Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law, Punjab in collaboration with the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) organised the 1st AIU National Moot Court Competition 2020 from 14th February to 16th February at its campus.A total of 13 teams from all over India participated in the event. The Moot proposition was based on Constitutional Law. The theme was ‘Centre State Relations and Election of Members to the Upper House (RajyaSabha)’.
The competition commenced with the inaugural session on 14th February 2020. Prof. (Dr.) ParamjitS.Jaswal, Vice-Chancellor, RGNUL; Prof. (Dr.) Naresh Kumar Vats, Registrar, RGNUL and Dr. Anand Pawar graced the occasion. While welcoming the participants and guests during the inaugural ceremony, Prof Jaswal spoke about importance of mooting for budding lawyers. He said, “Moot Court Competitions provide students of law an opportunity to test their skills for professional competence.”
Eight teams- NLIU Bhopal, SLS Pune, Banasthali Vidyapith, SOEL Chennai, School of Law, Christ, UPES Dehradun, Dr Panjabrao Deshmukh College of Law Amravati and Lovely Professional University Punjab competed in the quarter-finals. SLS Pune, Dr Panajbrao Deshmukh College of Law Amravati, School of Law, Christ and Lovely Professional University Punjab qualified for the semi-finals.The final round was judged by a panel consisting of Justice Rajive Bhalla, former judge at Punjab and Haryana High Court, Chandigarh ; Prof Nishta Jaswal, Vice Chancellor, HPNLU Shimla and Prof.AnandPawar, RGNUL.
Justice Rajive Bhalla was the chief guest for the valedictory ceremony and Prof Nishta Jaswal was the guest of honour. Justice Bhalla apprised the participants with the working of courts. He also spoke about the conduct of lawyers. Prof Nishta Jaswal, in her address, dwelled upon the importance of learning through Moot Court competitions.“While winning an event motivates, losing disheartens but gives an opportunity to participants to learn from defeat.” She further advised students to shun baser instincts and to inculcate sublime values of compassion and empathy to be successful in their lives. She also emphasized on the importance of the ‘emotional quotient’.
Lovely Professional University Punjab was felicitated with the Winners Trophy and the team from Dr PanjabraoDeshmukh College Amravati won the Runners-Up Trophy.Akanksha Asan are of Panjabrao Deshmukh College of Law won the Best Speaker Award, Priyadarshini VenkateshofSchool of Law, Christ won the Best Researcher Award and Lovely Professional University got the Best Memorial Award.
Professor Naresh Kumar Vats, Registrar, RGNUL extended vote of thanks. He eulogised the efforts of the RGNUL Moot Court Committee in conducting the event.