University of Delhi Law Centre-II Hosts 10th S.K. Puri Memorial Moot Court Competition

The Moot Court Society of Law Centre-II, Faculty of Law, University of Delhi, has announced the 10th edition of the S.K. Puri Memorial International Moot Court Competition, branded as Justified 2026. Scheduled to take place from 20 to 22 November 2026 at Umang Bhawan on the North Campus, the competition will simulate a trial under the Rome Statute framework, focusing on the accountability of judicial and quasi-judicial institutions in facilitating international crimes. With a total prize pool of Rs. 2,11,000, the event promises to challenge participants on both substantive international criminal law and procedural advocacy skills.

A Theme of Institutional Complicity

This year’s moot proposition invites teams to examine the role that courts, tribunals, and other quasi-judicial bodies can play—knowingly or unknowingly—in enabling state power to override core tenets of international criminal law. Rather than treating such institutions as neutral arbiters, the problem forces participants to consider how judicial and quasi-judicial actors may legitimise or facilitate conduct that itself amounts to an international crime. This raises questions of individual criminal responsibility for judicial actors and broader institutional complicity.

The problem is structured under the Rome Statute’s rules of procedure and evidence, requiring teams to demonstrate not only command of the substantive law but also rigorous procedural understanding. Organisers have highlighted a particular emphasis on cross-examination as a key advocacy skill, reflecting the evolving jurisprudence of international criminal tribunals. The 2026 edition builds on nine years of the competition’s tradition of engaging students with unresolved tensions between legal authority and accountability.

A Decade of Justified

The competition traces its roots to 2015, when the Moot Court Society first launched Justified as a national-level moot. It was instituted in its present memorial form in 2018 by Senior Advocate Mr. Sacchin Puri in honour of his late father, Shri S.K. Puri—a first-generation lawyer who rose from the Tis Hazari courts to become a Senior Advocate designate of the Delhi High Court and a two-term Honorary Secretary of the Delhi High Court Bar Association.

The competition went international in 2019, drawing teams from across South Asia to argue questions of refugee law and public international law. Since then, it has been judged by a distinguished panel of sitting and retired judges of the Delhi High Court, including Justices Siddharth Mridul, Prathiba M. Singh, Mini Pushkarna, Talwant Singh, and Subramonium Prasad, among others. Past champions include National Law University Delhi, Jindal Global Law School, IFIM Law School Bengaluru, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar National Law University Sonipat, and, in the most recent 2025 edition, Campus Law Centre, University of Delhi.

Format and Key Dates

Final registration for teams closes on 21 September 2026, with the following schedule:

  • Last date for seeking clarifications: 16 October 2026
  • Release of clarifications: 23 October 2026
  • Memorial submission deadline: 7 November 2026
  • Oral rounds: 20 to 22 November 2026

Participating teams will argue both the prosecution and defence sides across preliminary, quarterfinal, semifinal, and final rounds. Scoring is separate for memorials and oral advocacy, ensuring a balanced assessment of written and spoken skills.

Prizes and Recognition

The competition carries a total prize pool of Rs. 2,11,000. The winning team receives Rs. 51,000, the runners-up Rs. 40,000, and the second runners-up Rs. 25,000. Separate awards worth Rs. 20,000 each go to the best prosecution, defence, and state memorials. Additional prizes include the best advocate in the final and preliminary rounds, as well as a best witness award.

Legal Education and Skills Development

For legal professionals and educators, the Justified 2026 competition represents a significant opportunity to foster deep engagement with international criminal law. The emphasis on cross-examination and the intricate Rome Statute framework mirrors the challenges faced by practitioners in actual international tribunals. By requiring students to analyse the complicity of judicial institutions, the moot pushes beyond conventional boundary disputes and into the ethical and legal dilemmas that arise when law and state power intersect.

The event also serves as a platform for networking and mentorship, with judges and senior advocates providing feedback that shapes the next generation of international lawyers. The involvement of the Delhi High Court bench underscores the high regard in which the competition is held within the legal community.

How to Participate

Teams interested in participating can reach out to the organisers at skpurimoot.lc2@gmail.com or follow the Moot Court Society, Law Centre-II on Instagram at @mcs_lc2 for updates. With a decade of history, the S.K. Puri Memorial Moot Court Competition continues to be a benchmark for excellence in legal education, challenging students to think critically about the role of law in holding power accountable.

Conclusion

As the 10th edition approaches, the competition’s focus on judicial accountability under the Rome Statute is both timely and intellectually rigorous. It not only tests participants’ knowledge of international criminal law but also their ability to grapple with the uncomfortable reality that legal institutions can sometimes be complicit in the very crimes they are meant to prevent. For law students across India and beyond, Justified 2026 offers a unique chance to hone their skills and contribute to the evolving discourse on accountability in international law.