The Moot Court Committee is pleased to announce the 2nd Edition of the S.B. Prasad Memorial Moot Court Competition, scheduled to be held on 25th October 2024. The event honours the legacy of Late Shri S.B. Prasad, an eminent jurist and an ardent advocate for justice, remembered for his profound contribution to legal education and the Bar.
Following the success of its inaugural edition, the competition returns with greater momentum, aiming to foster legal intellect and advocacy skills among students of law across India. Participants will get the opportunity to argue before a distinguished bench of legal luminaries, gain invaluable feedback, and engage in complex constitutional dialogue.
About the Moot Problem
The 2024 moot proposition engages with themes at the intersection of religious freedom, constitutional morality, and administrative overreach. Teams will argue on the legality of a new state law regulating religious conversions and whether the imposition of prior state approval to convert violates Articles 14, 21, and 25 of the Constitution.
The case arises from the voluntary conversion of a postgraduate student, which is later challenged under a state law mandating prior permission for such conversions. It brings forth intense debates over personal liberty, reverse burden of proof, and the boundaries of secular governance.
What to Expect
- Date: 24th October 2024
- Venue: Virtual/ Online
- Format: Preliminary & Final Oral Rounds + Memorial Submissions
- Judging Panel: Advocates and Legal Scholars
- Awards: Best Team, Best Speaker, Best Memorial, and Best Researcher
Why Participate?
✔️ Compete among top legal minds from across the country
✔️ Refine your legal argumentation and drafting
✔️ Learn from esteemed members of the judiciary and bar
✔️ Pay tribute to the enduring values of Late Shri S.B. Prasad
Registrations & Contact
Registrations are now open! Due to limited slots, early registration is encouraged. The rulebook, moot proposition, and submission guidelines are available on our official website.
Moot Proposition
- The Republic of Indica is a democratic nation governed by a written Constitution that guarantees the right to free speech, personal liberty, and privacy to all its citizens. The nation also places high value on national security and public order, especially in an increasingly digitized society.
- On 22nd January 2025, the Parliament of Indica passed the Digital Platforms (Content Regulation and Traceability) Act, 2025. The stated objective of the Act is to curb the spread of misinformation, hate speech, and cybercrime on social media platforms.
- Section 4 of the Act requires all “Significant Digital Intermediaries” (defined as platforms with over 50 lakh users) to enable identification of the “first originator” of any message or post if directed by a competent authority under circumstances involving public order, security of the state, or offences against women and children.
- Section 5 empowers the Ministry of Digital Affairs to direct removal of any online content deemed to be “against the sovereignty, integrity, or public decency of Indica” within 24 hours of receiving notice, failing which the platform may lose safe harbour protections.
- Section 7 of the Act criminalizes the refusal to cooperate with government traceability orders with penalties up to 5 years imprisonment for designated compliance officers of the intermediary.
- Ms. Avani Rao, a journalist and social media commentator, runs a popular handle on the platform “Charcha.in”, where she often posts critical views about government policies. In March 2025, she shared a video that alleged corruption in the procurement of surveillance drones by the Ministry of Home Affairs. The video went viral.
- Following this, the Ministry of Digital Affairs issued a notice to Charcha.in to reveal the identity of the “first originator” of the video and remove the post within 24 hours. The platform declined, stating that it uses end-to-end encryption and does not have access to originator metadata.
- A police FIR was lodged against the platform’s compliance officer, and criminal proceedings were initiated under Section 7. Ms. Rao’s video was forcibly taken down by the State Cyber Cell.
- Ms. Avani Rao filed a writ petition before the Hon’ble Supreme Court of Indica challenging the constitutionality of Sections 4, 5, and 7 of the Act, stating that they violate her right to privacy, freedom of speech, and protection against self-incrimination under Articles 14, 19, and 21 of the Constitution.
- The Petitioner contends that the traceability requirement undermines encryption, chills free expression, and enables mass surveillance without adequate safeguards. She argues that the Act fails the proportionality test under Article 21 as laid down in modern constitutional jurisprudence.
- The State defends the legislation as a necessary tool in combating rising cybercrime and misinformation, asserting that the law has adequate procedural safeguards and is a reasonable restriction under Article 19(2).
- The Hon’ble Supreme Court of Indica admitted the petition and framed the following issues for consideration:
- Whether the provisions of the Digital Platforms (Content Regulation and Traceability) Act, 2025, particularly Sections 4, 5, and 7, are violative of the fundamental rights guaranteed under Articles 14, 19, and 21 of the Constitution?
- Whether requiring traceability from end-to-end encrypted platforms amounts to an unconstitutional restriction on free speech and personal privacy?
- Whether criminal liability on digital compliance officers for non-compliance violates principles of natural justice and due process?
- All laws of the Republic of Indica are in pari materia with the laws of the Republic of India. The matter is currently sub judice before the Hon’ble Supreme Court of Indica.
- This moot proposition is fictional and is meant solely for academic purposes. Any resemblance to real events, persons, or statutes is purely coincidental.
📩 For queries and registration, contact:
📞 9734677631 / 6206262817
📧 admin@lawyernetwork.in
🌐 lawyernetwork.in