MOOT COURT helps law students: Governor

Mohali, February 22, 2013: Moot Court is one of the primary modes of clinical Legal education which prepares Law students to face actual courtroom work, whose performance is adjudged by a bench of senior Judges.

Expressing these views while presiding over AIL National Moot Court competition –Checkmate -2013, today held at Law Institute Mohali, the Punjab Governor and Administrator U.T. Chandigarh, Shivraj V. Patil said that such competitions help law students to attain proficiency in actual application of law and also to prepare them to enhance their communication skills, advocacy, competence and legal perspective.

Speaking on the occasion, the Governor said today everything has to be done as per law. He said the principal of Rule of Law is accepted not only in our country but in all countries of the world. He said there was nothing which can be done by the administrations and the governments without following the rule of the law. He said discretion was given but that has also to be used in most judicious manner.

Addressing Law students, Patil said that you were told that Moot Court are very important for understanding how this profession works. He said we were also told that this Institution is doing well and mostly the students coming out of this Institute have been appointed on different posts and positions in private companies, judiciary and in government sectors. He said but he would like to apply different criteria for checking as to how this Institution is performing and that yardstick is not limited to placement of the students but their capacity to make law, their capacity to interpret law and their capacity to give correct judgment. He said if you were capable of this aspect only then you have to be considered as a good institution.

The Governor said there are two kinds of law; one is substantial law and the other is procedural law. Probably by tending the Moot Courts you understand the procedural law more than the substantial law. But the most important thing is to understand substantial law. He said unless you understand substantial law  correctly probably you are not in a position to do the justice.  

Sharing various tips as to how they have to practice law and put across their views emphatically, Patil said the Law profession is very challenging. “You have to place your viewpoint to best of your abilities and listen patiently to the other side. You have to convince the hon’ble Judge with your viewpoints and arguments”, he said. He said,” In India first thing you have to do is to understand the Constitution of India thoroughly. He also advised the law students to attend courts which would help them learn more then from the books.”

Emphasising on the importance of Moot Court Competitions the Governor said, this mental exercise holds the participants in good stead when they join the legal profession .He said the exposure, practical knowledge and experience which one gets through these Moot Courts helps them to carve a niche for themselves in the legal profession.

Patil further said that you are the few lucky ones to have got education in an amiable environment and your training in the legal field, must equip you to prove your worth and perform your role with utmost sincerity for the betterment of the society and the nation. It is you who will be the torch bearers to ultimately lead the country further on the path of economic development.

Prominent amongst others who spoke on the occasion included Maj. Gen. B.N. Vijay Kumar, MG AAD and Chairman AIL, Maj Gen. R.G. Krishnan VSM, officiating Patron AIL, Dr. Tejinder Kaur, Principal, Army Institute of Law and Dr. Raj Kumar Gupta, Principal DIP, Chand Memorial, Varun Roojam, Deputy Commissioner, Mohali and GPS Bhullar, SSP, Mohali.