6th HPNLU-NHRC National Moot Court Competition 2026The Himachal Pradesh National Law University, Shimla (HPNLU), in an esteemed collaboration with the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), is proud to announce the 6th edition of its National Moot Court Competition.
6th HPNLU-NHRC National Moot Court Competition 2026
The Himachal Pradesh National Law University, Shimla (HPNLU), in an esteemed collaboration with the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), is proud to announce the 6th edition of its National Moot Court Competition. This premier event is designed to foster a culture of rights-based legal advocacy and strengthen human rights literacy among the next generation of legal practitioners.
About the Host and Partners
Himachal Pradesh National Law University (HPNLU)
Established in 2016, HPNLU is located in the serene terrains of the Himalayas. The university is committed to academic excellence and research, offering diverse programs including B.A. LL.B., B.B.A. LL.B., LL.M., and Ph.D. degrees. Under the leadership of Vice-Chancellor Prof. (Dr.) Priti Saxena, the institution has quickly solidified its reputation for organizing high-impact legal and social events.
National Human Rights Commission (NHRC)
As an independent statutory body, the NHRC serves as India's apex human rights watchdog. Its mandate is to protect and promote fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution and international treaties. By partnering for this moot, the NHRC aims to integrate academic discourse with practical adjudicatory simulations.
Knowledge and Media Partners
Manupatra: The Official Knowledge Partner, providing participants with access to its world-class legal research platform and database.
Lawctopus: The Official Media Partner, acting as a guide and mentor to law students through its extensive reach and educational resources.
Important Dates and Timeline
The competition follows a structured timeline to ensure a rigorous selection process:
January 20, 2026: Release of the Moot Proposition.
February 5, 2026: Last date for Team Registration.
February 10, 2026: Last date to seek clarifications regarding the problem.
February 25, 2026: Final deadline for the submission of Memorials.
March 5, 2026: Announcement of the Memorial Qualifier results.
March 17–19, 2026: Virtual Preliminary Rounds and the Researcher Test.
March 26–27, 2026: Advanced Offline Rounds.
March 27, 2026: Valedictory Ceremony and Announcement of Results.
The Moot Proposition: Legal Themes
The 2026 proposition is set in the Republic of Indica, a nation whose laws are pari materia (identical in substance) to those of India. The case centers on a journalist, Mr. Rivan Kaul, and his arrest following a controversial security operation known as "Operation Kumkum".
Primary Legal Issues:
Constitutional Validity of Section 152 of the BNS: Participants must argue whether this section (related to acts endangering sovereignty) is unconstitutionally vague or violates the right to free speech.
Freedom of Speech vs. Subversive Activity: Evaluating if social media investigative reporting falls under protected speech or constitutes a criminal act.
Attempted Self-Harm as Protest: Determining if an act of attempted self-immolation during a protest constitutes an offense under Section 226 of the BNS.
Information Technology Act Regulations: Debating the legality of blocking orders and cyber terrorism charges under Sections 66F, 69A, and 72 of the IT Act.
Competition Structure and Fees
The competition is divided into multiple stages to test both written and oral advocacy skills.
Stages:
Memorial Qualification Stage (Selection of the Top 32 teams).
Preliminary Rounds I & II (Conducted Online).
Quarter-Finals, Semi-Finals, and Final Round (Conducted Offline).
Fee Structure:
Memorial Submission: No fee is charged for the initial qualifier stage.
Preliminary Rounds: INR 2,000 per team (payable upon qualifying for the oral rounds).
Advanced Rounds: INR 4,000 per team (payable by teams qualifying for the Quarter-Finals).
Prize Pool and Awards
A substantial prize pool is available for top performers, totaling over INR 1,70,000 in cash awards:
Team Awards:
* Winner: INR 60,000 and Certificate of Excellence.
* 1st Runner-Up: INR 40,000 and Certificate of Excellence.
* Best Team (Petitioner): INR 15,000 and Certificate of Excellence.
* Best Team (Respondent): INR 15,000 and Certificate of Excellence.
Individual Awards:
* Best Researcher: INR 20,000 and Certificate of Excellence.
* Best Orator (Male): INR 10,000 and Certificate of Excellence.
* Best Orator (Female): INR 10,000 and Certificate of Excellence.
Educational Perks:
The winning team receives a free Manupatra Academy course of their choice.
Runners-up and third-placed teams receive 75% and 50% discounts on Manupatra courses, respectively.
All event participants are eligible for a 10% scholarship code for Lawctopus courses.
Organizing Committee and Contact
The event is organized under the patronage of Hon’ble Mr. Gurmeet Singh Sandhawalia, Chief Justice of the High Court of Himachal Pradesh.
Faculty Coordinators:
* Dr. Chandrika (Faculty Chairperson, MCC).
* Dr. Shaifali Dixit (Faculty Convenor, MCC).
* Dr. Rohit Sharma (Faculty Co-Coordinator, MCC).
Student Leadership:
Convenor: Rimjim Kheda (Ph: 9610666673).
Co-Convenors: Ashpinder Kaur and Pratishtha Srivastava.
Secretary: Ishita Kumar (Ph: 9289722715).
For official queries, please contact mcc@hpnlu.ac.in.
