1st RACHK National Criminal Law Moot Court Competition, | Rotaract Club of Hyderabad Kanoon
Event Overview
The competition is the first of its kind to be conducted under the aegis of Rotary, blending legal education with humanitarian service. A significant portion of the funds raised will be donated to an orphanage for children affected by HIV/AIDS to support their medical care.
Dates: March 14–15, 2026.
Venue: G. Narayanamma Institute of Technology & Science (Autonomous), Shaikpet, Hyderabad, Telangana.
Prizes: Total cash prizes amounting to ₹90,000/-.
Organizing Bodies
Rotaract Club of Hyderabad Kanoon (RACHK)
RACHK is a specialized club within the Hyderabad legal fraternity, consisting of advocates, law students, and legal professionals. Founded by Charter President Shlok Tiwari, the club is currently led by President Sriya Ranga.
Rotary Club of Hyderabad East (RCHE)
Founded in 1986, RCHE follows the motto "Service Above Self". Their flagship projects include the Hetero Rotary Skin Bank at Osmania General Hospital and a 2025-2026 partnership to equip one million youth with AI and Blockchain skills.
Distinguished Guests and Author
Chief Guest
Shri Sunil B. Ganu, Senior Advocate at the High Court of Telangana. A third-generation lawyer with over 40 years of experience, he is a renowned civil litigator and has generously sponsored the competition's cash prizes.
Guest of Honour
Shri Bhuram Shanker, Senior Advocate at the High Court of Telangana. He is a former member of the Bar Council of Telangana and played a critical role in drafting the A.P. Advocates' Welfare Fund Act, 1999.
Author of the Proposition
Pavan Kasturi, Advocate and UGC-Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) awardee. An alumnus of NLSIU Bengaluru and a double gold medalist, his primary areas of interest are Criminal and Constitutional Law.
The Moot Proposition: State of Karangal v. Sabha
The case presents a complex narrative involving privacy rights, gender neutrality in law, and the integrity of digital evidence.
The Incident
Ms. Tina Kumari, a prominent Men’s Rights Activist and daughter of a former Home Minister, alleges that her privacy was violated during a private act with her partner at the Kaveri Ladies Hostel. She suspects a neighbor, Sabha, a law student at the opposite residency, of voyeurism.
The Investigation
Police seized Sabha’s iPhone 16 Pro. When she refused to provide the passcode, citing Article 20(3) and Article 21, the police allegedly used a digital pen to clone her fingerprint without her consent to unlock the device. A video was subsequently found in the "Recently Deleted" folder.
Legal Issues
Maintainability: Whether a Writ Petition challenging the gender-specific nature of voyeurism laws is maintainable.
Constitutionality: Whether Section 354C of the Karangal Penal Code (which punishes only men for voyeurism) violates Articles 14 and 21.
Admissibility: Whether evidence obtained through deceptive biometric cloning is admissible under Articles 20 and 21.
Criminal Liability: Whether the accused is guilty under Sections 66E, 67, and 67A of the IT Act, 2000.
Competition Rules and Timeline
Eligibility and Composition
Open to students in 3-year or 5-year LL.B. programs recognized by the Bar Council of India.
Teams must consist of two Speakers and one Researcher.
Registration and Fees
Registration Fee: ₹3,500/- per team.
Accommodation Fee: ₹4,000/- (applicable only for teams qualifying for offline rounds).
Key Dates
* Registration Deadline: February 15, 2026.
* Memorial Submission: February 23, 2026.
* Round 1 (Online): February 28 & March 01, 2026.
* Offline Rounds (Hyderabad): March 14–15, 2026.
Awards and Prizes
* Winning Team: ₹50,000/-.
* Runner-Up Team: ₹25,000/-.
* Best Student Advocate (I & II): ₹5,000/- each.
* Best Memorial: ₹5,000/-.
Contact and Registration
For clarifications, teams can email rachydkanoon@gmail.com. Registration is completed via online forms available on Lawctopus.
