SONIPAT: Hon’ble Mr. Justice Surya Kant, Chief Justice of India, and Mr. Arjun Ram Meghwal, Hon’ble Minister of State for Law & Justice, inaugurated the world’s largest Moot Court, NYĀYĀBHYĀSA MANDAPAM – The Grand Moot Court, and dedicated it to the nation. The event also saw the inauguration of IMAANDAAR (International Mooting Academy for Advocacy, Negotiation, Dispute Adjudication, Arbitration, and Resolution) in the presence of more than 200 international judges and jurists from India and the world. The Chief Justice of India also inaugurated the International Convention on the Independence of the Judiciary: Comparative Perspectives on Rights, Institutions, and Citizens at O.P. Jindal Global University. A Commemorative Plaque was released by the Chief Justice of India and the Law Minister to mark the special occasion.

Across the two days of the Convention, 26 sitting Judges and former judges of the Supreme Court of India including the Chief Justice of India (sitting in two separate 13-judge benches), 10 former Chief Justices of India, 10 Chief Justices, Judges & former Judges of High Courts, 14 International Judges & Jurists, 5 Ministers & Parliamentarians, 61 Senior Advocates, and 91 academicians, lawyers participated and spoke at various thematic sessions. 

The two-day International Convention on the Independence of the Judiciary explored how this concept forms the cornerstone of Indian democracy. As a newly independent nation and a nascent democracy, the framers of the Constitution wanted the Judiciary to function without any influence from external or internal forces. This concept and its application form the basic structure of the Constitution of India.

Hon’ble Mr. Justice Surya Kant, Chief Justice of India, inaugurated the Convention and the world’s largest moot court and said, “I laud the inauguration of the world’s largest moot court housed in O.P. Jindal Global University and Jindal Global Law School. Integrity is the very ideal that the practice of law and indeed the pursuit of justice is based upon. In an era where truth must compete with knowledge, where deep fakes distort, misinformation multiplies, and digital arrests have become disturbingly routine, integrity and honesty are no longer lofty ideals. The Basic Structure doctrine has allowed our Constitution to grow without losing its centre, to stretch toward new realities, yet remain tethered to its founding spirit. As this momentous conference reminds us, the basic structure of a document is not to be a relic of the past but a map for charting our future. It is the consensus that keeps our democracy from drifting into dissolution as we modernize our institutions and open new frontiers. This very ethos must now animate how we address the new constitutional questions of the 21st century, whether it is the digital state’s reach into privacy, AI’s hand in shaping truth, or the climate crisis testing our notions of justice between generations. The Constitution’s strength lies not in resisting changes but in ensuring that every change honours its foundational promises: namely, Human Dignity, Equity, Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity.”

The Guest of Honour, Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal, Hon’ble Minister of State for Law & Justice, Government of India, said, “As citizens, we must uphold constitutional faith — the belief that the Constitution protects our rights and guards against tyranny. However, freedom is not a license to do whatever we want. To ensure our judiciary remains competent, the government is working tirelessly to modernise our legal infrastructure. We are moving towards a system that is fully future-ready through initiatives like the E-Courts project and AI-driven tools, which will help overcome language barriers. Our civilisation carries a deep commitment to justice, embedded in our constitutional framework. The Preamble solemnly resolves to secure justice — social, economic, and political — reflecting a holistic vision of ensuring equality, fairness, and dignity for all. Dr. Ambedkar said that justice is the embodiment of liberty, equality, and fraternity; it is equality in value, fairness in proportion, and righteousness in governance. I congratulate JGU on the world’s largest Moot Court and the name you have chosen: IMAANDAAR, which reflects the institution’s foundation on the principle of integrity toward knowledge, justice, and one’s duty.”

On this momentous occasion, inspiring messages of appreciation were received from the Hon’ble President of India and the Hon’ble Vice President of India. The occasion was further inspired by a message from the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modiji, who wrote, “I am delighted to learn about the International Convention on ‘The Independence of Judiciary: Comparative Perspectives on Rights, Institutions and Citizens’ at O.P. Jindal Global University, Sonipat. The inauguration of a massive Moot Court alongside the conference, which sees the participation of eminent jurists worldwide, creates an opportunity for greater synergy. It is an occasion for seasoned and senior professionals to engage in a vibrant interaction with young students, mentoring them while imbibing the energy of our Yuva Shakti. Instilling a passion for justice delivery and a sense of pride about our Constitution in our youth will inspire them to strengthen democratic values throughout their lives. As one of the pillars of governance, the judiciary has played an important role in our democracy. From the guidance of village elders to modern courts, fair and timely justice delivery is a value that our society has always held as sacred. One of the most important aspects of justice delivery mechanisms is to take justice to the people in a way that there is an ‘ease of justice’ for even the poorest of the poor. I am confident that such conferences will bring together the finest minds of our judiciary, legal fraternity, and all other stakeholders to make our justice delivery system even more people-centric.”

Naveen Jindal, Founding Chancellor, O.P. Jindal Global University and Member of Parliament, welcomed the distinguished Chief Justice of India, the Minister of State for Law, and other luminaries and said, “Justice Suryakantji is the first son of the soil to rise to the nation’s highest judicial office, from Hisar to Kurukshetra. His academic and professional journey reflects both the intellectual strength of Haryana and the constitutional possibilities that open when institutions nurture talent with sincerity. As a citizen of India, I wanted every Indian to have the right to display the national flag and in 2004, the Supreme Court of India gave a historic judgment, declaring the right to display the national flag as a freedom of speech and expression enshrined in the Constitution and it was the first time that we Indians got the right to display the national flag. Judicial independence draws its real strength from this quiet faith that people place in the courts, the belief that it will remain principled, impartial, and fearless, regardless of who stands before it. It is this trust that gives a judiciary its moral authority, which is firmly anchored in the rule of law. India’s justice system is among the world’s most respected. The way forward lies in procedural reform, wider use of mediation and ADR, and smarter use of technology, including artificial intelligence, supported by close cooperation between the lawmakers, the judiciary, the bar, and the academic institutions. Universities like ours must become laboratories of democracy, where ideas are generated and tested, values are strengthened, and the next generation is prepared to serve the people.”

Professor (Dr.) C. Raj Kumar, Founding Vice Chancellor, O.P. Jindal Global University, welcomed the august gathering to the special occasion and said, “This moment is essentially for celebrating education, democracy, and the strength of our institutions. By inaugurating the world’s largest moot court on the campus of JGU and JGLS, we are recognising that the foundations of the rule of law and access to justice are built in academic institutions where the youth of India and the world receive education. The presence of 26 sitting and former judges of the Supreme Court of India, along with the Chief Justice of India and the Law Minister, at a Law School and University campus is both historic and unprecedented. The law students at JGU, the professors who are teaching, and other mentors will be shaping the future of India and the future of the world. Our Chancellor and benefactor, Mr. Naveen Jindal’s contributed to strengthening the rule of law reached its zenith through this endeavour of establishing the world’s largest moot court on our campus. This initiative builds on the initiative of establishing India’s First Constitution Museum, which was inaugurated in 2024 to mark the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution of India. Today’s initiative of inaugurating IMAANDAAR will democratise access to training and capacity building for law students and lawyers to acquire knowledge and skills that will enable them to become competent, committed, and transformative leaders in advancing the cause of promoting excellence in legal profession and legal profession.” 

The Chairman of the Bar Council of India and Member of Parliament, Manan Kumar Mishra, said, “I have the privilege to speak on two integral pillars of our constitutional democracy: independence of judiciary and access to justice. These are not merely legal doctrines. They are the lifeblood of the rule of law. The shield that protects rights. True independence is not achieved merely through constitutional safeguards. It also requires judicial courage, ethical integrity, and professional competence. A fearless bar ensures a fearless bench. Advocates assist the court not merely by presenting cases, but by upholding truth, exposing injustice, and defending constitutional values. An independent judiciary can flourish only in the company of an independent, ethical, strong, and competent bar.”

The event witnessed the historic enactment of the Kesavananda Bharati Case and its impact on Indian Constitutional History, highlighting the legacy of this landmark case and examining its role in ensuring judicial independence. It was enacted by Mr. R. Venkataramani, Attorney General for India; Mr. Tushar Mehta, Solicitor General of India; Dr. Abhishek M. Singhvi, Senior Advocate, Supreme Court of India; and Mr. Sidharth Luthra, Senior Advocate, Supreme Court of India.

In an unprecedented historical discourse, the enactment was followed by Reflections by the 13-Judge Bench, highlighting the legacy of the Kesavananda Bharati Case and judicial independence. The Kesavananda Bharati judgment, delivered on 24 April 1973, is a landmark judgment of the Supreme Court of India. The Supreme Court, in a historic decision, propounded the basic structure doctrine of the Constitution, which holds that certain fundamental features of the Constitution, such as democracy, secularism, federalism, independence of the judiciary, and the rule of law, cannot be amended by Parliament. The court also held that the power of judicial review is an integral part of the basic structure of the Constitution and cannot be taken away by Parliament through constitutional amendments.

In a historically significant initiative, a 13-Judge Bench presided by Hon’ble Mr. Justice Surya Kant, Chief Justice of India and 12 Judges of the Supreme Court of India — Hon’ble Ms. Justice B.V. Nagarathna, Hon’ble Mr. Justice M.M. Sundresh, Hon’ble Mr. Justice P.S. Narasimha, Hon’ble Mr. Justice Dipankar Datta, Hon’ble Mr. Justice Sanjay Karol, Hon’ble Mr. Justice Rajesh Bindal, Hon’ble Mr. Justice Aravind Kumar, Hon’ble Mr. Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra, Hon’ble Mr. Justice Augustine George Masih, Hon’ble Mr. Justice N. Kotiswar Singh, Hon’ble Mr. Justice R. Mahadevan and Hon’ble Mr. Justice Joymalya Bagchi were present to share their reflections on the Enactment of the Kesavananda Bharati Case on the first day of the International Convention – 29 November 2025. 

On the second day of the Convention, another 13-Judge Bench comprising Sitting and Former Judges of the Supreme Court of India—Hon’ble Mr. Justice Saurabh K. Bhatti, Hon’ble Mr. Justice Prasanna B. Varale, Hon’ble Mr. Justice M.M. Sundresh, Hon’ble Mr. Justice Atul S. Chandurkar, Hon’ble Mr. Justice D.K. Jain, Hon’ble Mr. Justice Swatanter Kumar, Hon’ble Ms. Justice Ranjana P. Desai, Hon’ble Mr. Justice Madan B. Lokur, Hon’ble Mr. Justice U.U. Lalit, Hon’ble Ms. Justice Indira Banerjee, Hon’ble Mr. Justice Hemant Gupta, and Hon’ble Mr. Justice Ajay Rastogi presided over the mock proceedings presented by four students of Jindal Global Law School: Ms. Jianna Bajaj, Mr. Akshat Indusekhar, Ms. Paridhi Jain, and Mr. Harsh K.

On the second day of the Convention, 30th November, Professor R. Sudarshan, Dean, Jindal School of Government and Public Policy, provided a historical evolution of the Supreme Court of India, and Professor (Dr) S.G. Sreejith shared the jurisprudential foundations of the Kesavananda Bharti Case.

Professor (Dr.) Dipika Jain, Executive Dean, introduced the Jindal Global Law School, and the vote of thanks was given by Professor Dabiru Sridhar Patnaik, Registrar, O.P. Jindal Global University.

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Moot Courts are a vital training ground for aspiring lawyers and students, enabling them to hone their advocacy skills and develop a deeper understanding of legal principles. The simulation is typically used in law schools, legal competitions, and some advanced undergraduate programs to prepare students for the real-world demands of litigation. The new Moot Court Hall at NMIMS School of Law Hyderabad is a state-of-the-art infrastructure that provides students with a realistic courtroom experience, including modern technology, professional resources, and expert guidance.

Expressing gratitude, Dr. Mohammed Samiulla Arab, Associate Dean, School of Law, Hyderabad, NMIMS, said, “It is focused on imparting invaluable skills to the students, preparing them for a successful legal career.” Established in 2018 by NMIMS University, the programs offered in the law school have all the qualities and niceties of the programs offered by world-class universities all over the world. The school’s faculty members are well qualified and experienced with a wide range of quality legal publications and are also associated with social justice legal education.“

The newly built Moot Court Hall at NMIMS Hyderabad School of Law is a pivotal addition to the prestigious institution’s academic and legal landscape. The hall is aimed at fostering critical skills such as legal research, persuasive argumentation, and public speaking among students. The NMIMS student community is diversity-rich irrespective of region, religion, sexual orientation, etc.

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MUMBAI: BITS Pilani, one of the first universities to be awarded the status of ‘Institution of Eminence’ by the Government of India today announced a foray into legal education with BITS Law School in Greater Mumbai. The New Age BITS Law School has reimagined all aspects of legal education, including a flexible and interdisciplinary curriculum, emphasis on empathy and creativity in learning, focus on legal writing and scholarly research, with strong digital underpinning across the programs, and enabling access through generous scholarships.

BITS Law School will offer two hugely popular five-year integrated degree programs, B.A. LL.B. (Hons.) and B.B.A. LL.B. (Hons.). The first academic year will commence on 1st August 2023 with admissions starting in March 2023.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Kumar Mangalam Birla, Chancellor of BITS Pilani said, “India’s emergence as an equitable, diverse, and inclusive knowledge economy will be championed by our universities and specialized centers of learning. BITS Pilani, as an institution of eminence, is uniquely positioned to take the lead in building a new generation of creative, multidisciplinary, and future-ready leaders. With a bold new vision and mission, BITS Law School seeks to reimagine legal education to address contemporary and emerging problems of local and global significance. Taking inspiration from the National Education Policy (NEP) and the soaring aspirations of young Indians, BITS Law School will be a melting pot of ideas. Our globally benchmarked pedagogy, innovative curriculum, and stellar faculty will create an unparalleled experience for aspiring legal professionals.”

BITS Law School will seek intellectual guidance from luminaries of the legal fraternity, higher education, business, and policymaking. Some of the esteemed members of the Advisory Council include Hon. Mr. Justice U.U. Lalit (eminent jurist and former Chief Justice of India), Hon. Mr. Justice B.N. Srikrishna (eminent jurist and a retired judge of the Supreme Court of India), Ms. Pallavi Shroff (Managing Partner, Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co.), and Mr. Haigreve Khaitan (Managing Partner, Khaitan & Co.). Professor (Dr.) Ashish Bharadwaj joins as the founding Dean of the BITS Law School.

Founding Dean, Professor (Dr.) Ashish Bharadwaj said, “BITS Law School will embrace learners and faculty who have a penchant for learning the law, who want to push the boundaries of academic research, and who share our belief in bending the arc of the moral universe towards timely justice. Our progressive, interdisciplinary, and technology-led approach will help students know the law, practice law, live with the law, and empower through law. We aspire to become an inspirational benchmark by firmly basing ourselves on the core values of those who built India and the core beliefs of those who will lead India.”

The law students will also gain access to and benefit from the 1,70,000+ BITS Pilani Alumni Network spanning 55 Countries, which is one of the strongest and most illustrious networks of industry leaders, founders, entrepreneurs, and thought leaders. A dedicated office will facilitate students’ preparedness, exposure, and access to leading law firms, business corporations, banks, NGOs, and research organizations.

A state-of-the-art, fully residential campus of BITS Law School is being developed by Architect Hafeez Contractor over 63 acres in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. While the permanent and zero-carbon footprint campus will be operational in 2024, BITS Law School has commenced operations and will begin its first academic year in August 2023 out of a state-of-the-art interim campus in the Hiranandani Gardens in Powai, Mumbai.

Generous scholarships will be offered for meritorious students to enable access to and preserve diversity. Among the specializations offered are Technology & Media Law; Entertainment & Sports Law; Corporate & Financial Law; and Alternate Dispute Resolution & Mediation.

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