A team from the Ram Manohar Lohia National University, Lucknow (RMLNLU) has won the 2nd Hidayatullah International Moot Court Competition (HIMCC) 2025.
The winning team, comprising Akshat Raj, Arnav Kaushik, and Aryan Pawar, has won a cash prize of ₹2 lakhs, an internship at Khaitan & Co, and a three-month subscription to Jus Mundi.
The runners-up team from the BR Ambedkar University, Sonepat comprised Divyanshi Koolwal, Kanishka Kumari, and Dhruval Saini who won a cash prize of ₹1.5 lakh.
The team from the School of Law, Christ University, comprising Thosithithashree An Chowdary, Aayusman Tiwari and Baani Pahwa received the Best Memorial award and won a cash prize of ₹75,000 and an internship opportunity with Anagram Partners.
Thosithithashree An Chowdary also won the Best Speaker award with a cash prize of ₹75,000.
Priyank Singh from RGNUL, Patiala was adjudged the Best Researcher and was awarded ₹50,000 and an internship with Vaish associates. The team from Kathmandu University, School of Law was felicitated for their participation as the international team.
Lauding the seamless exercise to precision by the Faculty and Students' Moot Court team, Vice-Chancellor, HNLU, Prof (Dr) VC Vivekananda remarked, "We win sometimes and other times we learn."
Former Andhra Pradesh High Court judge, Justice G Raghuram delivered an engaging address filled with wit and insight. He shared the story of a young law student grappling with career choices, highlighting the difference between academic pursuits and transactional practice. Comparing lawyers to persuasive salespeople, he stressed that success in law requires not only technical knowledge but also a grasp of sociology, politics, and practical realities.
Prof (Dr) Ranbir Singh spoke on why moot courts are necessary and elaborated on how moots develop critical legal skills including research, teamwork, and persuasive argumentation. He cited an example of a first-year student excelling in moots and praised HNLU’s leadership and student commitment to academic rigor.
E Om Prakash expressed joy at attending the event and emphasized that moots are not just about winning or losing, but about learning. Drawing from his experience in academia, he encouraged students to treat each competition as a stepping stone and a valuable experience.
PVS Giridhar remarked that a judge speaks through judgments, not speeches, and commended the high caliber of the finalists. Recounting his own student days, he underscored the importance of mastering foundational legal principles and advised students to focus on facts as much as law. Quoting P Chidambaram, he said, “Learn to pay attention to the facts, not just the law.” He also stressed the importance of humor in the legal profession.
Anchit Oswal expressed admiration for the event's quality. He lauded the high standard of arguments and mooting skills, describing the competition as truly exceptional.
Dr Deepak Srivastav welcomed the gathering, while Dr Anindya Tiwari gave a report of the event and Mayank Shrivastava thanked the gathering.
<Sponsored by the brand>