What is Mooting?
The term ‘moot’ when read in consonance with any idea, fact or proposition makes the same subject to debate, dispute, or uncertainty.
Moot Courts / Mooting thereby simulates the environment of a Courtroom where certain propositions are debated upon within the close confines of Law.
Historically, mooting has been there since the late 19th century (England), but its development as a form of structured art combining the elements of scholarly legal research, court-craft and logical argumentation, can be traced to the early 1950’s.
As of today hundreds of Law students participate in such simulations around the world, and sometimes they sometimes they come together to participate in such Competition’s at an international fora. The result is a melting pot of Legal theory and understanding which help’s lawyers appreciate the ideas which govern their counterparts across the world. It helps them see sense in why thinks work the way they do !
Mooting in India
Although the idea of discussions and debates is nothing new to India, mooting in its structured form is a relatively new invention. It arrived post 1990”s when the National Law School of India University aimed at becoming the first Law School in India armed with Western means of learning the law, a pivotal one being mooting.
Today India is home to some 5 dozen moots which happen althoughout the year in subjects ranging from Refugee Laws to Construction Laws. In fact after the U.S.A, India probably has one of the largest concentration of Moot Courts and enthusiastic participants. It has become a Law School sub-culture and also a means to gain exposure to the foreign legal regimes.
About the Author
Subhro Sengupta is an Undergraduate Law Student, Moot Court enthusiast, part time author and observer of all things human. He has been a participant in Moots both in India and abroad, and had a sudden urge to share his ideas about the same.
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