MOOT COURT DIARIES

Last month, my teammate and I participated in our second moot court competition -The Intra Institute Moot Court Competition. I experienced oral rounds for the first time in this competition. It was an enriching experience for both of us, so I would like to share the highs and lows of this journey.

It began the day we talked to each other as we had to select someone to be our teammate. We both wanted to participate in the coming MCC and here was our reaction to each other – “Kiska hai yeh tumko intezar main hoon na, dekh lo idhar to ek baar main hoon na.” 

We were ready to give our names for the same. In few days, we got to know that we were selected on a first come first serve basis. We were Team Code- 06. We started reading the moot proposition to understand the problem, which was related to criminal law. Since this subject is in the syllabus of 4th-year we talked to some of our seniors because time was less and law ka to samandar paar karna tha. Coincidentally most of them were busy. We had a mountain of doubts and we both were in a situation of “kise puchu hai aisa kyu, bejubaan saa ye jahaan hai. Khusi ke pal kahaan dhundhu, benishaan sa waqt bhi yahan hai.” 

Somehow, we started researching. And went on researching and researching and researching anndd……🥱. So many sections, long legislations, never-ending judgements….. It felt like “ajeeb daastaan hai yeh, kahan shuru kahan khatam, yeh manzile hai kaunsi, na voh samajh sake na hum”. Honestly, even after researching every day and night, we both were confused about how much we have done and how much is left. I mean “why this Kolaveri di????”😂🤣

But we both were having a tough time due to limited contact with seniors. Thankfully, one of our seniors got free and she helped us. Having that help in the last days was like a wonder in thunder. Giving words to our feelings would be “tu jo mila lo ho gaya main kaabil, tu jo mila toh ho gaya sab haasil, mushkil sahi aasan hui manzil, kyunki tu.. Dhadkan mai dil.”

And that unforgettable moment when we completed our memos after burning night oil, staying without food, and handling all the pressure and stress. We were about to send them…the very moment when I touched the send button….sach batau? “kuch aisi lagan iss lamhe mein hai, ye lamha kahaan tha mera, ab hai saamne, issey chhoo loon zaraa, mar jaaoon ya jee loon zaraa.”

But, this is not the end. Picture abhi…. Baki hai mere dost.

We got the results and guess what? Team code- 06 with seven others made it to the quarter-finals. Yayyy 🥳…… Yeah, this was the moment of Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham. The reason for my fear was that I was the one among us with no experience in oral rounds. My fear made us reach so many seniors. Hahaha, matlab… “Aisi, kabhi pehle, huyi na thi khwahishein, o kisi se bhi milne ki na ki thi koshishein, uljhan meri suljha de, chahoon main ya na”

They helped us in preparing for presenting oral submission, giving arguments, and handling questions by judges. The only advice from them to tackle fear was “Yahi umar hai kar le, galti se mistake.” Even if your luck doesn’t support, or you think you haven’t done enough “roothi takdeerein to kya, tooti shamsheerein to kya, tooti shamsheeron se hi ho, kar har maidaan fateh”

And came the day…. The quarter-finals.

We were scared to the limits. But we entered the courtroom with full confidence. We were prepared for it. So it didn’t appear to be that tough. We didn’t even get grilled by questions of the judges. It was all calm. This situation was “socha kaha tha, yeh jo, yeh jo ho gaya, maana kaha tha, yeh lo, yeh lo ho gaya, chutaki koi kaato na hai hum toh hosh mein, kadmon ko thaamo yeh hai udate josh mein, baadal pe paanv hain, ya jhuta daanv hai abb toh bhai chal padi apani yeh naav hai.” And we qualified quarter-finals and reached the semi-finals.

This was tough, but we didn’t think it to be. We had to fight against a fourth-year team 😱😱.

Which was much experienced and was studying Criminal Law. Seeing this we both were like “Kaun hain woh kaun hain who, kaha se woh aaya, charo dishao mein tej sa woh chhaya, uski bhujaye badle kathaye, trophy teri taraf winners chale dekh zara, yeh vichitr maya.”

First of all, we got a tough competition. Then the judges…they asked us so many questions and we inexperienced kids, couldn’t cope up, lost track and couldn’t even complete our speech. There were so many questions continuously coming to us, without enough time to reply. We were feeling like “Bezubaan Kab Se Main Raha, Begunaah Sehta Main Raha.”

I mean, we love law, that is why we chose it. But this time, it was a little challenging for us. To explain or emotion in words, “Tadap Tadapke Is Dil Se Aah Nikalti Rahi, Mujhko Saza Di Pyaar Ki, Aisa Kya Gunaah Kiya, To Loot Gaye Haan Loot Gaye, To Loot Gaye Hum Teri Mohabbat Mein.”

But as I said, it was a great learning experience, and we would look at what we gained. We won Best Memorial Award, knowledge, experience, new guides as seniors, and a law school memory. As everyone says don’t focus on winning and losing, just give your best and enjoy the journey. We did the same and realised, “ham jo chalnein lage, chalnein lage hai ye raste, aa ha ha manzil se behtar lagne lage hai ye raste.” This MCC journey has given us a story to tell.

ORIGINAL WORK CREDITS

This article is written by Harmanpreet, Ist year