‘Justice has nothing to do with what goes on in a courtroom; Justice is what comes out of a courtroom’
With an astonishing start towards one of the most thrilling and outstanding moment to begin with in the history of Vivekananda Global University, Faculty of Law, organising its first VGU Ranka National Trial Advocacy Competition, 2022, in collaboration with Ranka Public Charitable Trust under the esteemed guidance of Hon’ble Justice Mr. J. K. Ranka, former Judge, Rajasthan High Court, from 1 to 4 April.
The event was being celebrated in the loving memory of Hon’ble (late) Justice R. C. Lahoti, former Chief Justice of India. On 1 April, teams from across the country arrived at the place of accommodation where they were provided a first-class staying facility.
In the evening at seminar hall, 1st floor, VGU block, VGU the Registration of Teams followed by draw of lots and memorial exchange was conducted between 30 teams, who were registered for the first VGU Ranka National Trial Advocacy Competition. The teams were given the memorial of the other side and was able to know the opponent team which they were going to argue during their preliminary round 1 and 2 during the competition.
Day 1 (2 April, 2022):
Inaugural ceremony
The event began with a power packed inaugural session chaired by Guest of Honour, Hon’ble Justice Bela M. Trivedi, Judge, Supreme Court of India followed by Guest of Honour, Hon’ble Justice M. M. Shrivastava, Acting Chief Justice, Rajasthan High Court; Hon’ble Justice Pankaj Bhandari, Judge, Rajasthan High Court, Jaipur; Hon’ble Mr. Justice J.K. Ranka, former Judge, Rajasthan High Court & Trustee, Ranka Public Charitable Trust and Urmila N. Ranka, chairperson, Ranka Public Charitable Trust.
A moment of respect was given to the making of the official committee for handling all forms of moot court, trial advocacy and other forms of national and international activities for the betterment of the law students at Faculty of Law, Vivekananda Global University to its very own Moot Court Society.
The ceremony began with giving sapling to the esteemed chief guest, guest of honour and other dignitaries, after which they were called upon for the Lightning of Lamp, Saraswati
Vandana and Folk Dance and officially starting the 1st VGU Ranka National Trial Advocacy Competition, 2022.
Justice Pankaj Bhandari and Justice M. M. Shrivastava, delivered one of the most enlightening speeches during the session with great words making each and everyone filled with inspiration and motivation towards the profession and making them believe in their ability and strength to achieve success.
Justice Ms. Bela M. Trivedi gave a motivational speech to the students and talked about how a legal personality plays a vital role in the society and how trial advocacy helps each and everyone to build a great personality, which not only helps them to believe in themselves but also helps them to understand their true value in the society.
Day 1 and 3 (2 & 3 April, 2022):
Preliminary round I & II
The first preliminary round on 2 April began at 1:30 pm and the second on 3 April at 10 am, in which over 30 teams participated. A pair of two teams were allotted a courtroom in which a total of 15 court rooms were established and a pair of two judges in the form of practising advocates of more minimum 4 to 5 years of experience were made as the judges for the oral rounds of the session. The session was chaired for 1 hour 30 mins in total during the first round of the first VGU Ranka National Trial Advocacy Competition, 2022. The results were declared after lunch in the evening in the Moot Court Hall.
Day 2 (3 April, 2022):
Research test and quarter final round
The day began with the research test at 9 am in which around 25+ researchers from each team participated for the test at seminar hall, VGU, where they were being mentally tested with their ability to cross some of the most critical and hypothetical questionnaire which was related to Indian Penal Code, Criminal and POCSO Act, which overall evaluated the researcher’s knowledge who were prepared for the Trial Advocacy Competition.
The quarter final rounds were held between top 8 teams in the name of Symbiosis Law School, Hyderabad; Thakur Ramnarayan College of Law, Mumbai, Christ University, Bangalore, SRM University, Delhi-NCR, School of Excellence, Tamil Nadu; Christ University, Bangalore; Asian Law College, Noida; Rajasthan School of Law for Women, Jaipur; who qualified amongst the 30 teams. It was a tough competition, where each and every judge appreciated the teams qualified for the quarter final rounds, they were extremely proud and satisfied judging the rounds and commented on them as one of the finest lawyers in making for the legal fraternity.
Day 3 (4 April, 2022):
Semi final round
The semi final rounds took place at 10 am which was scheduled between Symbiosis Law School, Hyderabad; Thakur Ramnarayan College of Law, Mumbai; Christ University, Bangalore and School of Excellence, Tamil Nadu. The rounds took place at seminar hall, VGU, and Moot Court Hall, VGU. The two rounds were adjudicated by a panel of some of the most experienced luminaries who were Hans Honey, Mudita Sharma, Adv. Ramchandra Rao, Dr. Rajeev Soni, Utkarsh Dwivedi and Gourav Godara, who appreciated all the participants and motivated them to join the litigation, as they need many young minds to take this platform to a much higher stake.
Final round
The final round was held between the top favourite and most enthusiastic teams in the name of Thakur Ramnarayan College of Law, Mumbai, and Symbiosis Law School, Hyderabad, which was taken place at Moot Court Hall, VGU which was adjudicated by Justice Govardhan Bardar, former Judge, Rajasthan High Court, Jaipur; Umesh Sharma. Retd. District & Session Judge and Chandrakanta Gupta, Retd. District & Session Judge. The session was absolutely heated and full with arguments and questions all around, which was very smoothly observed and delivered by both the teams.
The panel made the most fruitful and enriching rounds by delivering the finest of questions and arguments which not only put the teams under pressure but also helped to find out the most dedicated and capable team who deserves the trophy of the first VGU Ranka National Trial Advocacy Competition, 2022.
Valedictory ceremony
The beginning of the valedictory ceremony was chaired by the chief guest Justice Anoop Chand, Judge, Rajasthan High Court, Jaipur and Guest of Honour, Justice G. K. Vyas, Chairman, Rajasthan State Human Rights Commission, former Judge, Rajasthan High Court.
Our special guest Justice Govardhan Bardar, former Judge, Rajasthan High Court, Jaipur; Umesh Sharma. Retd. District & Session Judge and Chandrakanta Gupta, Retd. District & Session Judge in the presence of Justice J.K. Ranka, former Judge, Rajasthan High Court & Trustee, Ranka Public Charitable Trust and Urmila N. Ranka, chairperson, Ranka Public Charitable Trust.
The winner of the first VGU Ranka National Trial Advocacy Competition, 2022, were Thakur Ramnarayan College of Law, Mumbai.
The runner up was bagged by Symbiosis Law School, Hyderabad, while the other awards were given in the category of Best Prosecutor to Nivedita Tiwari, SRM University, Delhi; Best Defence, Sunidhi Singh, Christ University, Bangalore; Best Researcher, Vinayak Bajaj, Amity University, Mumbai and Best Memorial, Thakur Ramnarayan College of Law, Mumbai.
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