5th Prof. (Dr.) Anil Kumar Thakur Memorial National Debate Competition 2026 at Department of Laws, Panjab University, Chandigarh [Oct 30-31; Cash Prizes Worth Rs 16,000]

The Prof. (Dr.) Anil Kumar Thakur Debating Society of the Department of Laws, Panjab University, Chandigarh, is organising the 5th Prof. (Dr.) Anil Kumar Thakur Memorial National Debate Competition on 30 and 31 October 2026, in memory of the late Prof. (Dr.) Anil Kumar Thakur (1976-2021), a teacher of Constitutional Law, Economics and Jurisprudence at the Department who founded its debating tradition.

The Department of Laws was established at Lahore in 1889 and has been on the Panjab University campus in Chandigarh since 1959. Earlier editions of the competition debated sexual offences and criminal law reform (2024), the Uniform Civil Code (2023), same-sex marriage (2022) and social media and the right to privacy (2022).

Coordinator: Prof. (Dr.) Supinder Kaur. Patron-in-Chief: Prof. (Dr.) Meenakshi Goyal, Vice Chancellor. Patron: Prof. (Dr.) Vandana Arora, Chairperson, Department of Laws. Teacher In-charge: Dr. Manisha Garg.

The motion concerns the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls by the Election Commission of India under Article 324 of the Constitution and Section 21(3) of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, involving door-to-door verification by Booth Level Officers, draft publication, claims and objections, and final roll publication.

• For the motion: the administrative need for accurate rolls, removal of duplicate, fake or deceased voters, registration of newly eligible electors, and the principle of one person, one vote (drawing on cases such as PUCL v. Union of India, AIR 2014 SC 561).
• Against the motion: the burden of proof placed on citizens, the risk of disenfranchising rural, migrant and marginalised voters, administrative overreach acting as de facto citizenship scrutiny, and the guarantee of universal adult suffrage under Article 326.

Teams must prepare both sides; sides are allotted by draw of lots before each round.

• Any bonafide student may take part.
• Each team must have exactly two members; a single-member team is disqualified.
• Only one team per university, college or institute is allowed; multiple entries from the same institution are not entertained.
• Students of the host Department of Laws, Panjab University are not eligible.
• The debate is in English only.
• Only 24 teams will be admitted to the Preliminary Rounds, on a first-come-first-served basis of completed registration forms with fee paid.

The fee is per team and includes breakfast and lunch.

• Early Bird (till 10 October 2026): Rs 1,800 without accommodation; Rs 2,100 with accommodation.
• Regular (till 20 October 2026): Rs 2,100 without accommodation; Rs 2,700 with accommodation.

Payment is by bank transfer to Account Holder: HEAD DEPTT OF LAW MISC, Account No. 10444977656, State Bank of India, Panjab University Branch, Chandigarh, IFSC SBIN0000742. There is no refund under any circumstance.

Accommodation is provided only on the basis of the response in the Google Form; last-minute or on-the-spot requests are not entertained.

• Fill in the online Google Form (linked below) and attach the payment receipt.
• The registration form (Annexure I of the brochure) must be sealed and signed by the competent authority of your institution; upload a scanned copy on the Google Form as well.
• Registration closes at 12 midnight on 20 October 2026.
• At the venue, bring the printed registration form signed by the competent authority, a hard copy of the payment receipt, your student ID card and the duly filled annexures (speaker details, accommodation, payment details, declaration and institute details).

• Preliminary Rounds (2): 5 minutes per speaker (4+1); each team argues the opposite side in the second round. Top 8 teams advance.
• Quarter-Finals and Semi-Finals (knockout): 10 minutes per speaker (8+2).
• Final: 7 minutes per speaker (5+2).
• After both speakers of a team finish, the judges have 3 minutes for questions to the speakers or to invite rebuttal questions from the opposing team.
• Ties are resolved by a tie-breaker round whose rules are announced at venue registration.

• The competition is in person; teams must reach the registration desk at least 15 minutes before the start. No late entries on Day 1.
• Participants may disclose only the team code given at the venue, not their identity.
• Exceeding the time limit costs 2 marks for every extra minute.
• Paper reading is prohibited, though reference to paper material is allowed. Unparliamentary language, shouting or unfair means lead to disqualification.
• Each speaker is marked out of 50: content quality (10), knowledge of subject (10), confidence (5), command of language (5), time management (5), question and answer (5), dress code and conduct (10).
• Formal attire is required.

Day 1, 30 October 2026: registration and breakfast 9:00-10:00 a.m.; Preliminary Round 1 at 10:00 a.m.; Preliminary Round 2 at 11:30 a.m.; lunch; Quarter-Finals at 1:30 p.m.

Day 2, 31 October 2026: breakfast 10:00 a.m.; Semi-Finals at 11:00 a.m.; lunch; Final at 1:00 p.m.; Valedictory Ceremony from 2:30 p.m., where participation certificates are handed over.