National Moot Court Competition 2026 at Department of Laws, Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla [Offline, 23-24 October 2026; Cash Prizes Rs 16,200]

Himachal Pradesh University was established by an Act of the Legislative Assembly of Himachal Pradesh on 22 July 1970. It is a multi-faculty residential and affiliating university headquartered at Summer Hill, Shimla, and is accredited with grade 'A' by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council.

The Department of Laws came into existence with the University in 1970 and moved into its own building on the University campus in 1993. Its alumni include judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts, Union and State Cabinet Ministers, senior bureaucrats, judicial officers and members of the legal profession.

The proposition is set in the fictional Republic of Dravida, whose Constitution and laws are in pari materia with those of India. It concerns a challenge under Article 32 to the constitutional validity of the Constitution (One Hundred and Sixth Amendment) Act, 2023, which reserves one-third of the seats in the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies for women, on the ground that it violates the basic structure of the Constitution. The issues raised are:

• Whether reserving seats for women only in the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies, and not in the Rajya Sabha and State Legislative Councils, is against the principle of equality.
• Whether the 'post census' and 'post delimitation' conditions under the Act are unconstitutional.
• Whether excluding a specific quota for OBC women, while including SC/ST quotas, violates equality and social justice.
• Whether mandatory rotation of seats after every delimitation is arbitrary and violates the rights of women candidates to develop their constituencies.

Participants may rely on relevant Indian statutes and case law. The full proposition is in the official brochure linked below.

• Students enrolled in a full-time or part-time Bachelor's law programme at the time of the competition are eligible.
• Each college, law school or university may enter only one team.
• A team consists of three members: two speakers and one researcher. A team of two speakers may also be allowed.
• No team coaches may accompany the teams or watch their rounds.

• The competition has four rounds: Preliminary, Quarter Finals, Semi-Finals and Final. There is no researcher's test.
• Preliminary round: each team argues one side only, matched by draw of lots, with 20 minutes per team (15 minutes for the two speakers, at least 5 minutes each, plus 5 minutes for rebuttal and sur-rebuttal). The top eight teams qualify for the quarter finals.
• Quarter finals: 25 minutes per team (20 minutes for the speakers, at least 7 minutes each, plus 5 minutes for rebuttal). Knock-out round.
• Semi-finals: 30 minutes per team (25 minutes for the speakers, at least 10 minutes each, plus 5 minutes for rebuttal). Knock-out round.
• Final: 45 minutes per team (35 minutes for the speakers, at least 15 minutes each, plus 10 minutes for rebuttal and sur-rebuttal).
• Speakers are marked out of 100 on understanding of law and procedure (30), application of facts (20), ingenuity and ability to answer questions (20), reference to memorials (20) and advocacy skills, court craft and demeanour (10). Ties are decided on the understanding of law and procedure score.

• Each team prepares memorials for both sides in English, of not more than 30 pages each (summary of facts and arguments, arguments advanced and prayer).
• The memorial must contain a cover page, table of contents, index of authorities, statement of jurisdiction, summary of issues, summary of arguments, arguments advanced, prayer for relief and an optional annexure.
• Citations must follow the Bluebook 20th edition. Body text in Times New Roman 12 with 1.5 spacing; footnotes in Times New Roman 10 with single spacing.
• Cover colours: red for the Petitioner and blue for the Respondent.
• Soft copies in Word and PDF must be emailed by 5:00 pm on 16 October 2026 with the subject 'Memorial for (team code)', and files named with the team code plus P or R (for example 555P.doc).
• Four hard copies of each memorial must reach the organisers by 17 October 2026.
• Only the team code allotted after registration may appear on the memorials. Revealing the team's identity or institution leads to disqualification.
• Memorials are marked out of 100 on knowledge of law and research (30), analysis, clarity and organisation (20), knowledge of facts (20), original thought and grammar (20), and format and citation (10).

The registration fee is Rs 3,500 per team, payable on or before 15 October 2026 by bank transfer to State Bank of India, Summer Hill, Shimla (H.P.) branch, account number 43840693102, IFSC SBIN0002490.

Fill in the registration form included in the brochure (institution details, faculty-in-charge, team members with photographs, signed and sealed by the head of the institution) and email the soft copy, with a screenshot or scanned receipt of the payment, to nationalmootcourthpu2026@gmail.com by 14 October 2026. The hard copy of the registration form, with a printout of the payment, must reach the organisers by 15 October 2026 at: The Chairman, Department of Laws, Himachal Pradesh University, Summer Hill, Shimla 171005, with 'Moot Court Committee' marked on the envelope.

• Accommodation is provided for all participating teams from 12 noon on 23 October 2026 to 12 noon on 24 October 2026. No internet facility is provided at the accommodation.
• Travel to and from the venue is at the team's own expense.
• Dress code is strict formal wear: black and white salwar/sari or pant suit with black tie and black coat for women; white shirt, black tie, black trousers, black coat and black shoes for men.
• The University is a no smoking campus. Smoking, drinking or other objectionable conduct leads to disqualification.
• All participants receive a certificate of participation.

Chief Patron: Prof. (Dr.) Mahavir Singh, Vice Chancellor, Himachal Pradesh University. Patron: Prof. (Dr.) Lalit Dadwal, Dean and Chairman, Department of Laws. Convenor: Dr. Ramesh Verma. Advisory Committee: Prof. (Dr.) Sanjay Sindhu and Prof. (Dr.) Runa Mehta Thakur.