Alliance University, through the Alliance Moot Court Society of the Alliance School of Law, organised the 5th Justice N. Santosh Hegde Moot Court Competition, 2026. The competition was conducted in a hybrid format, with the preliminary round held online and the advanced rounds conducted on campus. The event brought together students from across the country, creating a platform for engagement with advocacy, research, and legal discussion.

The on-campus rounds began with a welcome address by Dr. B. Priestly Shan, Vice-Chancellor, Alliance University; Dr. V. Shyam Kishore, Associate Dean (Academic Affairs) and Dean, Alliance School of Law; Dr. Mukul Saxena, Professor and Director, Centre for PG and Legal Studies and Centre of Excellence in Public Policy, Sustainability and ESG Research; and Dr. Devaiah N. G., Program Director – UG, Alliance School of Law. The competition was formally inaugurated by Dr. B. Priestly Shan, who spoke about the importance of mooting in developing advocacy skills, critical thinking, and the ability to engage with complex legal issues.

The structure of the competition allowed all registered teams to participate in the preliminary round, after which selected teams advanced to the on-campus stages. The Octa-Finals, Quarter-Finals, Semi-Finals, and Final Round were conducted in sequence, with each stage requiring participants to demonstrate legal understanding, clarity of argument, and the ability to respond to questions under judicial scrutiny.

The moot proposition focused on contemporary issues at the intersection of constitutional law, international law, migration governance, and administrative law. Set in the constitutional democracy of Norland, the problem required participants to analyse a factual situation involving cross-border migration, the absence of a formal asylum framework, the operation of the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025, the use of a digital system known as VIGIL, and the establishment of Humanitarian Processing Zones in Azuria. The proposition raised questions related to fundamental rights, executive authority, and the role of technology in governance.

The Semi-Finalists included National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bengaluru; SASTRA Deemed University; School of Excellence in Law; and KLE Society’s Law College, Bengaluru. The rounds were adjudicated by Mr. Kush Kalra, Assistant Professor of Law, NMIMS; Ms. Sithaara Sarangan, Senior Litigation Associate, Centre for Law & Policy Research; and Mr. Abheek Saha, Amrit Lal Saha & Associates, Advocates & Legal Consultants.

The Final Round was conducted between School of Excellence in Law and SASTRA Deemed University. The bench comprised Advocate Pramod Nair, Designated Senior Advocate, High Court of Karnataka; Mr. Karan Joseph, Partner at Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co.; and Dr. Jayadevan Nair, Professor of Law. During the session, the judges shared reflections on professional responsibility, continuous learning, and the importance of perseverance in the legal profession.

At the conclusion of the competition, the team from School of Excellence in Law (TNDALU), comprising Ashwad Dhinakaran, Mariam Ameen, and N. E. Tamil Iniyan, was declared the Winner. The team from SASTRA Deemed University, comprising Ramya Vijayakumar, Treasy Nilophew, and Achuda Manickam, was declared the Runner-Up. Individual recognitions were also awarded, with Ashwad Dhinakaran receiving the Best Speaker award, Achuda Manickam being recognised as Best Researcher, and the Best Memorial award being conferred upon Yash Goyal, Yashaas B., and Yashwin S. from National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bengaluru.

The valedictory and closing ceremony marked the conclusion of the competition, offering participants and organisers an opportunity to reflect on the experience. The event brought together advocacy, research, and academic discussion, reinforcing the role of moot court competitions in legal education and student development.