11th Justice Murtaza Husain Memorial Moot Court Competition, 2026 [Cash Prizes Rs 56K]: Register by Sep 30

Unity P.G. College, Lucknow to Host the 11th Edition of the Justice Murtaza Husain Memorial Moot Court Competition

23rd–25th October 2026 | Unity P.G. College, Lucknow

Unity P.G. College, Lucknow is set to organise the 11th Justice Murtaza Husain Memorial Moot Court Competition, 2026, from 23rd to 25th October 2026. The competition is being organised by the Unity Moot Court Committee with the objective of providing law students with a national platform to develop and demonstrate their skills in legal research, written submissions, oral advocacy and courtroom presentation.

The competition is open to students pursuing either a three-year LL.B. programme or a five-year integrated LL.B. programme from recognised institutions in India. Each participating team shall comprise two speakers and one researcher.

About Unity P.G. College, Lucknow

Unity P.G. College, Lucknow offers both three-year and five-year law programmes and regularly conducts seminars, conferences, debates and national-level moot court competitions. The institution states that its legal education initiatives are aimed at developing competent advocates with skills in both trial and appellate advocacy.

The competition is organised in memory of Justice Murtaza Husain, the founder of the institution. Justice Murtaza Husain served in the judiciary before his elevation to the Allahabad High Court in 1976 and subsequently served as the Lokayukta of Uttar Pradesh. His contribution to legal education and institution-building continues to form an important part of the institution’s identity.

Previous Editions

The brochure records participation in the previous edition by several law institutions from across India, including Aligarh Muslim University, Amity University Lucknow, Lloyd Law College, KLE Society’s Law School, Christ University and the University of Lucknow. The 10th edition was won by Parul University, Vadodara, with KIIT School of Law, KIIT University, Bhubaneswar as the runner-up.

The 2026 edition seeks to build upon this legacy and provide participating students with another opportunity to engage in rigorous legal research and courtroom advocacy.

Moot Proposition

The moot proposition for the 2026 edition is titled “The Leasing of Sal Van Forest”, in the matter of Marsal Ekka & Ors. v. State of Vanchal & Ors.

The proposition concerns a fictional dispute arising out of the proposed leasing of a large tract of forest land in the State of Vanchal to a private mining and infrastructure company. The factual matrix involves questions relating to forest rights, Scheduled Areas, Gram Sabha participation, environmental clearances, displacement of tribal communities and the use of natural resources.

The proposition raises five principal issues for consideration, including the validity of the lease in the absence of prior Gram Sabha consent, the legality of the lease rental fixed by the State, the fundamental rights of affected Adivasi communities, the validity of the forest clearance process, and the absence of a rehabilitation and resettlement plan.

The proposition consequently provides participants with an opportunity to engage with significant questions at the intersection of constitutional law, environmental law, forest rights, tribal rights and public law.

Competition Structure

The competition will consist of the following stages:

1. Preliminary Round I
2. Preliminary Round II
3. Quarter-Final Round
4. Semi-Final Round
5. Final Round

The oral rounds will be evaluated on parameters including application and knowledge of facts, application and knowledge of law and authorities, argumentative skills, courtroom etiquette and time management. Each speaker shall be evaluated individually for 100 marks per round.

A separate Researcher’s Test will also be conducted. The test will comprise 20 multiple-choice questions carrying two marks each and two subjective questions carrying five marks each. The duration of the test will be 35 minutes.

Memorial Submission

Participating teams are required to prepare memorials for both the Petitioner and the Respondent.

The memorials must comply with the prescribed formatting and citation requirements, including Times New Roman font, specified font sizes and spacing, one-inch margins and citation according to the Bluebook, 21st Edition. The maximum permitted length is 35 pages, including the cover page.

Soft copies of the memorials are required to be submitted by 10th October 2026 at 11:59 PM, while four hard copies of each side are to be submitted at the time of registration on 23rd October 2026. Late submission will attract a penalty of five marks per day.

Important Dates

The above schedule is provided in the official competition brochure.

Registration and Accommodation

The registration fee is Rs. 3,500/- without accommodation and Rs. 6,000/- with accommodation. Teams are required to complete registration by 30th September 2026 at 11:59 PM.

For participating teams opting for accommodation, arrangements will be available from 23rd October 2026 at 1:00 PM until 26th October 2026 at 10:00 AM. Breakfast and dinner will be provided at the accommodation venue, while lunch will be provided at the college campus. Transportation between the college and accommodation venue will also be arranged by the organisers.

Awards

The competition carries the following awards:

Certificates of participation will be awarded to all participants. The awards and certificates will be presented during the Valedictory Ceremony on 25th October 2026.

Registration and Contact

Interested institutions and participants may contact the organisers at:

Email: unitymootcourtcommittee@gmail.com

Student Convener: Mohd Aamir
Contact: +91-6307637800

Faculty Convener: Ms. Surabhi Arora
Contact: +91-7985664476

Faculty Co-Convener: Ms. Nivedita Singh
Contact: +91-7388669735

Student Convener: Yashfeen Zaidi
Contact: +91-8853425968

Faculty Co-Convener: Mr. Adnan Zaidi
Contact: +91-9997614080

For further details regarding the competition, including the Rule Book, Moot Proposition, Registration Form, Travel & Accommodation Form, and other relevant information, please click on the link given below: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1nf2bZRXBhp-vQtboVqzAvAUdmWj_CmnU?usp=share_link

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