5th National Level Moot Court Competition 2026, JIS University, Kolkata (Prize Pool Rs 57,000; Register by Aug 20)

The Department of Juridical Sciences, JIS University, Kolkata is organising the 5th National Level Moot Court Competition 2026 on its Agarpara campus on 30 September and 1 October 2026. The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. (Dr.) Partha Sarkar, and the Head of the Department, Dr. Moumala Bhattacharjee, have invited law schools across the country to nominate teams. The previous edition drew participation from law schools and universities across India, and the department has framed this edition around deep legal research, courtroom craft and simulated appellate advocacy.

All law colleges and institutions imparting legal education, covering both the five-year and the three-year law courses, that are recognised under the Bar Council of India are eligible. The competition is open to bonafide students pursuing those courses.

A team shall consist of a maximum of three members: two speakers and one researcher. A team wishing to change its composition must write to the Moot Court Committee, and the change is allowed at the committee's discretion. The researcher may be permitted to argue as a speaker in an unforeseen event, but prior permission of the organisers is mandatory.

The proposition is set in the Republic of Indica, whose Constitution, criminal laws and judicial system are pari materia with those of India. It concerns Arjun Mehra, aged 20 years and 9 months, and Naina Roy, aged 17 years and 9 months, schoolmates in a relationship of nearly three years. After Naina left her parental home in January 2026, her father lodged an FIR alleging kidnapping and penetrative sexual assault. Arjun was convicted by the Special Court under Section 4 of the POCSO Act and Section 137 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and has appealed to the High Court of Vanga while also seeking to quash the proceedings under Section 528, BNSS.

The four issues framed for argument are:

• Whether Parliament's omission to provide a statutory close-in-age exemption under the POCSO Act, 2012 violates Articles 14 and 21, or falls within legislative policy beyond judicial review.
• Whether the prosecutrix's judicial statement, pre-departure letter, electronic communications, the accused's internet search history and surrounding circumstances are relevant in determining liability under Sections 3 and 4, POCSO Act and Section 137, BNS.
• Whether the Special Court was justified in invoking the presumption under Section 29, POCSO Act and in preferring Naina's earlier statements over her sworn deposition, absent any finding that the earlier statements were free from external influence.
• Whether the High Court can exercise inherent powers to quash a serious, non-compoundable conviction while a statutory appeal is pending, and whether the marriage solemnised after Naina attained majority is a valid, voluntary union entitled to legal protection.

The proposition also places in issue the media coverage that disclosed the child victim's identity contrary to Section 23 of the POCSO Act and its effect on the fairness of the trial.

Registration opened on 5 August 2026 and closes on 20 August 2026. The registration fee is Rs 1,800 per team. Payment has to be made online to the account set out in the rule book, and the receipt or screenshot of the transfer must be uploaded along with the registration form itself.

Registration is deemed complete only on successful submission of the fee together with a duly filled final registration form by 23:59 hrs IST on 20 August 2026. The fee is strictly non-refundable and non-transferable. Each team must nominate one member as the contact person for all official communication with the Organising Committee, and must state the names, course, year or semester of study and contact number of every participant in the registration form.

After registration, a submission link will be shared with the registered email ID. Memorials are due by 28 August 2026 and must contain a cover page, table of contents, index of authorities, statement of jurisdiction, statement of facts, issues raised, questions of law or summary of arguments, arguments advanced and prayer. An appendix and exhibits are optional. An argumentative statement of facts attracts penalties.

• Font and size: Times New Roman, 12 pt; line spacing 1.5; margins 1 inch on all sides.
• Footnotes must follow the Bluebook, 20th edition. Speaking footnotes and endnotes are discouraged.
• The memorial must not exceed 30 pages in total, with the Arguments Advanced section ideally occupying 12 to 15 pages.
• Hard copies are to be printed on one side only. Cover pages are blue for the petitioner and red for the respondent.
• The team code goes on the top right corner of the cover page; codes are intimated by email on or before 22 August 2026.

Any sign, identification mark or logo of an institution, college or university in the memorial or any other document is strictly prohibited and causes immediate disqualification. Participants must not mention names in the memorial. The committee may disqualify a team at any stage if the memorial is found plagiarised beyond 15 per cent.

Only 32 teams are shortlisted for the preliminary round, ranked on cumulative memorial scores out of 100 across knowledge of law, clarity and organisation, knowledge and application of facts, originality of thought and Bluebook formatting. All rounds other than the preliminaries are on a knock-out basis: preliminary (both sides), octa-final (16 teams), quarter-final (8 teams), semi-final (4 teams) and grand finale (2 teams).

Advancement from the preliminary rounds is decided on court wins in each court room; in case of a tie, cumulative marks including memorial marks are considered. Each speaker is marked out of 100 by each bench judge, split across appreciation and application of facts (30), identification and articulation of issues (10), application of legal principles (20), use of authorities and precedents (20) and response to the bench and presentation (20). Arguments shall generally be in English only, and teams must not disclose their institutional identity during proceedings.

The competition is held entirely on campus at JIS University, Agarpara, Kolkata. Hostel accommodation is not included in the registration fee and must be paid for separately; room and bed charges depend on the query raised, and check-in and check-out follow hostel norms. Hostel lodging and food facilities are strictly for registered participants and are not available for parents or guardians.

Food charges for breakfast, lunch and snacks are included in the registration for a group of three participants; participants eliminated on the first day are not eligible for food on the following day. Participants must state their vegetarian or non-vegetarian preference when asked. Transport between the hostel and the campus is provided on the day of the event, but no TA is provided and organisers will not receive participants at the station, airport or bus stop. Participants must carry a valid institutional identity card along with physical photocopies of all required documents.

Inside the court room the dress code is: female participants in a white kurta or saree with black salwar and black dupatta, or a white shirt and black trousers, with a black coat and tie; male participants in a white shirt, black trousers, black tie, black coat and black shoes.