HNLU Justice Hidayatullah International Moot Court Competition 2026: Key Highlights
The Hidayatullah National Law University (HNLU), Raipur, successfully organized the Justice Hidayatullah International Moot Court Competition (HIMCC) 2026 from 13–15 March 2026.
This prestigious international moot court competition brought together law students from several institutions across India and abroad to showcase their advocacy, research, and legal argumentation skills.
Winner and Runner-Up of HIMCC 2026
After several competitive rounds, the final results of the competition were announced:
- 🏆 Winner: Institute of Law, Nirma University, Gandhinagar
- Prize: ₹2,00,000 cash prize + Championship Trophy
- 🥈 Runner-Up: National Law University Odisha
- Prize: ₹1,50,000 cash prize
These teams demonstrated excellent legal research, advocacy, and courtroom presentation during the competition.
Individual Awards and Special Recognitions
Several participants also received individual awards for their outstanding performances:
- 🎤 Best Speaker: Siya Ganatra – National Law University Odisha
- 📄 Best Memorial: National Forensic Sciences University, Gandhinagar
- 🔎 Best Researcher: Kanishk Gupta – Karnavati University
These awards recognised exceptional legal writing, advocacy, and research abilities.
Moot Problem Theme
The moot proposition focused on modern issues in energy law and climate governance.
Key topics covered:
- Energy transition and sustainability
- Environmental governance
- Regulatory challenges in energy law
- Climate policy and legal frameworks
The problem was drafted by R. Muralidharan, legal professional at Manu Associates and visiting faculty at HNLU.
Participation and Competition Statistics
The event witnessed participation from leading law schools across India and abroad.
Competition Overview
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Total Registrations | 46 Teams |
| Teams Selected for Oral Rounds | 32 Teams |
| Total Participants | 95 Students |
| Regions Represented | 16 Indian States, 2 Union Territories, 2 Foreign Nationalities |
| Judges | 57 Legal Experts |
| Faculty Volunteers | 20 |
| Student Volunteers | Around 390 |
| Total Prize Pool | ₹5.5 Lakh |
The large number of participants and judges highlights the growing popularity of the competition.
Key Address by the Attorney General for India
The Chief Guest, R. Venkataramani, the Attorney General for India, addressed the participants during the valedictory ceremony.
Important insights from his speech:
- Moot court competitions are important for legal education and professional development.
- Students develop research skills, advocacy techniques, and analytical thinking.
- Mooting encourages law students to think creatively about real-world legal and policy issues.
Remarks by HNLU Leadership
The Vice-Chancellor of HNLU, Vivekanandan, highlighted the growing reputation of the competition.
Key points from his remarks:
- HIMCC is becoming a leading international moot court competition.
- The event involved 32 teams, 95 participants, and 57 judges.
- The total prize money of ₹5.5 lakh reflects the scale and prestige of the competition.
He also appreciated the efforts of volunteers and organisers who helped conduct the event smoothly.
Distinguished Guests at the Valedictory Ceremony
The prize distribution ceremony was attended by several eminent legal scholars and professionals:
- Ranbir Singh – Pro-Chancellor, IILM University
- P. V. S. Giridhar – Senior Counsel, Madras High Court
- R. Muralidharan – Visiting Professor at HNLU
- Uday Shankar – Professor of Law, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur
- Yogendra Kumar Srivastava – Dean (PG), HNLU
Their presence added prestige to the academic event.
Event Organization and Coordination
The event was successfully coordinated by the university administration and the moot court committee.
Key organisers:
- Deepak Kumar Srivastava – Registrar (I/c), HNLU
- Amitesh Deshmukh – Presented competition highlights
- Mayank Shrivastava – Organising Co-Secretary
- Anindya Tiwari – Convenor, Moot Court Committee
Nearly 390 student volunteers also contributed to the smooth conduct of the competition.
Special Recognition and International Participation
- A participating team from Nepal was honoured with a token of appreciation.
- The HNLU team that won the India Rounds of the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition was also congratulated.
- The team will represent India in the International Rounds in Washington, D.C.