Overview
On September 24, 2026, Chandigarh University launched the three‑day International Moot Court Competition titled Juris Nexus 2026, billed as India’s largest moot court focused on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Intellectual Property Rights (IPR). The event, organized by the University Institute of Legal Studies (UILS), brought together 112 law‑student teams representing 13 national law universities, 27 state universities and 67 private higher‑education institutions from 20 Indian states and six foreign countries – the United Kingdom, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Nepal and South Africa.
Competition Structure and Prizes
The competition comprises multiple preliminary rounds leading to a final showdown. A total prize pool of more than Rs 1.8 lakh is offered: the champion receives Rs 1 lakh, the runner‑up Rs 50,000, and Rs 11,000 each is awarded for the Best Memorial, Best Mooter and Best Researcher categories.
Dignitaries and Key Addresses
The inauguration was attended by chief guest Justice Rajesh Bindal, former Supreme Court Judge and former Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court, along with Justice Sant Parkash, Chairperson of the Punjab State Human Rights Commission, and university leaders Prof (Dr) SS Sehgal (Vice‑Chancellor, Chandigarh University), Prof (Dr) Amar Pal Singh (Vice‑Chancellor, Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia National Law University, Lucknow) and Prof (Dr) Simranjit Kaur Gill (Executive Director, UILS).
Justice Rajesh Bindal’s Remarks
Justice Bindal highlighted that India’s Gen‑Z cohort constitutes 28 % of the nation’s population and urged young lawyers to channel their energy positively rather than into protests. He cautioned against excessive reliance on AI, stating that AI should be limited to tasks such as judgment search, and warned that synthetic data generated by AI can lead to fake citations and poorly drafted petitions. He emphasized the need for continuous legal education akin to that for doctors and accountants, and pointed out that while the Supreme Court handles roughly 70‑80 thousand cases, high‑court backlogs reach 70‑80 lakh and trial‑court pending matters exceed five crore, underscoring the importance of practical exposure at lower courts.
Justice Sant Parkash’s Perspective
Justice Parkash asserted that AI can augment judicial intelligence but must never replace judicial conscience. He stressed that AI should serve a supportive role and that future lawyers must blend technological proficiency with professional ethics, independent reasoning and human empathy. He also raised complex IPR questions surrounding AI‑generated works, noting the difficulty of assigning ownership and the necessity for balanced legal frameworks.
Prof (Dr) SS Sehgal’s Data‑Driven Insights
Prof Sehgal cited that worldwide AI‑related patent filings surpassed 3.40 lakh by 2025, with the United States alone registering a 33 % increase since 2018. He added that more than 1,000 AI‑related lawsuits were filed globally between 2020 and 2025, reflecting the growing legal challenges at the intersection of AI and IPR.
Additional Academic Views
Prof (Dr) Amar Pal Singh emphasized the importance of drafting skills, accurate case‑record preparation and effective cross‑examination, urging students to understand the full litigation process, including lower‑court practice. Prof (Dr) Simranjit Kaur Gill, as Executive Director of UILS, underscored the competition’s role in providing real‑world exposure to emerging digital‑age legal disputes.
Institutional Profile
Chandigarh University is a NAAC A+‑graded, QS‑world‑ranked autonomous institution approved by the UGC, located near Chandigarh in Punjab. It offers over 109 undergraduate and postgraduate programmes across engineering, management, pharmacy, law, architecture, journalism, animation, hotel management, commerce and other fields, and has been recognised as “The University with Best Placements” by the World Career Review Council.
Conclusion
Juris Nexus 2026 serves as a platform for law students to engage with cutting‑edge AI and IPR issues through simulated judicial proceedings, academic exchanges and debates, while also highlighting the broader challenges of AI integration in the legal profession.