Moot court debate today

NEW DELHI: Issues related to demands for presidential pardon to Parliament attack accused Afzal Guru and misuse of Section 321 of the Criminal Procedure Code (withdrawal from prosecution) in recent political cases are expected to be highlights of the 5th K K Luthra memorial national moot court competition, hosted by Delhi University Campus Law Centre, starting Saturday.

Moot court is an extra-curricular activity in which participants take part in simulate court proceedings. Forty seven law institutes across the country are competing in this year���s moot on withdrawal of prosecution, ���defalcation of funds and the Extradition Act, 1962���.

In his inaugural address on Friday here, Justice A P Sah stressed that lawyers can prevent or limit the ���misuse of section 321 CrPC��� in politically motivated cases. ���But sadly instead of standing up to one���s moral duties, one chooses the easier way in such situations.���

���Often a change in government brings about the change in status for criminal politicians, as was witnessed in the case of Kishanganj MP Taslimuddin. The law fraternity will brainstorm such provisions and thrash out new prospects within legal boundaries,��� said senior advocate Pinky Anand. ���Similarly , there are various grey areas in constitutional provisions on presidential pardon that are not yet in public domain.