Moot Court Society Annual Report (2017 - 2018)

Faculty-in-charge: Dr. Pratapsinh Salunke

Reported by: Ms. Niyati Shah (5th B.S.L. LL.B.) and Mr. Shreyas Lele (4th B.A. LL.B.)

The Moot Court Society for the academic year 2017-18 was constituted in August, 2017 after two challenging Oral and Written rounds, which witnessed active participation from over 250 students. Out of all the aspirants, the top 60 scorers made their way to the Moot Court Society. This year, the 7 students from higher batches were nominated as Members of the Moot Court Society; Ms. Niyati Shah, Ms. Palak Arora, Ms. Radha Naik, Mr. Shashank Sardesai, Mr. Bharath Senan (all 5th B.S.L.LL.B.), Mr. Kaustubh Moghe (2nd LL.B.) and Mr. Shreyas Lele (4th B.A.LL.B.). The nominated members assisted in the organisation of this event. This year’s moot problem was drafted by Adv. Abhishek Chitnis, an alumnus of our college.

This year was one of tremendous participation by our students in various state, national and international level moot court competitions, bagging various prizes and trophies in the same.

This year, our college organized the 10th edition of the Lokmanya Tilak National Appellate Moot Court Competition on the 9th& 10th of March, 2018. With the blessings and support of our Principal, Dr. Rohini Honap, the Faculty Member in charge of the Moot Court Society, Dr. Pratapsinh Salunke, other teaching and non-teaching staff, the event turned out to be a big success. Student Coordinators for the event Ms. Niyati Shah, Ms. Palak Arora and Mr. Shreyas Lele, other members of the Moot Court Society and volunteers toiled relentlessly for its smooth conduction.

The moot problem for the competition was criminal in nature and was based on a real case pending before the Hon’ble Bombay High Court. The same was selected and finalized under the guidance of Adv. Rohan Nahar and Adv. Kiran Kothadiya.

The competition received strong participation from 14 colleges across the country. The event was inaugurated at the hands of Hon’ble Justice Shri. Hosbet Suresh, Retired Judge, Bombay High Court and Dr. Sharad Kunte, Chairman of the Deccan Education Society.

The competition was conducted over the course of three rounds: the Preliminary round, the Semi-final round and the Final round. The judges for the Preliminary round were all practising advocates of the Pune Bar; Adv. Aditya Balthakur, Adv. Pushpsheel Thakar, Adv. Rohit Tulpule, Adv. Vipul Dushing, Adv. Jay Khandelwal, Adv. Aarti Bhonsle, Adv. Anurag Mishra and Adv. Adwait Bhonde.

The four teams which qualified for the Semi-final round were ILS Law College, Pune, Symbiosis Law School, Pune, New Law College, Mumbai and School of Law, Christ University, Bangalore. The Semi-final rounds were judged by a panel of two eminent advocates of the Pune Bar, Adv. Rohan Nahar and Adv. Prasad Kulkarni. After two gruelling fixtures, the two teams which made it to the Final round were ILS Law College, Pune and School of Law, Christ University, Bangalore.

To the great honour of the college, the Final round was judged by Hon’ble Justice Shri. M. S. Karnik, Judge, Bombay High Court, Principal Bench, Mumbai. The two finalists advanced passionate arguments and responded well to the questions posed by the Judge.

The valedictory function was presided over by Hon’ble Justice Shri. M. S. Karnik. The Winning Team was ILS Law College, Pune and the Runner-up Team was School of Law, Christ University, Bangalore. The Best Advocate award was bagged by Mr. Samarth Saxena of ILS Law College, Pune and the Best Memorial award was won by KES Law College, Mumbai.

Moot court is an activity which is vehemently encouraged in our institution. In pursuance thereof, our students participated in twenty-six state, national and international level moot court competitions across the country and fared as follows: