Amity International Moot Court Competition, the annual flagship event of Amity Law School, AUUP was organized with a focus to bring innovation and change to traditional mooting. Maharashtra National Law University, Mumbai beat Makare University, Uganda to emerge winners of the 10th edition of the competition. The Best Researcher award was bagged by Hidayatullah National Law University, Raipur while Rini Mehra of Faculty Law, Delhi won the Best Oralist Award. Participants of 93 teams from India and across the globe were given a first-hand experience of communicating and mooting with the teams from within the country and across the globe virtually. An e-souvenir was also launched during the proceedings.
While stimulating proceedings before the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the competition provided participants an opportunity to discuss fascinating issues of law of the sea, and to engage with the many procedural facets of international dispute settlement. The cases involved complex issues of international law, ranging from State responsibility to the law of sea & maritime rights and an insight into international legal concerns. The competition saw rich participation of students from national and international universities and colleges including Australia, Russia, Uganda, Taiwan, Georgia, South Africa and Bangkok, among others.
Chief Guest for the valedictory function Hon’ble Mr. Justice Sanjay Karol, Chief Justice, Patna High Court averred that each of the speaker comes from a distinct socio-economic background with a common thread of having climbed the stairs with a shared objective of serving the society. He suggested students to also look at exploring Judgeship as a career. The Chief Guest further stated that the zeal, spirit & teamwork has been the silver lining exhibited during this pandemic. He advocated to the future generation to have a scientific temper with spirit of humanism, enquiry and reform. Justice Karol suggested students to base their work and career in accordance with the Indian Constitution. He advised students to go beyond the curriculum, travel, read, explore to gain education.
Dr. Ashok K. Chauhan, Founder President, Amity Education Group congratulated the participating students and averred that they hold a successful future. He asked students to follow the suggestions and lessons shared by the guests to reach the pinnacle of success. Dr. Chauhan shared his mission ATOMIC (Attack the Opportunities and Monitor the Implementation and Compliance) to build upon the opportunities bestowed by this Covid crisis.
Hon’ble Mr. Justice Anchitya Malla Barua, Gauhati High Court while addressing the future lawyers shared the history of the moot court concept that gives students an insight into the real world of law. He averred that the choice of topic ‘Law of Seas’ is important to prepare lawyers of the future for the international market while giving them an opportunity to interact with students from across the globe.
Hon’ble Mr. Justice Anup Jairam Bhambhani, Delhi High Court shared with the students that law is a very serious avocation. He stressed on the fact that the future lawyers must stand out the day they walk out with a degree. He shared that getting people justice is a very meaningful in life and called for doing unending hard work to succeed. He also suggested them to have indomitable patience, unwavering perseverance and not let anyone deter them. He advised them to learn to distinguish relevant from the irrelevant and to keep thinking along with their work.
Hon’ble Mr. Justice Dr. S.N. Pathak, Jharkhand High Court shared that the best things in life come through persistence. He stated that moot court is the first chance to express what they have acquired though their theoretical knowledge. He averred chasing perfection can catch excellence and moot court is the beginning to this chase. He stressed on the importance of character and wished students success in their future endeavours.
Hon’ble Mr. Justice Rajendra Kumar Srivastava, Madhya Pradesh High Court stated that the virtual competition suggests that legal fraternity is ready to adapt contemporary changes. He shared that mooting gives an opportunity to students to participate in issues surrounding the domestic and international markets. He advised students to remember that process of participation is equally important as the final presentation.
Hon’ble Mr. Justice Suresh Kait, Delhi High Court said that such virtual competitions are the need of the present times. He averred that students should not be afraid of challenges in life as it gives them an opportunity to learn & work happily with an open mind. He asked students to be honest in life and keep working hard as there is no substitute for hard work & luck follows with success.
The final round of the competition was adjudged by Mr. Michael Peil, Vice Dean of Jigme Singye Wangchuck School of Law, Bhutan, Dr. Robert Beckman, Emeritus Professor, National University of Singapore and Mr. Saju Jakob, Advocate, Supreme Court of India.
Also present on the occasion were Prof. (Dr.) D.K. Bandyopadhyay, Chairman, Amity Law Schools, AUUP; Prof. (Dr.) Shefali Raizada, Additional Director/HOI, Amity Law School, Noida; Prof. (Dr.) Aditya Tomer, Additional Director/HOI, Amity Law School, Noida and Dr. Bhavna Batra, Faculty Convenor, AIM2020.