ABOUT THE ORGANISER:
Government Law College, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, established in 1875, is one of the oldest institutions imparting legal education in India. Affiliated to the Faculty of Law of the University of Kerala and under the supervision and control of the Government of Kerala, the institution has a long-standing tradition of academic excellence and practical legal education.
The College has completed more than 150 years of legal education and continues to foster academic excellence through its moot court culture, ADR initiatives, legal aid activities and research centres. Its distinguished alumni include Justice Fathima Beevi, the first woman judge of the Supreme Court of India, and Prof. N. R. Madhava Menon, a pioneer of modern legal education and founder of the National Law Universities.
ABOUT THE COMPETITION:
The 12th National ADR Competition for the KELSA Trophy, 2026 is being organised by the IQAC and Justice V R Krishna Iyer Chair on ADR Systems, in association with Government Law College, Thiruvananthapuram.The competition seeks to highlight the significance of Alternative Dispute Resolution mechanisms and the role of dialogue, cooperation and mutual understanding in achieving fair and sustainable dispute resolution.The competition will be conducted in a hybrid format, with the Preliminary Round being held online, while the Semi-Finals and Finals will be conducted offline at the campus of Government Law College, Thiruvananthapuram.
ELIGIBILITY:
- The competition is open to students of Law Colleges and Law Departments recognised by the Bar Council of India.
- Participation is limited to undergraduate law students pursuing regular 3-year or 5-year LL.B. programmes.
- Each institution may send one team comprising three students.
- The three participants shall undertake the roles of Claimant, Respondent and Counsel.
- A maximum of 20 teams will be permitted.
- Only one team from each institution will be permitted.
- Selection of teams will be on a first-come, first-served basis.
COMPETITION FORMAT:
The competition shall consist of three rounds:
1. Preliminary Round
Teams will undertake a role-play based on the problem provided. Two members shall act as the parties, while the third member shall act as the Counsel, who may function as a mediator, conciliator or arbitrator depending upon the problem.
2. Semi-Finals
Teams qualifying on the basis of their aggregate performance in the Preliminary Round will proceed to the Semi-Finals. The scripts will be exchanged between the competing teams, and the Counsel of each team will act as the Counsel for the opposing team.
3. Finals
Teams will qualify for the Finals based on their performance in the Semi-Finals. The format of the Final Round will be the same as that of the Semi-Finals.
DURATION:
- Preliminary Round: 30 minutes
- Semi-Finals: 45 minutes
- Finals: 45 minutes
MEMORANDUM:
The script memorandum shall contain a general explanation of ADR and the rationale for the method or technique selected by the team, along with adequate references, within a maximum of 20 pages in A4 size.
The written scripts for either side shall include:
- General introduction
- Briefing on ADR
- Explanation of the given method
- Facts in issue
- Depositions
- Claims/Demand/Prayer
- Exhibits or evidence
- Relevant extracts and other supporting materials
The script carries 20 marks. Each team is required to prepare scripts for all three given problems.
EVALUATION:
The competition carries a total of 200 marks, comprising:
- 20 marks – Script
- 180 marks – Participants, with 60 marks allocated to each participant
The 60 marks for each participant will be assessed on the basis of:
- Role identification
- Script development
- Stage performance and communication skills
- Individual skill and capability
- Overall conceptualisation and presentation of the theme
IMPORTANT DATES:
12 September 2026 – Last Date for Registration
14 September 2026 – Last Date for Clarifications
17 September 2026 – Confirmation Mail & Team Code Assignment
27 September 2026 – Last Date for Submission of (Soft Copy)
5 October 2026 – Last Date for Submission of (Hard Copy)
12 October 2026 – Inauguration
28 October 2026 – Preliminary Round
28 October 2026 – Semi-Finals & Final Round
REGISTRATION FEE:
The registration fee is ₹1,500/- per team. The registration fee, once paid, is non-refundable.
Registration link: https://forms.gle/y9BSs8YP2iyPmykX6
PRIZES AND ACCOLADES:
The competition will feature ever-rolling trophies, cash prizes and individual trophies for the winners. Every participant will also receive an e-certificate of participation.
The honours include:
- Best Team
- Second Best Team
- Best Counsel
- Best Script
- Second Best Script
REGISTRATION:
Registration is to be completed through the official Google Form by 12 September 2026.
VENUE AND MODE:
The Preliminary Round will be conducted online, while the Semi-Finals and Finals will be conducted offline at Government Law College, Thiruvananthapuram.
Selected teams for the Semi-Finals are required to report at the venue at 8:00 AM on 28 October 2026. Accommodation will be provided to selected participants from 27 October 2026 at 6:00 PM for 24 hours.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
For clarifications and further information:
Email: adrglctvpm@gmail.com
Student Coordinators:
Aashna Ansari – 9995563228
S Vignesh – 8547865847
Sandra Santhosh – 8089618805
Mohammed Imtiaz Iqhbal – 8078357148
Anamika U – 9895184490
Harisankar A R – 8089785503
For further information and registration, visit the official registration link provided above.
The official brochure and proposition for the competition are provided below for reference.
For more updates join our whatsapp Group : https://chat.whatsapp.com/GkG6DEgbQB6JPHY%7CUkyi2G7s=sh&p=a&ilr=1&amv=2
