Raipur, March 15, 2026
The Institute of Law, Nirma University, Gandhinagar emerged as the Winner of the 3rd Justice Hidayatullah International Moot Court Competition (HIMCC) 2026, securing the championship trophy along with a cash prize of ₹2,00,000. National Law University, Odisha was declared the Runner-Up, receiving a cash prize of ₹1,50,000.
The competition also recognised outstanding individual and team performances:
- Best Speaker: Siya Ganatra, National Law University Odisha
- Best Memorial: National Forensic Sciences University, Gandhinagar
- Best Researcher: Kanishk Gupta, Karnavati University
The awards were presented during the valedictory ceremony by the distinguished guests.
The moot proposition for this year focused on contemporary issues in energy law and climate governance, raising complex questions relating to energy transition, sustainability, and regulatory governance. The moot problem was drafted by Prof. R. Muralidharan of Manu Associates and Visiting Faculty at HNLU.
Hidayatullah National Law University (HNLU), Raipur, successfully concluded the 3rd Justice Hidayatullah International Moot Court Competition (HIMCC) 2026, held from 13–15 March 2026, reaffirming its position as one of the premier mooting platforms in the country. The competition brought together leading law schools from across India and abroad for three days of intense legal advocacy, research, and courtroom simulation.
The competition witnessed 46 registrations for the memorial rounds, out of which 32 teams were shortlisted for the oral rounds, comprising 95 participants representing institutions from 16 Indian States, two Union Territories, and two foreign nationalities. The rounds were evaluated by a distinguished panel of 57 judges, supported by 20 faculty volunteers and nearly 390 student volunteers, reflecting the scale and collaborative effort behind the event.
The Chief Guest, Shri R. Venkataramani, Learned Attorney General for India, addressing the gathering reflected on the purpose of mooting in legal education. He observed that the real value of such competitions lies beyond the results, emphasising that the process of mooting strengthens research ability, analytical thinking, advocacy skills, and confidence, while encouraging students to approach legal questions creatively and imaginatively in the context of real-world policy challenges.
Addressing the gathering, Prof. Vivekanandan, Vice-Chancellor of HNLU, noted that HIMCC is steadily establishing itself as a frontline international moot competition. He highlighted the impressive scale of the event, with 95 participants from 32 teams selected from 46 registrations, evaluated by 57 judges, and total prize money of ₹5.5 lakh. He remarked that while the teams compete for honours, the real winners are the organisers and volunteers whose dedication makes such a large-scale academic event possible.
The valedictory and prize distribution ceremony was graced by Prof. (Dr.) Ranbir Singh, Pro-Chancellor, IILM University and Distinguished Jurist Professor at HNLU; Shri P. V. S. Giridhar, Senior Counsel, High Court of Madras and Distinguished Jurist Professor at HNLU; Prof. R. Muralidharan, Visiting Professor at HNLU; Prof. Uday Shankar, Professor of Law at IIT Kharagpur; and Prof. Yogendra Kumar Srivastava, Dean (PG), HNLU.
Earlier, Dr. Deepak Kumar Srivastava, Registrar (I/c), HNLU, welcomed the dignitaries and audience. Dr. Amitesh Deshmukh presented the highlights of the competition and appreciated the dedication and enthusiasm displayed by the participating teams.
The event concluded with a Vote of Thanks delivered by Dr. Mayank Shrivastava, Organising Co-Secretary of HIMCC. The competition was seamlessly planned and executed under the convenorship of Dr. Anindya Tiwari, Convenor of the Moot Court Committee, along with the dedicated student volunteers of HNLU.
The event also honoured the participating team from Nepal with a token of appreciation and congratulated the HNLU team that emerged as champions at the India Rounds of the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition, who will represent India at the International Rounds in Washington, D.C.
With another successful edition, the Justice Hidayatullah International Moot Court Competition continues to strengthen HNLU’s legacy of fostering advocacy skills, legal research, and academic excellence, while engaging students with contemporary global legal challenges.
Wish to showcase your achievement to the world and inspire others? LawFoyer will celebrate your achievement because every achievement deserves recognition. Your achievement is our achievement. Share your achievement with us. Visit: https://lawfoyer.in/achievers-archive/
