D. M. Harish Memorial Government Law College International Moot Court Competition
Encyclopedia
The D. M. Harish Memorial Government Law College International Moot Court Competition http://mcaglc.org/dmh.html popularly known as DMH, is India’s first and arguably most prestigious International Moot Court Competition. The Competition was instituted in the year 2000 and is jointly organized by the Government Law College, Mumbai
and the D.M. Harish Foundation.
The case study of the Competition is a fictional dispute between countries that is submitted to the International Court of Justice
(ICJ) and deals primarily with contemporary legal issues relating primarily to the field of Public International Law. The Rounds of the Competition are held in the Government Law College, Mumbai
with the final rounds of argument being presided over by a stately bench of five sitting judges of the Bombay High Court
.
The Competition receives substantial entries from Indian Law schools annually and has seen participation from more than 20 countries from across the globe, including some major US and UK Universities.
in collaboration with the D. M. Harish Foundation, a Trust instituted in memory of one of India’s most eminent jurist, the Late Mr. D. M. Harish.
enjoys the distinction of being one of Asia’s oldest and most distinguished law schools. The year 2011 marks the 156th anniversary of Government Law College, Mumbai
. With a heritage spanning a century and a half, this pioneering legal institution is older than the University of Mumbai
and the Bombay High Court
itself. Generations of distinguished legal luminaries who have made a seminal contribution to the Indian legal system form a part of its veritable alumni.
Mr. Harilal Kania H. J. Kania
, the first Chief Justice of India, Mr. M.C. Chagla, the first Indian Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court
, M. C. Setalvad
, the first Attorney General of India, former Chief Justices of India, Mr. P. N. Bhagwati and Mr. S. P. Bharucha and Hon’ble Justice S.H. Kapadia, current Chief Justice of India all began their careers from the Government Law College. Legal luminaries like Mr. Nani Palkhivala, Mr. Soli Sorabjee
, Mr. Fali Nariman, Mr. T. R. Andhyarujina, Mr. Anil Divan http://people.forbes.com/profile/anil-diwan/55625 and Mr. Goolam Vahanvati and even the Hon’ble President of India, Her Excellency, Ms Pratibha Patil
form a part of its enviable alumni. Their contribution to the constitutional and jurisprudential growth of India is unparalleled.
The Government Law College, Mumbai
, believes in bringing together perspectives from across the spectrum, to equip its students with a holistic understanding and substantive view on contemporary concerns. The college has achieved a perfect blend of theoretical knowledge keeping in view its long standing culture and tradition as well as several extra-curricular and co-curricular activities, including moot courts that provide its law students with an insight into the current legal scenario and the burning issues of our time.
competitions have been a regular feature in Government Law College since 1936. The Moot Court Association http://mcaglc.org/ of Government Law College was inaugurated in 1955 to further this imperative co-curricular activity. It is a student body that singularly co-ordinates all the mooting activities at Government Law College and annually organizes the D. M. Harish Memorial Government Law College International Moot Court Competition http://mcaglc.org/dmh.html in association with the D. M. Harish Foundation. With a strength of over 75 students, the Moot Court Association http://mcaglc.org/ oversees and manages the entire Competition and is responsible in making the DMH-experience a truly enjoyable one for all the participants.
.
Mr. D. M. Harish founded the well-known firm “D. M. Harish & Co” which specializes in taxation, property law and corporate law. Mr. Harish built a large clientele and tremendous goodwill amongst industrialists and professionals alike. He was the director of several public and private limited companies and a trustee of many philanthropic organizations. He was also a member of the Regional Direct Taxes Advisory Committee and the President of the Chamber of Income Tax Consultants. His contribution to the Indian legal system is immeasurable which includes the publication of his magnum opus, an eight volume Treatise on Income Tax Law which contains about 30,000 pages of research material connected with tax laws. He is renowned for the several landmark cases that he fought on behalf of the Indian tax-payers. He has also written innumerable article on diverse legal subjects.
In his lifetime, he instituted a fund for educational grants for the needy and deserving. He also instituted the Annual Awards for Best Professors at the Government Law College, Mumbai
.
As a tribute to his memory, the D. M. Harish Foundation sponsors the D. M. Harish Memorial Government Law College Moot Court Competition http://mcaglc.org/dmh.html in collaboration with the Moot Court Association http://mcaglc.org/ of Government Law College.
DMH is India's first International Moot Court Competition and was started in 2000 as a National Moot Court Competition. However, it has been open to international entrants since 2006. In a short span of six years, the moot has witnessed diverse participation of Law Schools from across countries like United Kingdom, United States of America, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, Mauritius, Spain, Greece, Ireland, Australia, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Singapore and Jamaica.
The case study of the competition deals primarily with complex contemporary issues relating to Public International Law that is submitted before the International Court of Justice
(ICJ) and has been drafted by experts in the field. The teams are required to be well-versed with the basic principles of international law, international institutions and procedures. In addition, students are required to have an extraordinary grasp of international case laws, as well as current events. The previous years have witnessed participants with nearly encyclopedic knowledge of pertinent cases as well as secondary materials by leading international law scholars.
The Rounds of the Competition are held at the premises of the Government Law College, Mumbai
and are adjudged by distinguished advocates of the Bombay High Court, academicians and experts in the field of International Law.
2011
Winning Team : Gujarat National Law University
, Gandhinagar, India
Runners-up : Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law
, Patiala, India
2010
Winning Team : National Law University, Delhi
, India
Runners-up : Indian Law Society's Law College, Pune, India
2009
Winning Team : Nalsar University of Law
, Hyderabad, India
Runners-up : Government Law College, Mumbai
, India
2008
Winning Team : Washington University School of Law
, St. Louis, United States of America
Runners-up : Cornell Law School
, U.S.A
2007
Winning Team : St. Edmund’s College, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom
Runners-up : Government Law College, Mumbai
, India
2006
Winning Team : National Law School of India University
, Bangalore, India
2005
Winning Team : National Law School of India University
, Bangalore, India
However, a ‘Memorial Round’ precedes the Oral Rounds of Argument. Eleven Indian Universities/Colleges based on their past performance directly proceed to the oral rounds of argument. The other Indian Universities/Colleges that send in their applications will have to go through the ‘Memorial Round’. Four of the highest scoring Memorials shall qualify for the Oral Rounds of Argument.
Prior to the Oral Rounds of Argument, the teams that have qualified for the Oral Rounds will have to sit through a Researcher’s test which will be held in the premises of the college itself. The winning researcher will be declared at the Valedictory Ceremony that follows the Final Rounds of Argument.
The Schedule and Case Study for the 2012 edition will be available shortly.
Government Law College, Mumbai
The Government Law College, also known as GLC and located in Mumbai, India, is the oldest and one of the most distinguished law schools in India...
and the D.M. Harish Foundation.
The case study of the Competition is a fictional dispute between countries that is submitted to the International Court of Justice
International Court of Justice
The International Court of Justice is the primary judicial organ of the United Nations. It is based in the Peace Palace in The Hague, Netherlands...
(ICJ) and deals primarily with contemporary legal issues relating primarily to the field of Public International Law. The Rounds of the Competition are held in the Government Law College, Mumbai
Government Law College, Mumbai
The Government Law College, also known as GLC and located in Mumbai, India, is the oldest and one of the most distinguished law schools in India...
with the final rounds of argument being presided over by a stately bench of five sitting judges of the Bombay High Court
Bombay High Court
Bombay High Court at Mumbai, Maharashtra, is the High Court of India with jurisdiction over the states of Maharashtra & Goa, and, the Union Territories of Daman and Diu and Dadra and Nagar Haveli...
.
The Competition receives substantial entries from Indian Law schools annually and has seen participation from more than 20 countries from across the globe, including some major US and UK Universities.
THE ORGANISING COMMITTEE
The Competition is organised by the Moot Court Association http://mcaglc.org/ of Government Law College, MumbaiGovernment Law College, Mumbai
The Government Law College, also known as GLC and located in Mumbai, India, is the oldest and one of the most distinguished law schools in India...
in collaboration with the D. M. Harish Foundation, a Trust instituted in memory of one of India’s most eminent jurist, the Late Mr. D. M. Harish.
Government Law College, Mumbai
Established in 1855, the Government Law College, MumbaiGovernment Law College, Mumbai
The Government Law College, also known as GLC and located in Mumbai, India, is the oldest and one of the most distinguished law schools in India...
enjoys the distinction of being one of Asia’s oldest and most distinguished law schools. The year 2011 marks the 156th anniversary of Government Law College, Mumbai
Government Law College, Mumbai
The Government Law College, also known as GLC and located in Mumbai, India, is the oldest and one of the most distinguished law schools in India...
. With a heritage spanning a century and a half, this pioneering legal institution is older than the University of Mumbai
University of Mumbai
The University of Mumbai , is a state university located in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. It was known as the University of Bombay until 1996 when the city of Bombay was renamed as Mumbai. The affiliated colleges of the university are spread throughout the city of Mumbai and four coastal districts in...
and the Bombay High Court
Bombay High Court
Bombay High Court at Mumbai, Maharashtra, is the High Court of India with jurisdiction over the states of Maharashtra & Goa, and, the Union Territories of Daman and Diu and Dadra and Nagar Haveli...
itself. Generations of distinguished legal luminaries who have made a seminal contribution to the Indian legal system form a part of its veritable alumni.
Mr. Harilal Kania H. J. Kania
H. J. Kania
Sir Harilal Jekisundas Kania was the first Chief Justice of India. He held office from 14 August 1947 to 5 February 1951. Prior to holding the office at the Supreme Court of India, he was the Chief Justice of the Federal Court, the predecessor of the Supreme Court.-Personal life:* Conferred...
, the first Chief Justice of India, Mr. M.C. Chagla, the first Indian Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court
Bombay High Court
Bombay High Court at Mumbai, Maharashtra, is the High Court of India with jurisdiction over the states of Maharashtra & Goa, and, the Union Territories of Daman and Diu and Dadra and Nagar Haveli...
, M. C. Setalvad
M. C. Setalvad
M. C. Setalvad was an eminent Indian jurist, who became the first and longest serving Attorney General of India . He also remained the Chairman of the First Law Commission of India , which is mandated for legal reform in the country by Government of India...
, the first Attorney General of India, former Chief Justices of India, Mr. P. N. Bhagwati and Mr. S. P. Bharucha and Hon’ble Justice S.H. Kapadia, current Chief Justice of India all began their careers from the Government Law College. Legal luminaries like Mr. Nani Palkhivala, Mr. Soli Sorabjee
Soli Sorabjee
Soli Jehangir Sorabjee is an Indian jurist.-Biography:Soli Sorabjee was born on March 9, 1930 in Bombay, and after an education at Government Law College, Bombay, was admitted to the bar in 1953...
, Mr. Fali Nariman, Mr. T. R. Andhyarujina, Mr. Anil Divan http://people.forbes.com/profile/anil-diwan/55625 and Mr. Goolam Vahanvati and even the Hon’ble President of India, Her Excellency, Ms Pratibha Patil
Pratibha Patil
Pratibha Devisingh Patil is the 12th President of the Republic of India and first woman to hold the office. She was sworn in as President of India on 25 July 2007, succeeding Dr. A.P.J...
form a part of its enviable alumni. Their contribution to the constitutional and jurisprudential growth of India is unparalleled.
The Government Law College, Mumbai
Government Law College, Mumbai
The Government Law College, also known as GLC and located in Mumbai, India, is the oldest and one of the most distinguished law schools in India...
, believes in bringing together perspectives from across the spectrum, to equip its students with a holistic understanding and substantive view on contemporary concerns. The college has achieved a perfect blend of theoretical knowledge keeping in view its long standing culture and tradition as well as several extra-curricular and co-curricular activities, including moot courts that provide its law students with an insight into the current legal scenario and the burning issues of our time.
Moot Court Association
Moot courtMoot court
A moot court is an extracurricular activity at many law schools in which participants take part in simulated court proceedings, usually to include drafting briefs and participating in oral argument. The term derives from Anglo Saxon times, when a moot was a gathering of prominent men in a...
competitions have been a regular feature in Government Law College since 1936. The Moot Court Association http://mcaglc.org/ of Government Law College was inaugurated in 1955 to further this imperative co-curricular activity. It is a student body that singularly co-ordinates all the mooting activities at Government Law College and annually organizes the D. M. Harish Memorial Government Law College International Moot Court Competition http://mcaglc.org/dmh.html in association with the D. M. Harish Foundation. With a strength of over 75 students, the Moot Court Association http://mcaglc.org/ oversees and manages the entire Competition and is responsible in making the DMH-experience a truly enjoyable one for all the participants.
LATE MR. D.M. HARISH & THE D.M. HARISH FOUNDATION
Late Mr. D. M. Harish was a distinguished Advocate and a renowned authority on Income Tax Law who also figures in the venerated list of alumnis of the Government Law College, MumbaiGovernment Law College, Mumbai
The Government Law College, also known as GLC and located in Mumbai, India, is the oldest and one of the most distinguished law schools in India...
.
Mr. D. M. Harish founded the well-known firm “D. M. Harish & Co” which specializes in taxation, property law and corporate law. Mr. Harish built a large clientele and tremendous goodwill amongst industrialists and professionals alike. He was the director of several public and private limited companies and a trustee of many philanthropic organizations. He was also a member of the Regional Direct Taxes Advisory Committee and the President of the Chamber of Income Tax Consultants. His contribution to the Indian legal system is immeasurable which includes the publication of his magnum opus, an eight volume Treatise on Income Tax Law which contains about 30,000 pages of research material connected with tax laws. He is renowned for the several landmark cases that he fought on behalf of the Indian tax-payers. He has also written innumerable article on diverse legal subjects.
In his lifetime, he instituted a fund for educational grants for the needy and deserving. He also instituted the Annual Awards for Best Professors at the Government Law College, Mumbai
Government Law College, Mumbai
The Government Law College, also known as GLC and located in Mumbai, India, is the oldest and one of the most distinguished law schools in India...
.
As a tribute to his memory, the D. M. Harish Foundation sponsors the D. M. Harish Memorial Government Law College Moot Court Competition http://mcaglc.org/dmh.html in collaboration with the Moot Court Association http://mcaglc.org/ of Government Law College.
ABOUT THE MOOT
The Government Law College has been hosting the D. M. Harish Memorial Government Law College International Moot Court Competition http://mcaglc.org/dmh.html for the past twelve years. It has emerged as the most prestigious mooting competition of its kind in India and has played an important role in the promotion of mooting in the country by providing a platform for law students to hone their advocacy skills.DMH is India's first International Moot Court Competition and was started in 2000 as a National Moot Court Competition. However, it has been open to international entrants since 2006. In a short span of six years, the moot has witnessed diverse participation of Law Schools from across countries like United Kingdom, United States of America, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, Mauritius, Spain, Greece, Ireland, Australia, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Singapore and Jamaica.
The case study of the competition deals primarily with complex contemporary issues relating to Public International Law that is submitted before the International Court of Justice
International Court of Justice
The International Court of Justice is the primary judicial organ of the United Nations. It is based in the Peace Palace in The Hague, Netherlands...
(ICJ) and has been drafted by experts in the field. The teams are required to be well-versed with the basic principles of international law, international institutions and procedures. In addition, students are required to have an extraordinary grasp of international case laws, as well as current events. The previous years have witnessed participants with nearly encyclopedic knowledge of pertinent cases as well as secondary materials by leading international law scholars.
The Rounds of the Competition are held at the premises of the Government Law College, Mumbai
Government Law College, Mumbai
The Government Law College, also known as GLC and located in Mumbai, India, is the oldest and one of the most distinguished law schools in India...
and are adjudged by distinguished advocates of the Bombay High Court, academicians and experts in the field of International Law.
Past Winners
The winners of the D. M. Harish Memorial Government Law College International Moot Court Competition since the Competition was open to international entrances are:2011
Winning Team : Gujarat National Law University
Gujarat National Law University
Gujarat National Law University is a statutory university established by the Government of Gujarat under the Gujarat National University Act, 2003. This University is based in the city of Gandhinagar, which is the capital of Gujarat and is located 30 kilometers north to the metropolitan city of...
, Gandhinagar, India
Runners-up : Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law
Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law
Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law , is a National Law University located in Patiala, Punjab, India. It was established in 2006 by the Punjab Government as a public university dedicated to the field of Legal Education...
, Patiala, India
2010
Winning Team : National Law University, Delhi
National Law University, Delhi
National Law University, Delhi , abbreviated to NLUD is a specialised law university offering courses at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels. It is situated in Sector- 14, Dwarka, New Delhi, India...
, India
Runners-up : Indian Law Society's Law College, Pune, India
2009
Winning Team : Nalsar University of Law
Nalsar University of Law
The Nalsar University of Law, or officially the National Academy of Legal Studies and Research , is a legal studies institution located in Shamirpet, Hyderabad, India. It was established in 1998 as a state university in an Act of the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly...
, Hyderabad, India
Runners-up : Government Law College, Mumbai
Government Law College, Mumbai
The Government Law College, also known as GLC and located in Mumbai, India, is the oldest and one of the most distinguished law schools in India...
, India
2008
Winning Team : Washington University School of Law
Washington University School of Law
Washington University School of Law , is a private American law school located in St. Louis, Missouri. The law school is one of the seven graduate and undergraduate schools at Washington University in St. Louis....
, St. Louis, United States of America
Runners-up : Cornell Law School
Cornell Law School
Cornell Law School, located in Ithaca, New York, is a graduate school of Cornell University and one of the five Ivy League law schools. The school confers three law degrees...
, U.S.A
2007
Winning Team : St. Edmund’s College, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom
Runners-up : Government Law College, Mumbai
Government Law College, Mumbai
The Government Law College, also known as GLC and located in Mumbai, India, is the oldest and one of the most distinguished law schools in India...
, India
2006
Winning Team : National Law School of India University
National Law School of India University
The National Law School of India University is the leading institution for undergraduate and graduate legal education in India. By popular estimates, the school consistently ranks as the most prestigious law school in India...
, Bangalore, India
2005
Winning Team : National Law School of India University
National Law School of India University
The National Law School of India University is the leading institution for undergraduate and graduate legal education in India. By popular estimates, the school consistently ranks as the most prestigious law school in India...
, Bangalore, India
Rounds of the Competition
The Oral Rounds of the Competition will be conducted over a period of 3 days. These Oral Rounds comprise the Preliminary Rounds where teams will be required to argue from both sides (Applicant and Respondent) of which sixteen teams will qualify for the Octo-Final Rounds. The Octo-Final Rounds will find teams arguing from both sides once again. The top eight teams will qualify for the Quarter-Final Rounds which will be a Knock-out Round. Of these eight teams, four winning teams will then proceed to the Semi-Final Rounds which will be a Knock-out Round yet again. Finally, the two winning teams will reach the Final Rounds of Argument.However, a ‘Memorial Round’ precedes the Oral Rounds of Argument. Eleven Indian Universities/Colleges based on their past performance directly proceed to the oral rounds of argument. The other Indian Universities/Colleges that send in their applications will have to go through the ‘Memorial Round’. Four of the highest scoring Memorials shall qualify for the Oral Rounds of Argument.
Prior to the Oral Rounds of Argument, the teams that have qualified for the Oral Rounds will have to sit through a Researcher’s test which will be held in the premises of the college itself. The winning researcher will be declared at the Valedictory Ceremony that follows the Final Rounds of Argument.
THE PANEL DISCUSSION
The D. M. Harish Memorial Government Law International Moot Court Competition http://mcaglc.org/dmh.html also holds a panel discussion for the participants as a part of the 4-day mooting schedule. The distinguished panelists are public figures and dignitaries from different fields representing the thoughts of different classes of society that come together to discuss a contemporary contentious issue that is closely related to the case-study of the Competition with the object of mobilizing the thoughts of young aspiring lawyers and to throw light on the current situation. The panel discussion is followed by a banquet that is organized yearly in order to extend a warm welcome to all the participants.UPDATES
The 13th edition of the D. M. Harish Memorial Government Law College International Moot Court Competition http://mcaglc.org/dmh.html will be held from the 9 to 12 February 2012 in Mumbai, India.The Schedule and Case Study for the 2012 edition will be available shortly.