GITAM School of Law hosts 7th Dr. M.V.V.S. Murthi Moot Court Competition

Symbiosis Law School, Pune, emerged as the winner of the 7th Dr. M.V.V.S. Murthi Moot Court Competition, organised by GITAM School of Law, GITAM (Deemed to be University), from October 7 to 10, 2026. The national-level competition brought together 33 teams including around 100 students from National Law Universities, state universities, deemed universities and affiliated colleges across India to test their advocacy, legal research and analytical skills through a criminal law proposition.

This year’s proposition examined key legal questions concerning the determination of homicidal death based on medical and toxicological evidence, the admissibility of electronic evidence, circumstantial evidence and the legality of the accused’s arrest. Participants presented their arguments under the new criminal laws, applying legal principles to complex factual and evidentiary issues.

[Adv. Vydyula Ravindra Prasad, Senior Advocate & Former President, Bar Association of Visakhapatnam and Prof. Dr. Nandini CP, Professor of Law, DSNLU presiding over a session during the 7th Dr. M.V.V.S. Murthi Criminal Law Moot Court Competition ]

The competition was inaugurated by Justice C.T. Ravi Kumar, former Judge of the Supreme Court of India on October 7. The final round and valedictory ceremony, held on October 10, was attended by Hon’ble Dr. Justice Y. Lakshmana Rao, Judge, High Court of Andhra Pradesh at Amaravati, as Chief Guest. Prof. (Dr.) R. Venkata Rao, Vice-Chancellor, India International University of Legal Education and Research, Goa, and Prof. (Dr.) Manoj Kumar Sinha, Vice-Chancellor, Dharmashastra National Law University, Jabalpur, attended as Special Guests. Prof. (Dr.) Y. Gouthama Rao, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Visakhapatnam Campus, GITAM (Deemed to be University), also graced the occasion.

[(L—R) Prof. (Dr.) Manoj Kumar Sinha, Vice-Chancellor, Dharmashastra National Law University, Jabalpur; Hon’ble Sri Dr. Justice Y Lakshmana Rao, Judge, High Court of Andhra Pradesh, Amaravati; and Prof. (Dr.) R. Venkata Rao, Vice-Chancellor, India International University of Legal Education and Research, Goa, judging the final round of the 7th Dr. M.V.V.S. Murthi Criminal Law Moot Court Competition ]

Addressing the participants, Prof. (Dr.) Y. Gouthama Rao compared a moot court competition to a Hollywood thriller, highlighting how both victory and defeat contribute to learning and growth. He spoke about the role of law schools in shaping future legal professionals and emphasised the need to balance professional achievement with social responsibility.

Prof. (Dr.) Manoj Kumar Sinha underscored the importance of continuous learning and thorough preparation in the legal profession. Highlighting the effort involved in drafting memorials and preparing for moot court competitions, he encouraged students to remain committed to their aspirations and pursue their goals with perseverance.

[(L-R) Dignitaries Dr. Moumita Sen Chakraborty, Director, GITAM School of Law; Prof. (Dr.) Y. Gouthama Rao, Pro Vice-Chancellor, GITAM Visakhapatnam Campus; Hon’ble Sri Dr. Justice Y Lakshmana Rao, Judge, High Court of Andhra Pradesh, Amaravati; Prof. (Dr.) Manoj Kumar Sinha, Vice-Chancellor, DNLU Jabalpur; and—alongside winning teams and award recipients during the valedictory ceremony of the 7th Dr. M.V.V.S. Murthi Criminal Law Moot Court Competition]

Remembering Dr. M.V.V.S. Murthi, Prof. (Dr.) R. Venkata Rao described law as a learned profession that demands dedication and continuous development. He emphasised the value of moot court competitions in legal education and called for a more humane legal profession rooted in empathy and compassion. Quoting Mahatma Gandhi, he reminded students that the highest court is the court of conscience.

Hon’ble Dr. Justice Y. Lakshmana Rao highlighted the importance of socio-legal analysis and the social responsibility of legal professionals. He encouraged students to participate in moot court competitions, engage actively in classroom learning, respect their teachers and maintain discipline. Referring to the Bhagavad Gita, he urged students to focus on their efforts rather than becoming preoccupied with outcomes, drawing attention to the lessons that both success and failure offer.

The results were announced by Dr. Moumita Sen Chakraborty, Director, GITAM School of Law. “Moot court competitions provide students with an opportunity to move beyond theoretical knowledge and engage with the complexities of legal practice. By researching legal issues, developing arguments and responding to challenging questions, students strengthen the critical thinking, advocacy and ethical judgment essential to the legal profession. Competitions such as this also encourage healthy academic exchange and help prepare future legal professionals to approach the law with rigour, responsibility and a strong sense of justice,” she said.

Symbiosis Law School, Pune, secured the Winner’s title, while National Law Institute University, Bhopal, was adjudged Runner-up. The School of Legal Studies, Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT), received the Best Memorial Award. Aashna Pabra of Lloyd School of Law won Best Speaker, while S. Ramachandra Rao of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar College of Law, Andhra University, received the Best Researcher Award.

The competition was sponsored by Vydyulaw Associates and Brillius Law, with SCC Online as Knowledge Partner and SCC Times as Media Partner. Dr. L. Ashish Kumar, Dr. Y.V. Kiran Kumar, Mr. M. Laxmi Jagannadh and Mr. S. Naveen Teja served as Faculty Coordinators. Faculty members, staff and students of GITAM School of Law, along with participants from institutions across the country, attended the event.

About GITAM (Deemed to be University)

Founded in Visakhapatnam in 1980, GITAM (Deemed to be University) is a multidisciplinary institution with campuses in Visakhapatnam, Hyderabad and Bengaluru, including the GITAM Institute of Medical Sciences and Research.

The University serves over 28,000 students and has a global alumni network of more than 1,00,000 across 105 countries. GITAM offers 120+ undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral programmes across engineering, management, sciences, pharmacy, law, architecture, humanities, medicine and allied health sciences, with a strong focus on research, innovation, entrepreneurship and industry engagement.

Accredited with an A++ grade by NAAC and recognised under UGC Category I, the University was ranked 88th in the University category in the NIRF Rankings 2025 and is placed in the 801—850 band in the QS Asia University Rankings 2026.

Learn more about GITAM: https://www.gitam.edu/