Recently, **Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant** and **Arjun Ram Meghwal**, Minister of State for Law & Justice, Haryana, jointly opened the world's largest moot court. This new facility, named **Nyayabhyasa Mandapam**, is located at **O.P. Jindal Global University**. During the same event, the CJI also launched an important international convention focusing on the independence of the judiciary and a new academy for legal training.
World's Largest Moot Court Opened
The **Nyayabhyasa Mandapam** is now the largest moot court in the world. A moot court is like a practice courtroom. It helps law students learn how to argue cases, present evidence, and understand court procedures in a realistic setting before they become actual lawyers or judges. This facility will give Indian law students a major advantage in their practical training.
Alongside this, the **IMAANDAAR** (International Mooting Academy for Advocacy, Negotiation, Dispute Adjudication, Arbitration and Resolution) was also launched. This academy will train students in various legal skills, including debating legal points and resolving disputes. More than **200 international judges** were present at the inauguration ceremony.
International Convention on Judicial Independence
The Chief Justice of India also inaugurated an **International Convention on the Independence of Judiciary**. This two-day event brought together many important legal figures to discuss how to keep the judiciary fair and free from outside influence. The discussions covered different perspectives on rights, legal institutions, and citizens' roles.
The convention saw wide participation from legal experts and government officials. Key attendees included:
- **26 sitting and former Supreme Court judges** (including the Chief Justice of India).
- **10 former Chief Justices of India**.
- **10 Chief Justices, Judges, and former Judges of various High Courts**.
- **14 International Judges**.
- **5 Ministers**.
- **61 Senior Advocates**.
- **91 academicians** (teachers and scholars in law).
This wide range of participants allowed for rich discussions on critical legal topics and how different countries handle judicial independence.
CJI's Message on Integrity and the Constitution
During the convention, **CJI Surya Kant** spoke about the importance of honesty and strong moral principles in the field of law. He stressed that **integrity** is necessary for everyone practicing law and for ensuring justice is served fairly. He also highlighted the importance of the **Basic Structure Doctrine** of the Indian Constitution, saying it has helped the Constitution grow and change over time without losing its core values and principles.
Understanding the Kesavananda Bharati Case
A significant part of the event was a re-enactment and discussion of the **Kesavananda Bharati Case**. This case is a very important landmark judgment in the history of the Indian Supreme Court. It was delivered on **April 24, 1973**.
The **Kesavananda Bharati judgment** established the **Basic Structure Doctrine**. This doctrine states that certain fundamental features of the Indian Constitution cannot be changed by the Parliament, even through constitutional amendments. These basic features include things like democracy, secularism, federalism, and the independence of the judiciary.
The Supreme Court ruled in this case that the power of **judicial review** is an important part of this basic structure. **Judicial review** means that courts can check if laws passed by Parliament or actions taken by the government follow the Constitution. If they don't, the courts can declare them invalid. This ruling ensures that Parliament cannot use its power to amend the Constitution to destroy its fundamental principles.
Discussing and re-enacting such a pivotal case at the convention helped students and participants understand its lasting impact on Indian constitutional law and governance.
