The 15th Sarin International Air Law Moot Court Competition was inaugurated by Supreme Court Judge, Justice Sanjay Karol at the Army Institute of Law in Mohali, advocating the need for international air law specialists. This competition is the only one of its kind in the world and aims to prepare young lawyers in the specialized arena of air law. Justice Karol emphasized the importance of serving society and its people by upholding the cause of justice for the larger public good.
Emphasizing the impact of the aviation industry on the global environment, Justice Karol stressed the need for legal checks on refund policies and unbridled escalated pricing of air tickets during crisis situations. He also highlighted the importance of making air booking apps more accessible by making them vernacular language friendly. Justice G.S. Sandhawalia, acting Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, advised young lawyers to believe in themselves and master research and presentation skills.
Twelve teams from the top national law universities in India participated in the Indian national rounds, out of which three teams qualified to participate in the international moot court competition in Mexico City. The day-long proceedings were judged by a panel of 35 experts, including four judges from the Panjab and Haryana High Court. The finals of the competition will see top teams from countries such as Greece, the US, Germany, and India competing for the top laurels.
Senior Advocate and secretary general of the Sarin Memorial Legal Aid Foundation, M.L. Sarin, expressed gratitude to the Army Institute of Law for hosting the event regularly and to Leiden University for partnering with the foundation to organize the competition. Nitin Sarin, trustee and air-law and aircraft finance specialist, emphasized the importance of students of law sharpening their skills to prepare for the real world.
The competition has been held in various countries, including Dubai, Turkey, India, and the Netherlands, and three editions were also held virtually during the Covid-19 pandemic. Overall, the event aims to contribute to the development of young lawyers in the specialized field of air law and ensures that they are prepared to navigate the complexities of the aviation industry in the future.
