nations General Assembly and the Security Council. Candidates must obtain an absolute majority in both bodies to be elected. This dual election process reflects both the principle of sovereign equality in the General Assembly and the special responsibility of the Security Council for peace and security. Other organs like the Economic and Social Council or Trusteeship Council do not participate in these elections.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that both the General Assembly and the Security Council have roles in selecting ICJ judges. Step 2: Elections take place separately in these two organs, but a candidate must win in both to secure a seat on the Court. Step 3: Among the options, only the one mentioning the Security Council and the General Assembly together accurately reflects this dual election procedure. Step 4: The Economic and Social Council and Trusteeship Council have no formal role in the selection of ICJ judges. Step 5: Therefore, choose the Security Council and the General Assembly as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
Verification can be done by consulting the Statute of the International Court of Justice, which clearly states that judges are elected by the General Assembly and the Security Council. Summaries of UN organs in textbooks and GK guides also emphasise this procedure. This cross check ensures that students do not mistakenly attribute the election power to other councils like ECOSOC, which focuses on economic and social issues rather than judicial appointments.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
The Economic and Social Council: ECOSOC deals with economic and social matters and does not elect ICJ judges.

The Trusteeship Council and the Economic and Social Council: The Trusteeship Council was created to supervise trust territories and has become largely inactive; neither body elects ICJ judges.

The Security Council: While the Security Council does participate in elections, it does so jointly with the General Assembly, so naming it alone is incomplete and incorrect.

Common Pitfalls:
A common pitfall is to assume that any high level UN body can elect judges, leading to confusion between ECOSOC, the Security Council and the General Assembly. Another error is to remember only that the Security Council is involved and overlook the equally important role of the General Assembly. To avoid such mistakes, students should memorise a simple rule: ICJ judges are elected by both the General Assembly and the Security Council acting independently but simultaneously, which reinforces the idea that two organs share this responsibility.

Final Answer:
Judges of the International Court of Justice are elected by the Security Council and the General Assembly of the United Nations.