PHAGWARA: The 6th edition of the Gavelled National Moot Court Competition at Lovely Professional University (LPU) reaffirmed its reputation as a premier platform for legal advocacy and reasoning. The three-day event organized by the LPU School of Law witnessed participation from 66 teams representing 19 states, including six National Law Universities, 15 Central and State Universities, and 35 Private Universities. The competition brought together some of the brightest legal minds from across India, engaging in rigorous legal battles to showcase their advocacy skills.
The event was inaugurated with the ceremonial strike of the gavel by the Chief Guest, Justice Rajive Bhalla (Retd.), Punjab & Haryana High Court, setting the stage for intense legal deliberations. The moot problem for this edition revolved around critical socio-legal issues, including caste-based discrimination, the admissibility of digital evidence, and mob justice, all analyzed under the new criminal code framework. The competition commenced with the Researcher’s Test, conducted via Mentimeter, transforming the traditional format into an interactive and engaging knowledge challenge.
LPU Chancellor Dr. Ashok Kumar Mittal emphasized the significance of law in shaping a fair society. He remarked, “Law is not merely a profession but a cornerstone of democracy, affecting every citizen. Not only law students but also the general public must understand legal principles and their implications.” Dr. Mittal further underscored the importance of practical learning in law, stating, “Law cannot be studied in isolation through books. It demands real-world exposure, ethical understanding, and interaction with legal luminaries.
The preliminary rounds saw 66 teams competing in 33 courtrooms, presided over by advocates from the Punjab & Haryana High Court and district courts. After thorough evaluation, the top 16 teams advanced to the quarterfinals, where they engaged in yet another set of fierce arguments across eight different courtrooms. The semifinals were adjudicated by senior advocates, who rigorously tested the depth of participants' legal knowledge and argumentation skills.
The grand finale of the competition was presided over by Justice Virender Singh, former Chief Justice of the Jharkhand High Court and Chairperson of the Armed Forces Tribunal. The final round tested the advocacy skills, legal reasoning, and persuasive abilities of the remaining teams. After an intense legal battle, Team TC-23 from Dr. B.R. Ambedkar National Law University, Sonipat, Haryana, emerged as the champion, winning the title along with a ₹51, 000 cash prize by successfully defending their arguments and impressing the esteemed panel.