About Rayat Education and Research Trust – Ropar Campus

The Rayat Education and Research Trust, established in 2001, is a prominent educational conglomerate in Punjab, India, with a sprawling 300-acre campus nestled at the foothills of the Shivalik range in Ropar. The vision behind the Rayat Group has always been to provide high-quality education through a blend of academic rigor and practical application. Over the years, it has developed into a multidisciplinary education hub, offering a wide variety of programs that cater to the evolving needs of industry and society. The institution aims to nurture young minds by providing a comprehensive educational experience, spanning disciplines such as Engineering, Management, Law, Pharmacy, Computer Applications, and Education.

Rayat Group of Institutions has grown exponentially since its inception, and today it includes six technical institutes, a university, and two schools, making it a key player in the field of education in North India. The group is well-known for its commitment to fostering innovation, research, and entrepreneurship among its students, equipping them to tackle real-world challenges in their respective fields. The group emphasizes not just the academic development of its students, but also their overall personal and professional growth through a variety of extracurricular and co-curricular activities.

One of the hallmarks of the Rayat Group’s educational philosophy is its focus on industry-oriented programs, ensuring that students are not just academically sound but also ready to meet the demands of today’s competitive job market. The group has forged partnerships with leading companies in different industries, allowing students to gain practical exposure through internships, placements, and research collaborations. The state-of-the-art infrastructure at Rayat includes modern lecture halls, fully equipped laboratories, digital libraries, and advanced computing facilities, making it one of the most advanced educational institutions in the region.

In addition to academic and technical programs, the Rayat Educational Group places significant emphasis on sports and cultural activities, understanding the role these play in the holistic development of students. With dedicated facilities for both indoor and outdoor sports, including football, basketball, and cricket, the institution ensures that students have access to recreational activities that enhance their physical and mental well-being. This focus on extracurricular activities complements the institution’s broader mission to create well-rounded, socially responsible individuals who can contribute meaningfully to society.

About Rayat College of Law (RCL)

Founded in 2004, Rayat College of Law (RCL) has emerged as one of the premier legal education institutes in North India. Affiliated with the prestigious Panjab University, Chandigarh, and approved by the Bar Council of India (BCI), RCL has made significant strides in providing students with a cutting-edge legal education that combines both academic excellence and practical training. With an ever-growing reputation for producing top-tier legal professionals, RCL has quickly established itself as a center of academic excellence in the legal field.

RCL’s legal programs are designed to provide students with a solid foundation in core areas of law, including Constitutional Law, Criminal Law, Civil Law, Corporate Law, and Human Rights Law. The college offers both Bachelor of Laws (LLB) and Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws (BA LLB) degrees, giving students the flexibility to pursue a degree that aligns with their academic and career goals. The law programs are grounded in the principles of jurisprudence, ensuring that students not only master the technical aspects of law but also understand the moral, ethical, and philosophical underpinnings of legal practice.

RCL is particularly well-known for its emphasis on practical legal training, which is integrated into the curriculum through various moot court competitions, client counseling sessions, legal aid camps, and court visits. These practical experiences allow students to develop key skills, such as legal research, drafting, and oral advocacy, which are crucial for success in the legal profession. Over the years, students from RCL have gone on to excel in various national and international moot court competitions, bringing numerous accolades to the institution and solidifying its reputation as a breeding ground for future legal luminaries.

The college boasts a modern Moot Court Hall, where students can simulate court proceedings and hone their litigation skills in a real-world setting. The Moot Court Hall is equipped with all the facilities necessary for conducting moot court competitions at the national level, providing students with a platform to practice and perfect their advocacy skills. In addition, RCL’s extensive library houses a wide collection of law books, journals, and databases such as Manupatra, SCC Online, and HeinOnline, ensuring that students have access to the most up-to-date legal resources for research and study.

RCL’s faculty consists of highly qualified and experienced legal professionals, many of whom are leading experts in their fields. The faculty members are deeply committed to nurturing the next generation of legal minds by imparting both theoretical knowledge and practical insights from their vast experiences in the legal profession. This blend of academic rigor and practical exposure ensures that RCL graduates are well-prepared to take on challenging roles in various sectors, including litigation, corporate law, public service, and academia.

About the 12th RCL National Moot Court Competition

The RCL National Moot Court Competition, now in its 12th edition, has established itself as one of the premier moot court competitions in India, attracting participation from leading law schools across the country. The competition is scheduled to take place on October 19-20, 2024, and will be held offline at the RCL campus. The competition provides law students with a unique platform to showcase their advocacy skills, engage in high-level legal debates, and gain exposure to some of the most pressing legal issues of the day.

Moot court competitions are an integral part of legal education, offering students the opportunity to apply their theoretical knowledge in a practical, courtroom-like setting. The 12th RCL National Moot Court Competition promises to be an intellectually stimulating experience, with participants tackling a complex and timely legal issue: the constitutionality of the Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, 2023. This moot problem is designed to challenge participants on several fronts, including constitutional law, human rights, and privacy law, making it a highly competitive and enriching exercise in legal reasoning and advocacy.

The competition will feature participants from over 30 universities across India, with teams competing in multiple rounds, including the preliminary rounds, quarterfinals, semifinals, and the final round. The final rounds will be judged by a distinguished panel of judges from the Punjab and Haryana High Court, as well as senior advocates and partners from top law firms, providing participants with valuable feedback and exposure to the legal profession. The competition also offers participants the chance to network with leading legal professionals, gain insight into the judicial process, and build lifelong connections with peers from other law schools.

One of the most attractive aspects of the RCL National Moot Court Competition is its generous prize pool, with ₹1.5 Lakhs in total prizes up for grabs. The winning team will receive ₹75,000, the runners-up will take home ₹50,000, and the best memorial and best speaker will each receive ₹25,000. In addition to the monetary prizes, the winning teams will also receive certificates of merit, which will serve as a valuable addition to their resumes and enhance their career prospects.

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Detailed Moot Proposition: Legal Challenge to the Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, 2023

The moot proposition for the 12th RCL National Moot Court Competition revolves around a legal challenge to the recently enacted Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, 2023 by the Parliament of Bharat. This Act aims to regulate religious conversions in Bharat, with the stated objective of preventing conversions through coercion, allurement, or misrepresentation. However, the Act has sparked widespread debate and controversy, with critics arguing that it infringes on fundamental rights, including the right to religious freedom under Article 25, the right to privacy under Article 21, and the principles of natural justice.

The moot problem presents a fictional case involving Alex Sharma, a young individual who wishes to convert to another religion in order to marry his partner, Taylor Singh. However, Alex’s parents challenge his conversion under the Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, 2023, arguing that his decision is not genuine and that he has been coerced into converting. The case is brought before the Supreme Court of Bharat, raising several important legal and constitutional questions that participants will need to address.

Key Legal Issues to be Argued:

1. Violation of the Right to Religious Freedom (Article 25):
   The Act places restrictions on religious conversions by requiring individuals to obtain prior permission from a district magistrate and submit to an inquiry process to determine the validity of the conversion. Participants must argue whether these provisions infringe on an individual’s fundamental right to freely profess, practice, and propagate their religion, as guaranteed under Article 25 of the Constitution of Bharat.
2. Right to Privacy and Personal Liberty (Article 21):
   The requirement for prior permission and the mandatory inquiry process under the Act raises questions about the right to privacy and personal liberty, which have been recognized as fundamental rights under Article 21. Participants must analyze whether the state’s intervention in personal religious decisions violates the right to privacy, particularly in light of the Puttaswamy judgment, which expanded the scope of privacy rights in Bharat.
3. Burden of Proof and Natural Justice:
   The Act places the burden of proof on the individual seeking to convert, requiring them to prove that their conversion is genuine and not coerced. This provision has been criticized for violating the principles of natural justice, as it shifts the burden of proof away from the accuser. Participants will need to argue whether this reversal of the burden of proof is constitutionally valid and whether it violates the principles of fairness and justice.
4. State’s Power to Regulate Religious Conversions:
   The moot problem also raises the broader question of the extent to which the state can regulate religious conversions in the interest of preventing coercion or allurement. Participants must balance the state’s interest in preventing fraudulent conversions with the individual’s right to autonomy and freedom of religion. This issue will require participants to engage in a comparative analysis of similar laws in other jurisdictions and assess whether the Act’s provisions are consistent with international human rights standards.

By addressing these issues, participants will have the opportunity to explore the intersection of religious freedom, privacy, and state regulation, making this moot problem a highly relevant and intellectually challenging exercise. The moot proposition provides ample scope for participants to engage in deep legal research, analyze constitutional jurisprudence, and develop innovative legal arguments that can be applied to real-world legal challenges.

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Event Schedule

The 12th RCL National Moot Court Competition will follow a detailed schedule to ensure that participants have sufficient time to prepare and submit their memorials. The schedule is as follows:

• Last Date for Registration: October 3, 2024
• Clarification Requests on Moot Problem: October 5, 2024
• Submission of Memorials (Soft Copies): October 12, 2024
• Video Submissions: October 14, 2024
• Preliminary Round Results Announcement: October 18, 2024
• Researcher’s Test: October 18, 2024
• Inaugural Ceremony & Quarterfinals: October 19, 2024
• Semifinals & Final Round: October 20, 2024

How to Register

Teams interested in participating must complete their registration by October 3, 2024. Follow the steps below to register:

1. Fill out the registration form: Click here to register
2. Submit memorials by October 12, 2024: Click here for submission link
3. For all queries regarding the moot problem, teams can reach out to the organizers at rclmootcourt2016@gmail.com.

The 12th RCL National Moot Court Competition is a not-to-be-missed opportunity for law students to develop their legal skills, engage with pressing legal issues, and compete for prestigious prizes in one of the country’s most well-regarded moot court competitions. Don’t miss out on this chance to challenge yourself, network with top legal professionals, and showcase your legal prowess on a national stage. Register now and join the competition on October 19-20,2024!

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