Aligarh Muslim University begins moot court competition
Aligarh: Thirty two teams from various universities and law academies are in the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) to participate in the Sir Syed and Surana & Surana National Criminal Law Moot Court Competition 2019, at the Department of Law, where they will make simulated court and arbitration proceedings.
Attending the inaugural function as the Chief Guest, Hon’ble Justice Mr Devendra Kumar Upadhyay (Judge, High Court of Judicature, Allahabad) said that there has been a tremendous growth in legal education in the past two decades.
He added that strengthening the legal education system is the need to face new challenges that we face as a country.
Hon’ble Justice Mr Upadhyay discussed how lawyers being directly in contact with society, deal with its problems as part of their profession and initiate the process of social change.
AMU Pro Vice Chancellor, Prof M H Beg said that it is expected that the moot court competition will have a good quantum of drafting memorials, participation in oral arguments and documentations.
He pointed out that AMU founder, Sir Syed Ahmad Khan’s first appointment was at the courts of law in Agra, where he was responsible for record-keeping and managing court affairs. “In 1858 Sir Syed was appointed to a high-ranking post at the court in Muradabad and similarly our father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi spent 25 years as a lawyer in South Africa before becoming a pacifist reformer and the leader of Indian Independence Movement.
Emphasising why lawyers are identified by their black and white attire, Prof Beg pointed out that the black coats represent ‘taking away worries of their clients’ and this should be the motto and objective of law students.
Speaking on the historical background of moot courts, AMU alumnus, Adv Syed Ali Murtaza (Additional Government Advocate, High Court of Judicature, Allahabad) pointed out that the mooting culture in India started when the Bar Council of India organised the moot court in 1981. It was in 1985 that learning through moot court became an integrated feature of Indian legal education, he added.
“Mooting delivers a holistic approach to learning the law, as the students argue imaginary cases for practice, focused solely on the application of Law to a common set of evidentiary assumptions,” said Prof Zaheeruddin (Dean, Faculty of Law), during the welcome address.
Dr S Ravichandran (Advocate and Head, Academic Initiatives, Surana & Surana International Attorneys) and Prof Mohammad Tariq (In-charge, Law Society) also spoke on the occasion.
Mr Sahbaj Akhtar (Secretary Moot Society) spoke on the importance of mooting. Sumaiyya Nomani, Atif Javed and Tasneem Kawoos conducted the programme.
Prof Javaid Talib (Chairman, Department of Law) proposed the vote of thanks.