The 4th NMIMS Indore Moot Court Competition, 2026 was successfully organised by the School of Law, NMIMS Indore, witnessing enthusiastic participation from 26 teams representing esteemed law institutions across the country, including OP Jindal Global University, NLIU Bhopal, NALSAR Hyderabad, Christ University, among several other premier law schools. The competition served as a dynamic platform for participants to demonstrate their advocacy, research, and legal acumen.
The moot proposition for this edition revolved around a complex dispute at the intersection of environmental regulation, real estate development, and constitutional rights. It examined the implications of an expanded eco-sensitive zone on an ongoing residential project, raising pertinent questions regarding the legality of halting construction despite prior statutory approvals. The problem further addressed issues of arbitrariness, property rights, regulatory overlap, and disputes relating to common amenities and project segregation under the RERA framework.
The event commenced on 2nd April 2026 with the Draw of Lots and the Researcher’s Test, thereby setting the stage for the competition. This was followed by the Preliminary Rounds conducted on 3rd April 2026, wherein teams engaged in rigorous legal arguments before esteemed judges.
The Offline Rounds commenced on 16th April 2026 with the formal welcome of participating teams along with Draw of lots and memorial exchange of Quarter-Final rounds. The competition progressed to the Quarter-Final and Semi-Final Rounds on 17th April 2026, which witnessed intense courtroom exchanges and high standards of advocacy. The Quarter-Final Rounds were adjudicated by Mr. Shashwat Seth (Advocate, High Court of Madhya Pradesh, Indore), Mr. Devaasheesh Dubey (Advocate, High Court of Madhya Pradesh, Indore), Ms. Anuja Pethia (Advocate-on-Record, Supreme Court of India), Mr. Rishi Singh Gautam (Advocate-on-Record), Mr. Arihant Nahar (Advocate, High Court of Madhya Pradesh, Indore), Mr. Sarthak Nema (Advocate-on-Record, Supreme Court of India), Mr. Jaydip Patil (Advocate-on-Record, Supreme Court of India), and Mr. Martand Nemana (Assistant Manager, Unilever).
The Semi-Final Rounds were adjudicated by Mr. Ajay Pal Singh (Advocate, High Court of Madhya Pradesh), Mr. Rahul Sharma (Assistant General Counsel, Tech Mahindra), Mr. Swapnil Ganguly (Deputy Advocate General, High Court of Madhya Pradesh), and Mr. Anshuman Singh (Advocate, High Court of Madhya Pradesh), whose distinguished professional expertise ensured the maintenance of the highest standards of evaluation.
The Final Round, held on 18th April 2026, marked the culmination of the competition and was adjudicated by an eminent panel comprising Mr. Vineet Vij (General Counsel, Tech Mahindra), Mr. Amreesh Singh (Partner, HSA Advocates), and Mr. Deepesh Joshi (Managing Partner, Deepesh Joshi & Associates).
Following a series of rigorous rounds, the competition culminated in a closely contested final between Institute of Law, Nirma University and S.S. Khanna Girls’ College, Mumbai, both of which displayed exceptional advocacy skills, legal acumen, and courtroom etiquette. Institute of Law, Nirma University was adjudged the Winner, while S.S. Khanna Girls’ College, Mumbai secured the position of Runners-Up. Jindal Global Law School was declared the Second Runners-Up, reflecting their commendable performance throughout the competition.
The competition also featured a comprehensive prize structure in recognition of excellence. The Winning Team was awarded a cash prize of ₹25,000 along with internship opportunities with HSA Advocates. The Runners-Up received a cash prize of ₹15,000, while the Second Runners-Up were awarded ₹10,000. Special awards for Best Speaker, Best Researcher, and Best Memorial were each conferred with a cash prize of ₹3,000 along with trophies. Additionally, participants were provided with internship opportunities with Khurana & Khurana Advocates and IP Attorneys, along with access to complimentary and discounted courses from Law Mento for top-performing teams.
The Valedictory Ceremony was held on 18th April 2026 and was graced by Hon’ble Shri Achal Kumar Paliwal, Retired Judge of the High Court of Madhya Pradesh, as the Chief Guest, and ACP Tushar Singh as the Guest of Honour. Their esteemed presence added significant prestige to the occasion and served to inspire the participants.
Overall, the competition was conducted seamlessly and stands as a testament to the commitment of NMIMS Indore towards fostering practical legal education. The event not only enhanced participants’ advocacy and research capabilities but also provided invaluable exposure to real-world legal proceedings.
