4th Prof. Anil Kumar Thakur Memorial National Debate Competition by Panjab University: Register by Oct 4

About Dept. of Laws, Panjab University, Chandigarh

The Department of Laws, originally established at Lahore in 1889, was re-established at Shimla in 1948, shifted to Jalandhar in 1950 and finally re-located at the University Campus at Chandigarh in 1959. Its Alumni include Judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts, Union Cabinet Ministers, State Chief Ministers, Cabinet Ministers, Ambassadors, Senior Bureaucrats, Police Officers and other legal luminaries. The Department always strives to create new opportunities for its students. The Department provides practical training to the students to hone their skills in various fields for overall development of personality such as-in the arena of Debate, Moot Court, Client Counselling, etc. by organizing various competitions and seminars.

About the Debating Society

The Prof. Anil Kumar Thakur Debating Society, founded in 2022 in memory of Prof. Anil Kumar Thakur, promotes interdisciplinary research, competitive debating, and public speaking among students. It features several sub-groups including the Family Law and ADR Center, MUN Club, Awaaz, Law Fest, and Anil Kumar Thakur Memorial Lectures, addressing key issues like same-sex marriage, social media ethics, and fake news.

The society’s academic calendar includes diverse, multi-disciplinary activities designed to enhance student engagement in legal and global issues. The Prof. Anil Thakur Debating Society stands as a dynamic institution dedicated to upholding academic excellence, promoting intellectual curiosity, and empowering students to become informed leaders in law and society. Through its diverse programs and initiatives, the society continues to honour and advance the legacy of its founder, inspiring future generations to pursue excellence in legal education and societal impact.

About the Competition

The Department of Laws is going to organise the 4th Prof. Anil Kumar Thakur Memorial National Debate Competition on October 15, 2024, in the loving memory of Prof. (Dr.) Anil Kumar Thakur. Earlier, the Department has successfully organised three editions of the said competition on the themes, “Uniform Civil Code (Should be or Should not be)” on 18th October 2023, ” Same-Sex Marriages: Rejection or Recognition?“ on 10th November 2022, and “Social Media and Right to Privacy” on 15th March 2022.

Eligibility

• Any undergraduate student from any discipline is eligible to take part in this competition.
• Only one team per university/college/Institute is allowed to take part in the competition.
• Multiple entries from the same University/ college/ Institute shall not be entertained in any case.
• Entry in this event shall be on First come First Serve Basis.
• Along with the Online registration form, it is mandatory for the participants to attach the payment receipt to confirm their participation.
• The registration form is required to be sealed and signed by the concerned competent authority.
• Students from the Department of Laws, Panjab University being host of the event shall be ineligible to take part in the competition.
• Along with the Online registration form, it is mandatory for the participants to attach the payment receipt to confirm their participation.
• The registration form is required to be sealed and signed by the concerned competent authority.
• Students from the Department of Laws, Panjab University being host of the event shall be ineligible to take part in the competition.

Theme

As societies evolve and our understanding of sexual offences deepens, the question arises whether we should prioritize changing societal attitudes and norms to prevent these crimes and support victims or concentrate on revising and enhancing the legal framework to better address and penalize offenders.

On one side, social reforms transform cultural attitudes and promote education about consent, and respect are fundamental to preventing sexual violence and fostering a more supportive environment for survivors. On the other hand, legal reforms like updating and strengthening criminal laws, improve the judicial process and ensure robust legal protections that are essential for holding offenders accountable and providing justice.

Language

The medium of communication for this debate shall be ENGLISH only.

Guidelines

• Each team should comprise of two members. A single-member team would be considered a disqualified team. Only one team per university/college/Institute is allowed to take part in the competition.
• Team should prepare from both sides of the motion for the competition. Before the beginning of rounds, the teams will be allotted whether they are speaking for Social Reforms or Legal Reforms by a draw of lots.
• The competition shall comprise of 4 rounds. Only 24 teams shall be considered for the Preliminary Round of the Debate Competition based on a first come first registered basis.
• “First Come First Registered” means the first duly completed online registration form along with the payment of the registration fee on or before the last date of online registration i.e., 30.09.2024 till 12:00 midnight.
• The 24 teams shall go through 2 Preliminary rounds.
• Top scoring 8 teams from Preliminary rounds will move to the Quarter Finals which shall be a Knockout Round. 4 teams will move to the Semi Finals which shall also be a Knockout Round.  Finally, 2 teams will be competing in the Finals.
• (The detailed rules for execution of each round would be shared at the time of registration at venue, thus, it is mandatory to reach the venue at least one hour prior to the commencement of the event.)

FOR PRELIMINARY ROUNDS

• There shall be 2 Preliminary Rounds.
• There shall be ‘two teams’. Out of these two teams, one would be for ‘Legal Reforms’ and the other would be for ‘Social Reforms’.
• Each team will argue for each side in either of the preliminary rounds.
• (Example-If Team A gets Social Reforms in Preliminary Round 1, it will be arguing for Legal Reforms in Preliminary Round 2. )
• Both speakers of the team should speak for the assigned side.
• Each Speaker will be given 4+1 = 5 minutes to speak. There shall be intimation after 4 minutes and then another after 1 minute for time up, next speaker of the same team shall proceed after this.

After both the members of a team have finished, the Judge / Panel of Judges will have 3 minutes which can be utilised in any of the following ways:

• Ask questions individually to both members of the team;
• Address questions collectively to both speakers;
• Ask the opposite team to ask questions (rebuttal)
• Cross-questioning after the permission of the Jury.

FOR QUARTERS AND SEMI-FINAL ROUNDS

• There shall be ‘two teams’.  Out of these two teams, one would be for ‘Legal Reforms’ and the other would be for ‘Social Reforms’, decided by draw of lots.
• Each Speaker will be given 8+2 = 10 minutes to speak. There shall be intimation after 8 minutes and then another after 2 minutes for time up, next speaker of the same team shall proceed after this.

After both the members of a team have finished, the Judge / Panel of Judges will have 3 minutes which can be utilised in any of the following ways:

• Ask questions individually to both members of the team;
• Address questions collectively to both speakers;
• Ask the opposite team to ask questions (rebuttal)
• Cross-questioning after the permission of the Jury.

FOR FINAL ROUND

• There shall be ‘two teams’.  Out of these two teams, one would be for ‘Legal Reforms’ and the other would be for ‘Social Reforms’, decided by draw of lots.
• Each Speaker will be given 5+2 = 7 minutes to speak. There shall be intimation after 5 minutes and then another after 2 minutes for time up, next speaker of same team shall proceed after this.

After both the members of a team have finished, the Judge / Panel of Judges will have 3 minutes which can be utilised in any of the following ways:

• Ask questions individually to both members of the team;
• Address questions collectively to both speakers;
• Ask the opposite team to ask questions (rebuttal)
• Cross-questioning after the permission of the Jury.

TIEBREAKER ROUND

• Detailed rules will be disclosed at the time of registration at the venue.

General Rules

• The competition will be held offline mode at the venue mentioned above; therefore, participants should make sure of their physical presence at the venue before the commencement of the event. Failure to present in due time would result in disqualification of the team.
• Every participant should be present punctually, at least 15 (fifteen) minutes before the competition starts. We do not compromise any tardiness. If the participant is late to be present, then the organizer will decide unilaterally to disqualify the participant from the competition.
• During the competition, Participants are expected to maintain the decorum of the house and disturbance caused may lead to disqualification.
• Participants should not disclose their identity except the identity provided at the time of registration at the venue. However, a Student ID card is mandatory at the time of registration at the venue along with a duly filled Registration form. Disclosure of Identity may lead to disqualification.
• During the competitions, the registered participants cannot be represented by anyone else or otherwise will be disqualified.
• During the presentation, strict adherence to the time limits shall be observed otherwise there shall be a deduction of 2 marks wholly on extending every single minute.
• Use of unparliamentary language or shouting shall lead to disqualification.
• Use of Unfair Means would lead to disqualification of the team. Furthermore, all perks would be forfeited.
• Paper reading is strictly prohibited. However, reference to paper material is allowed.
• No objections shall be entertained as the decision of the Judge shall be final and binding.

Prizes

• Winner team: Cash Prize of INR 6000/- & Trophy and Certificate
• Runner-Up Team: Cash Prize of INR 3000/- & Trophy and Certificate
• Best Team: Cash Prize of INR 3000/- & Trophy and Certificate
• Best Debater: Cash Prize of INR 2000/- & Trophy and Certificate
• Winner and Runner–up prizes will be awarded based on the total team marks given by the judges.
• Best Debater will be decided on the basis of the overall scores of all rounds of the competition.
• In case of tie, a tiebreaker would be executed.
• The detailed rules and instructions would be passed at the time of registration at the venue for all the rounds of the event.
• Certificate of Participation shall be given to all the participants who have participated in allocated rounds and have attended the final round.

Important Dates

• Date: 15th-16th October, 2024
• Day 1 Timings: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
• Day 2 Timings: 9:00 AM to 5:00PM
• Venue: Department of Laws, Panjab University, Chandigarh.
• (ast date for registration: 04 October 2024
• Last Date of Online Registration & Payment of Registration Fee- 22nd Sept, 2024 (Early Bird)
• Last date till 30th Sept, 2024
• Dates of Event- 15th-16th October, 2024

Accommodation

Registered participants will be provided accommodation only on the basis of the response filled in the Google Form.

Last-minute requests for accommodation will not be entertained.

Registration Fee

• Participants have to submit a registration form via below-given link along with the payment of the Registration fee.
• Early Bird Registration Fee is INR 1000/- per team (without accommodation), thereafter, INR 1500/- per team.
• Early Bird Registration Fee is INR 1200/- per team (with accommodation), thereafter, INR 1700/- per team.
• Early Bird Registration ends on 20th September 2024.
• There shall be no refund of the fee
• Accommodation will not be provided on the spot

Registration Procedure

Click Here To Register.

Contact Information

• Teacher Incharge- Dr. Manisha Garg
• Student Co-ordinators- Prerna Cheema
• DivyanshuGoyal
• Email ID- [email protected]
• Calls- +918556985565

The brochure is here.