The first day of the three-day Ranka National Moot Court Competition, jointly organized by **Vivekananda Global University (VGU)** and **Ranka Public Charitable Trust**, was held with great enthusiasm. This grand legal event was inaugurated in the esteemed presence of Hon’ble **Justice Jitendra Kumar Maheshwari**, Judge of the Supreme Court of India.
Also present on the dais were **Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava** of the Rajasthan High Court, **Advocate General of Rajasthan Mr. Rajendra Prasad**, **Former Judge of Sikkim High Court Justice N.K. Jain**, **Former Rajasthan High Court Judge Justice J.K. Ranka**, senior advocates, the university’s Vice-Chancellor, Managing Director, and senior faculty members from the Faculty of Law.
The program began with the invocation of Goddess Saraswati and a traditional lamp-lighting ceremony. This was followed by a warm welcome of the guests with bouquets and mementos by **University Chairperson Lalit K. Panwar** and **Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr. N.D. Mathur**. In his inaugural address, Chairperson Lalit K. Panwar stated that such competitions not only provide practical knowledge to students but also offer them a deep insight into the judicial system.
**Dr. K. Ram**, retired IPS officer and Chief Patron of the university, addressed the law students and said this is a great opportunity for them to showcase and polish their talents. Addressing the gathering, **Justice J.K. Ranka** (Retd.), Rajasthan High Court, mentioned that this is their fourth collaboration with Vivekananda Global University for the moot court competition, and he hopes for the same success as in previous years.
The **Chief Guest, Justice Jitendra Kumar Maheshwari** of the Supreme Court, in his inspiring address, emphasized the importance of understanding the fundamentals of the judicial system, moral values, and impartiality for budding law students. He said, *“Moot court competitions are not only a test of legal knowledge but also a powerful medium to develop logical thinking, oratory skills, and self-confidence in students.”*
**Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava** of the Rajasthan High Court, while addressing as the Guest of Honour, said such events play a crucial role in preparing future judges and advocates.
**Advocate General of Rajasthan, Mr. Rajendra Prasad**, shared that such programs strengthen students' reasoning skills and help them better understand the judicial process.
**Prof. Dr. N.D. Mathur**, Vice-Chancellor of the university, stated that the moot court competition organized by Vivekananda Global University is not just a learning platform for law students but also a meaningful initiative towards building the futureof the justice system.
**Dr. Shilpa Rao Rastogi**, Head of the Department of Law, provided a detailed overview of the three-day event and shared that over 50 teams from 12 states have registered for this year's competition. The first day primarily focused on the preliminary rounds, where participant teams presented their arguments from a legal perspective on a given hypothetical case study.
Students debated in courtroom-style proceedings, showcasing their advocacy skills. Each courtroom had a panel of judges comprising experienced advocates, former judicial officers, and legal academicians. Participants were judged based on their presentation, use of legal references, ability to respond, and ethical presentation.
**Dean and Program Coordinator Dr. P.P. Mitra** called the event a major achievement and extended his best wishes for its successful execution.
At the end of the program, students asked questions about the legal process to the dignitaries on stage, who responded with ease and clarity. The event was jointly hosted by law students **Priyanshi and Divyanshi**, and the vote of thanks was delivered by Mr. Siddharth Ranka, Secretary of the Ranka Trust.