The two-day 'Taxation Law Moot and Conference', held at the National Law School of India University (NLSIU), concluded on a high note with Hidayatullah National Law University (HNLU) in Raipur bagging the 'Best Memorial Award'.
The debates during the conference were thought-provoking and thanks to the eminent panelists like Pravin Kishore Prasad, Nishith Desai, Mohan Parasaran and Nageswar Rao, the students got an insight into pertinent issues on taxation.
The competition had more than 15 participating colleges from across the country. The issues that were raised during the discussion centred around the question of tax avoidance, with special focus on the General Anti-Avoidance Rule (GAAR).
Among the panelists, Pravin Kishore Prasad, the director of income tax (international taxation), Bangalore, focussed on aspects of tax avoidance and mitigation and highlighted the need for horizontal expansion of courts for faster disposal of cases, considering the changing dynamics of business.
Nishith Desai emphasised that the means should be considered as significant as the ends. He expressed a moralistic approach to taxation law. Mohan Parasaran, the additional solicitor general of India, pointed out the need to retain GAAR while specifically targeting MNCs, who might — in absence of proper regulation — transfer the burden upon the common masses.
Sharing his views about mooting, professor R Venkata Rao, vice-chancellor, says, "Mooting prepares the students and sharpens their skills in advocacy. They are also taught to explore alternative dispute resolutions, other than adjudication."
However, the students who participated in the fest say that mooting not only gives them confidence but the extensive research involved enhances every student's knowledge. Divyanshu, a third-year student of NLSIU and a regular mooter, feels, "Mooting teaches you how to be more responsible during a court procedure and gives an insight into the different kinds of law."
Anand Pai, another mooter from SVKM Law College, Mumbai, notes, "Mooting teaches you the clinical and application-based knowledge of law and it hones your skills in research." Charvi Rajput of Government Law College, Mumbai, adds that mooting is the soul of the legal profession. "Mooting gives you a lot of confidence and teaches you how to argue a case and what points will strengthen a case. And more than anything, mooting sharpens your mind," says Charvi.
Mihir Naniwadekar, an alumni of NLSIU (Bangalore), who is now practising with the High Court of Bombay and one of the judges during the moot court, feels mooting is an indispensable part of the legal profession.
"It gives the mooter a chance to organise facts and present them correctly. It forces you to come out of your shell and holds you in good stead during litigation," he states. Rizvi Law College, Mumbai bagged the 'Spirit of the Moot Award', while the award for the 'Best Speaker' of the preliminary round and final round went to Rahil Pareira, HNLU.
The runner-up team came from the National Law University, Delhi.