The India Post, Chandigarh, 18th January, 2009 :The National rounds of the prestigious Philip C. Jessup Moot Court Competition organized by University Institute of Legal Studies (UILS) and Surana and Surana concluded today. The Competition was a simulation of a fictional dispute between countries before the International Court of Justice, the judicial organ of the United Nations.
Out of the 26 participating teams National Law University, Jodhpur, National Law School of India University, Bangalore, Symbiosis Society Law College, Pune and National Law Institute University, Bhopal qualified for the semi-final rounds. Hon’ble Mr. Justice J. S. Khehar and Hon’ble Mr. Justice K. S. Garewal, Judge, Punjab and Haryana High Court alongwith Dr. Balram Gupta, Senior Advocate, Punjab & Haryana High Court, Dr. Manoj K. Sinha, Director, ISIL, Dr. Gurjit Singh, Vice-Chancellor, Rajiv Gandhi National Law University, Patiala and Dr. C Jairaj from ISIL judged the semi-finals.
National Law School of India University, Bangalore and National Law Institute University, Bhopal qualified for the final rounds. This was judged by a seven judge bench constituting three sitting judges of the Supreme Court of India Hon’ble Mr. Justice Dalveer Bhandari, Hon’ble Mr. Justice Markandey Katju, Hon’ble Mr. Justice G. S. Singhvi alongwith Hon’ble Mr. Justice T. S. Thakur, Chief Justice, Punjab and Haryana High Court, Justice J. L. Gupta, Former Chief Justice, Kerala High Court, Dr. Manoj K. Sinha, Director, Indian Society of International Law (ISIL), and Dr. C. Jairaj from ISIL.
National Law School of India University, Bangalore emerged victorious and will represent India in the world finals to be held at Washington D.C. in March, 2009. The runners up team was National Law Institute University, Bhopal. Best Memorial was bagged by West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences, Kolkata the Second best Memorial was given to NLIU, Bhopal, the third best Memorial was given to NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad and fourth best Memorial went to University Institute of Legal Studies (UILS), Panjab University. Niranjan from NLSIU, Bangalore was declared the best student advocate and the best speaker for the final round was Asmita Singh from NLIU, Bhopal.
The Valedictory session and the Prize distribution function of the three day Moot Court Competition was held at the Law Auditorium. Prof. R. C. Sobti, Vice Chancellor, Panjab University and Prof. P. S. Jaswal, Director, UILS welcomed the esteemed guests. Hon’ble Mr. Justice Dalveer Bhandari felt privileged to deliver the valedictory address. He said “legal education is foundation of legal profession and moot court is integral part of it.” The guests of honour were Hon’ble Mr. Justice Markandey Katju, Hon’ble Mr. Justice G. S. Singhvi, Hon’ble Mr. Justice T. S. Thakur, Hon’ble Mr. Justice J. L. Gupta (retd.).
Dr. Shruti Bedi, Teacher Co-ordinator, UILS read out the report of the moot competition. She said, “Like a soldier faces a bullet, a lawyer faces a judge.” She further added that “This moot is one such exercise and our institute will follow many more.” The vote of thanks was delivered by Prof. Sangita Bhalla.
On this occasion a book titled “Public Interest Lawyering, Legal Aid and Para Legal Services” authored by Mr. Ajay Gulati, Assistant Advocate General, Government of Haryana and Co-authored by Dr. Jasmeet Kaur, Lecturer in Law, University Institute of Legal Studies, published by Central Law Publications, Allahabad was released by the Hon’ble Chief Guest.