Student Moot Court on the Parasnath Hill Case Held at Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam ki Oar 4.0

A Moot Court competition was organised by Jyot on the sidelines of the seven-day Conclave, Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam ki Oar 4.0, on 17th–18th January, 2026 at August Kranti Maidan, Mumbai, in collaboration with Government Law College (GLC).

The Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam ki Oar Conclave is a platform for dialogue and engagement on contemporary public policy and governance themes, convening stakeholders from government, academia, and allied institutions to deliberate on issues of national and international relevance. Apart from facilitating high-level deliberations, the current edition of the Conclave also focused on the next generation by actively engaging students and creating avenues for youth-led participation and dialogue.

Students from premier institutions across India participated in large numbers with great enthusiasm, with representation from various States like Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Gujarat and Maharashtra. About 40 teams had registered from numerous institutes including DNLU Jabalpur, Symbiosis (Pune), Jain University, Surana University, GLC, PGCL, and MNLU Mumbai, among others. The competition concluded with students of Balasaheb Apte College of Law emerging as the Winners, while students of Government Law College (GLC), Mumbai secured the Runners-up position.

The award for Best Researcher was won by students of DES Navalmal Firodia Law College, and the Best Mooter award was secured by a student of Symbiosis Law School (SLS), Pune.

The moot court problem in the elimination round centred on the First Constitutional Amendment and the protective sweep of Article 31B, drawing from the six-decade-long pending litigation relating to the acquisition of the Parasnath Hills, a site of profound religious significance for the Jain community, under the Bihar Land Reforms Act, 1950.

The proposition highlighted that despite having complete ownership rights, the State proceeded with acquisition and later reversed its stance after nearly two decades, raising constitutional questions on the scope of Article 31B, the limits of judicial review, and the balance between State power and fundamental rights.

The Conclave was organised in partnership with the Bombay Bar Association (BBA) and the Bar Council of Maharashtra and Goa (BCMG), with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) extending its support to the event. Mr Milind Sathe, Advocate General of Maharashtra, graced the event and formally inaugurated the moot court proceedings. His presence added significant weight to the occasion and further enthused the students.

Arguments during the moot court critically examined whether Article 31B is draconian in nature, with participants contending that its operation results in violations of the Basic Structure Doctrine, among other constitutional concerns. The proceedings reflected a strong level of legal reasoning and advocacy, contributing meaningfully to contemporary constitutional debates.

The moot court served as a valuable platform for students to engage with complex constitutional issues while fostering dialogue between academia and the legal profession.

At its core, Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam Ki Oar 4.0 attempted to bridge ancient Indian value systems with contemporary constitutional and legal frameworks. Drawing from ideas rooted in Indian Rajneeti, philosophy, jurisprudence, and civilisational ethics, the conclave explores whether India’s modern legal system is sufficiently equipped, both structurally and institutionally, to integrate indigenous constitutional thought while responding to present-day legal, political and governance challenges.

The event featured a series of legal and geopolitical sessions from 17th-22nd January, 2026, each engaging with questions of power, legitimacy, and governance in a rapidly changing national and global order. While the geopolitical sessions examined India’s evolving role on the world stage, the legal sessions turned inward towards the Constitution as the cornerstone of democratic stability.