Report on the Inauguration of the Moot Court & the Legal Aid Centre, Amity Law School, Amity University Madhya Pradesh, Gwalior, on 15^th May, 2014.

The Moot Court and the Legal Aid Centre of the Amity Law School, Amity University Madhya Pradesh,Gwalior, were formally inaugurated by Justice Sheel Nagu, Judge, Hon’ble High Court of Madhya Pradesh, Gwalior Bench, on 15^th May 2014 at 5.30 pm.After the traditional lamp lighting & Saraswati Vandana, bouquets were presented to the Justice Sheel Nagu, Chief Guest, Lt. Gen. V K Sharma, AVSM (Retd), Hon’ble Vice Chancellor, Prof. (Dr) R.S.Tomar, the Dean, Academics, and Dr Ch Narasimha Swamy, Dy Director/HOD, ALS.

The Dy Director, ALS in his introductory remarks highlighted that the Amity Law School, Amity University Madhya Pradesh, Gwalior, commenced its academic activities with three 5-Year Integrated Law Courses, namely, BA LLB (Hons.), BBA LLB (Hons.), and BCom LLB (Hons.), and One Year LLM Course, during the Academic Year 2013-14. He explained that the Moot Court Hall of the ALS had been furnished completely and was ready for training the student-advocates, the Law students. He observed that the ALS Moot Court with an area of 2840 Sq. ft. (264 Sq. meters),was the largest of its kind in the city of Gwalior, providing a simulated atmosphere and experience of a judicial court for inculcating the advocacy skills in the student-advocates. Further, he said that it was a platform for training the student-advocates in the skills of advocacy, such as, argumentation skills,communication skills, language skills, reasoning skills and other pleading skills, to make them leaders in legal profession. He was explaining that the moot court concept had emanated from the European Law Moot Court Society with the motto, “moot,meet and compete” and that in the present era, the Law Schools considered these moot courts and the achievements of the students as prized possessions.

Outlining the objectives of the Legal Aid Centre, Dr Swamy observed that the Amity Law School was also establishing its Legal Aid Centre, as per the stipulation of the Bar Council of India (BCI). The Legal Aid Centre headed by one of the faculties of the ALS will be playing a prominent role in extending a friendly and professional hand to the needy and destitute citizens Towards this objective, the ALS will be surveying the areas in and around its campus and other villages in the Gwalior District. This is a charitable and welfare measure meant for the public good. He observed that the ALS would take the professional advice and guidance of the Bar of the M.P. State, the Legal Services Authority, Gwalior, and others from the legal fraternity, and plan its activities from time to time.

In his opening remarks,the Hon’ble Vice Chancellor explained the significance of the Moot Court and dealt at length the benefits that accrue to the student-advocates in developing their leadership qualities in different aspects of advocacy. He explained that the students will be arguing the case as real lawyers do on behalf of the petitioners and the respondents.

Justice Sheel Nagu, Hon’ble Judge, who was the chief guest of the inaugural function expressed his pleasure to be present on the occasion, and wished success to the student-advocates. He was sorry to point out that the students of the 5-Year Integrated Law Courses are joining the MNCs and corporate sector, and are not interested in joining as lawyers and practicing in the Courts of Law.

The Judge also expressed his satisfaction that the Legal Aid Centre of the Amity Law School would go a long way in creating awareness among the people of the different ways of settling litigation.

In his vote of thanks, Dr Swamy expressed his gratitude to the Chief Guest for readily consenting to inaugurate the Moot Court. He thanked the HODs/HOIs and the faculties for attending the programme. He had also thanked Mr Prem Singh Bhadouria, Member of the State Bar Council, Dr Sanjay Kulshreshta, Director, Institute of Law, Jiwaji University for attending the inaugural session.

At the end of the function, the dignitaries and the audience moved to the cafeteria for tea.