The 9th Edition of Lex Infinitum 2024 hosted by the V.M. Salgaocar College of Law (VMSCL) concluded on January 20, 2024, with a spectacular Valedictory Ceremony following three days of rigorous competition among 24 negotiating teams and 12 mediators.
The coveted honour ‘First Place for Mediator‘ was won by the Naimisha Tayi from the National Law University of Odisha along with a cash prize of Rs. 20,000, a trophy and a certificate, with Amelia Chua Sun from the National Law University of Singapore coming in as runner-up, winning a cash prize of Rs. 10,000 along with a trophy and a certificate.
With regards to the negotiating teams, the final round and therefore the overall competition was won by Charmaine Chong and Harindrar Jayanthinathan from the National University of Singapore, the team acquiring a cash prize of Rs 50,000, a trophy and a certificate, while the runners-up cash prize of Rs 25,000 went to Binithi Nethanja Perera and Kaif Sally from General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, Sri Lanka, along with a trophy and certificate.
Bharat Pandurang Deshpande, Judge of the High Court of Bombay in Goa, addressed the audience and went on to congratulate all of the participants and organisers who participated in this event.
He added, “Becoming a winner depends not only on their own efforts, but also on the work of the team that comes second or third.“ He emphasised this because these teams make the winning teams work harder and perform better. He congratulated the candidates on their exceptional efforts over the rounds.
He went on to explain, “Winning and losing are not part of our job. We, as the guardians of the judicial system, must perform at all levels without regard for victory or defeat.”
Bhaskar Nayak, the adviser of education for VM Salgaocar Corporation Private Limited and the vice chairman of the Devi Sharwani Education Society’s governing board, then delivered an address. He reflected on how Lex Infinitum was founded nine years ago under the guidance of Dr. Prasad, our college’s principal at the time. Over time, all of the principals worked tirelessly to develop the initiative. He went on to explain, “It’s not the awards that matter; it’s the knowledge you gain by participating.”
Dr. Shaber Ali reflected back on the event’s previous eight months and commended the students and faculty members of lex infinitum 2024 for their unwavering commitment, hard work, determination, and spirit of cooperation and coordination. He also warmly welcomed the Chief Guest, Honourable Sitting Justice Bharat Pandurang Deshpande, a Bombay High Court judge in Goa. And went on to paraphrase a Hindi proverb that went like this, “Safalta ki shuruwat hamesha ashwata se hoti hein.”
This was followed by a speech by Eshaan Patil, President of Lex Infinitum, who began by citing Thomas Muller, saying, “Success is not about being the greatest, it’s about doing your best.” He then went on to tell us about his 5-year adventure with Lex Infinitum, thanking everyone on the organising committee and teachers in attendance.
The ceremony concluded with esteemed Dr. Shruti Kamat Dalal, Director of Lex Infinitum 2024, expressing gratitude to the audience. Special thanks were given to the distinguished experts Denise Shaw, Inan Gupta, Adv. EO Mendes, Adv. Gideon Noronha, and Associate Prof. Dr B.S. Patel, who precisely crafted the problems, giving opportunity for the participants to negotiate. She concluded by stating that, “the three-day Lex Infinitum comprised valued talks by new meetings, devotion, strategic preparation, and correct execution of assigned tasks performed by the Lextraordinary organising committee who moved out of their comfort zones to achieve the goals set.”
● First place Negotiating Team
Charmaine Chong & Harindrar Jayanthinathan
National University of Singapore
Cash prize: Rs.50,000/- + Trophy, Certificate.
● Second place Negotiating Team
1.Binithi Nethanja Perera
2.Kaif Sally
General Sir John Kotewala Defence University, Sri Lanka
Cash Prize: Rs.25,000/- + Trophy, Certificate
● First place mediator
Naimisha Tayi
National law university of Odisha
Cash Prize: Rs.20,000/- + Trophy, Certificate
● Second place mediator
Amelia Chua Sun
National university of Singapore
Cash Prize: Rs.10,000/- + Trophy, Certificate.
