The Department of Law, Maharaja Surajmal Institute (MSI), New Delhi, through its Moot Court Society ‘Aequitas’, is organizing the 1st All India Maharaja Surajmal Moot Court Competition 2026.
The competition aims to provide a platform for law students across the country to engage with contemporary legal issues, sharpen their oral advocacy skills, and develop deep insight into complex legal procedures.
SCC Online and SCC Times are supporting this event as the Knowledge Partner and Media Partner respectively.
About the Institution
Maharaja Surajmal Institute (MSI) is affiliated with Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University (GGSIPU), New Delhi, and is accredited with NAAC ‘A’ Grade. It is recognized by the Bar Council of India (BCI) and UGC. The Department of Law offers B.A. LL.B. (Hons.) and B.B.A. LL.B. (Hons.) programs aimed at fostering legal research, ethical values, and professional excellence.
Structure of the Competition
The competition will be conducted in a Hybrid Format (Online + Offline):
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Online Rounds (2nd — 4th November 2026): Researcher’s Test, SCC Online Training Session, Preliminary Rounds, and Quarter-Final Rounds.
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Offline Rounds (13th — 14th November 2026): Semi-Finals, Final Round, and Valedictory Ceremony at MSI, Janakpuri, New Delhi.
Moot Proposition Overview
The Moot Proposition revolves around complex criminal law questions set in the context of criminal conspiracy, circumstantial evidence, the ‘last-seen’ theory, and forensic evidence. The case is currently before the Supreme Court of Bharatvarsha and touches upon key constitutional issues:
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Circumstantial Evidence: Whether the chain of evidence is complete to establish guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
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Reversal of Acquittal: Validity of the High Court’s order reversing the Trial Court’s acquittal.
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Trial in Absentia (Section 356 BNSS): Constitutional validity of conducting criminal trials in the absence of a proclaimed offender under the new Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023.
Eligibility & Team Composition
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The competition is open to all students pursuing 3-year or 5-year LL.B. degree programs from any law school/college/university recognized by the Bar Council of India.
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Each team shall consist of 3 members (2 Speakers and 1 Researcher). Maximum 3 teams per institution can register.
Awards and Prizes
The total cash prize pool for the competition is ₹1,00,500/- along with additional perks:
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Winner Team: ₹21,000/- + Trophy
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Runner-Up Team: ₹11,000/- + Trophy
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Best Speaker: ₹5,000/- + Trophy
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Best Researcher: ₹5,000/- + Trophy
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Best Memorial: ₹5,000/- + Trophy
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Exclusive Participant Benefit: 1-Month Complimentary Access to SCC Online Web Edition (worth ₹3,100 per participant) for all registered participants.
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1-Year Complimentary SCC Online Subscription for the Winners.
Important Dates
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Opening of Registration: 25th September 2026
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Last Date for Registration: 15th October 2026
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Last Date for Seeking Clarifications: 19th October 2026
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Release of Clarifications: 20th October 2026
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Memorial Submission Deadline: 25th October 2026 (11:59 PM IST)
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Researcher’s Test & SCC Online Workshop: 2nd November 2026
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Prelims & Quarter-Finals (Online): 3rd — 4th November 2026
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Semi-Finals & Finals (Offline): 13th — 14th November 2026
Registration Procedure & Fee
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Registration Fee: ₹2,000/- per team (non-refundable).
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Registration Link: Interested teams can register by filling the Google Form: https://forms.gle/CBHPdRihLaL21Fr99
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Payment Details: Payment can be made via UPI or Bank Transfer as per details given in the Rulebook. Proof of payment must be emailed to mcs.msilaw@msijanakpuri.com.
Important Links
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Brochure: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xLJdjP7aszS6SBH7tgAwKxEBoFyO2LCO/view?usp=drive_link
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Moot Proposition: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1SrrTm335gBds2N1Asj722hb-fZRjygwk/view?usp=sharing
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Rulebook: https://drive.google.com/file/d/11Wi79XplDIJpVuUfT-kJKWqPWxrnQ4E3/view?usp=drive_link
Contact Details
For any queries, please feel free to reach out to:
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Email: mcs.msilaw@msijanakpuri.com
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Student Contacts:
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Mr. Atharv (Convenor): +91 88265 06977
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Ms. Sehajdeep Kaur (Co-Convenor): +91 98111 96688
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Ms. Avni Sharma (Co-Convenor): +91 99102 06722
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Mr. Akshat Parashar: +91 83683 77707
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