The idea for a moot based on animal law was conceived post a judgment given by the Supreme Court of India on 7th May 2014, when the constitutional status for the rights of animals like citizens was recognized. The Supreme Court banned the use and abuse of bulls and bullocks in Jallikattu, bullock-cart racing and all in other sports and entertainment based events or festivities. In an age of extreme awareness about the rights and duties of living beings, it is of utmost importance to ponder upon the status of all kinds of species including animals and treat them with equal respect and dignity.
After having gone through a rigorous process of memorial selection, 25 teams made it to the phase two of the competition i.e. the oral rounds. The moot was spread over three days, the first day, 26th August, was marked by the registration of teams and the exchange of memorials. The second day, 27th August began with the inaugural ceremony of the moot, chaired by Justice Dipak Misra, Judge, Supreme Court of India. Following the inaugural were the preliminary rounds and the quarter final rounds. The teams in the preliminary round were adjudged by practicing advocates, associates of law firms and academicians. With some of our eminent alumni on the panel of judges, the campus was yet again beaming with enliven smiles and memories.
The teams that broke into the quarter final rounds, included:
- University of Petroleum and Energy Studies (UPES)
- National Law University, Odhisa
- Damodaram Sanjivayya National Law University
- Amity Law School, Delhi
- Christ University, Bangalore
- Symbiosis Law School, Noida
- Government Law College, Mumbai
- University Institute of Legal Studies, Panjab University, Chandigarh
After two preliminary rounds and quarterfinals, four teams qualified for the semi-finals – Damodaram Sanjivayya National Law University (DSNLU), University Institute of Law School, Chandigarh (UILS), Government Law College, Mumbai (GLC) and Christ University, Bangalore. They were judged by Prof. Anand Pawar, Adv. R.L. Batta, Dr. Mandeep Mittal, Adv. Paul Saini.
The semi-finals were a feast to watch as all teams displayed remarkable command over both law and advocacy. The two teams that qualified for the final were – UILS & Christ University.
The final was judged by Justice Anil R Dave, Judge, Supreme Court of India, Justice Suryakant, Judge, Punjab and Haryana High Court, Chandigarh, Prof Veer Singh, Former Director (Academics) Chandigarh Judicial Academy, Chandigarh, Prof Nishtha Jaswal, Professor of Law, Department of Laws, Panjab University, Chandigarh, and Prof Anirudh Prasad, Professor of Law, Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law, Punjab.
Displaying dextrous skill in advocacy, the final was a feisty affair. It was ultimately decided in the favour of UILS, Chandigarh.
Winners: University Institute of Legal Studies, Panjab University, Chandigarh.
Runners-Up: Christ University, Bangalore.
Best Memorial: Faculty of Law – Law Centre- II, University of Delhi.
Best Speaker: Siddharth RK, Christ University, Banglore.
2nd Best Speaker: Varsha Gupta, UPES.
