RPNLU Prayagraj Hosts Second International Debate Competition on Sanctions and Global Trade

The Second Edition, International Debate Competition, was successfully conducted by Debate and Discussion Club (DDC) of Dr. Rajendra Prasad National Law University (RPNLU), Prayagraj. The prestigious event observed registrations from thirty teams across India and from abroad, hailing from South Africa and Sri Lanka, drawing actual participation from twenty-six teams in hybrid mode for foreign participants.

The full day event observed participants in the preliminary rounds debating the motion “Economic Sanctions: Instruments of Geopolitical Coercion or Lawful Measures under International Law,” drawing on the UN Charter, ICJ rulings including the Nicaragua case, and precedents ranging from apartheid-era South Africa to the humanitarian costs borne by Iraq, Cuba, Iran, Venezuela and Russia; the rounds were adjudicated by Dr. Mukesh Kalwani, Dr. Ashutosh Singh, Dr. Ruchita Chakraborty and Dr. Dinesh Dayma, all adjudicators from the Faculty of Law, University of Delhi, who praised the participants’ research while urging greater spontaneity and closer listening to questions. A dedicated final round was competed by 4 teams on the topic which was given spontaneously, “ Therelevance of the World Trade Organization in an Era Defined by Sanctions and Trade Wars.” The four teams debated the WTO’s national security exception, its silence on human rights, its stalled appellate mechanism, and its consensus-based deadlock, alongside unilateral measures such as the US’s CAATSA sanctions on Russia; while flagging serious structural weaknesses, all four teams agreed the institution needs reform rather than abandonment. The round closed with adjucating remarks from Professor (Dr.) Bharat of Panjab University, Professor (Dr.) Sanjay Sadhu of Himachal Pradesh University, and Professor (Dr.) G.B. Reddy, Vice-Chancellor of NUALS, Kochi, who spoke on India’s G20 theme and the value of honest, well-constructed argumentation.

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The day culminated with the valedictory function which was graced by  the Chief Guest, the Hon’ble Mr. Justice Harvir Singh, Judge, Allahabad High Court, The Guests of Honour, the Hon’ble Dr. Justice Ajay Kumar, Judge, Allahabad High Court,  Professor (Dr.) G.B. Reddy, Vice-Chancellor of the National University of Advanced Legal Studies (NUALS), Kochi, Professor (Dr.) Sanjay Sadhu, Dean, Faculty of Law, Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla, and Professor (Dr.) Bharat of the University Institute of Legal Studies (UILS), Panjab University, Chandigarh.  In the session, the Chief Guest appreciated the enthusiastic zeal and refined arguments of the participants. He further observed that while law is an ancient discipline, universities dedicated to it remain relatively few, and concluded with a story of Lord Shri Krishna to emphasise that learning something new every day gives meaning to life and the pursuit of law.

The Guest of Honour, Hon’ble Dr. Justice Ajay Kumar, Judge, Allahabad High Court, in his address reflected on the importance of logic in legal career and noted the relevance of the debate’s theme amid the global climate, including the Russia-Ukraine conflict. He emphasised that such competitions benefit both participants and audiences, and urged young lawyers to undertake pro bono work and remain sensitive to those unable to afford access to justice.

Professor (Dr.) G.B. Reddy, Vice-Chancellor of NUALS, Kochi, reminded participants that while there may be winners in a technical sense, there are no true losers, as every participant gains memories, experience and exposure. He further highlighted the importance of outreach programmes and debating competitions in shaping law students.

Professor (Dr.) Sanjay Sadhu, Dean, Faculty of Law, Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla, and Professor (Dr.) Bharat of UILS, Panjab University, Chandigarh, also graced the dais.

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The Hon’ble Vice- Chancellor of RPNLUP, Senior Professor Dr. Usha Tandon, in her welcome addresses drew focus on how law evolves through lived experience and emphasised on clinical legal education, legal aid clinics and adequate legal budgets for access to justice. In her concluding remark, she congragulated the winners, and appreciated every team that had taken part. She affirmed that the competition’s true value lay in the experience, exposure and camaraderie it had fostered among the country’s future legal minds.

The climax of the valedictory session peaked with the announcement of results: Uttaranchal University (TC-25) was declared Best Team of the competition; the Faculty of Law, University of Allahabad (TC-15), was named Runner-up Team; and Aryan Bhadauriya, City Law College, Lucknow University (TC-09), was adjudged Best Speaker.

The session closed with the vote of thanks, proposed by Dr. Neha Dubey, Faculty Convenor, Debate and Discussion Club (DDC) who thanked all participants, conveners, volunteers and students for their contribution to the success of the event and congragulated every participants for their endeavours.