PIL Drafting Competition - NyayaTech Conclave 2026

About DNLU

Dharmashastra National Law University, Jabalpur (M.P.), India is one of the leading and premier law institutes imparting legal education and research. The University was established in the year 2018 by Madhya Pradesh Dharmashastra National Law University Act 24 of 2018, with the object of advancing the cause of legal education and achieving excellence as a university for imparting value-based legal education. The university emphasizes advocacy skills with professional ethics by providing suitable simulation exercises. The Hon'ble Chief Justice of Madhya Pradesh High Court is the Chancellor of the University. Motto: “सत्यम् वद । धर्म चर ।” (“Speak the truth and practice conduct in accordance with dharma”).

About Vidhimitra- The Legal Aid Cell: Vidhimitra is the Legal Aid Cell of Dharmashastra National Law University, Jabalpur, established in 2018 to make the legal system and justice more accessible to the public and raise awareness about contemporary legal issues and citizens' rights. It provides free legal advice, facilitates connections with lawyers, and engages in outreach, especially in rural areas, to empower marginalized communities with legal knowledge and support. Through awareness drives, counselling, and community engagement, Vidhimitra fosters legal literacy and inclusive access to justice.

About the Collaborator

Madhya Pradesh State Legal Services Authority (MPSLSA): The Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 has been enacted to achieve the objectives of equal justice and free legal aid as enshrined in Article 39-A of the Constitution of India. Under the said Act, 1987 Legal Services Authorities provide Free & Competent Legal Services to the weaker section of society to ensure that opportunities for securing justice are not denied to any citizen by reason of economic or other disabilities and organize Lok-Adalats to secure the operation of legal system and promote Mediation and other activities. The Court based Legal Services are also provided which include activities such as representation before Court, Legal Aid and Advice and drafting of legal documents etc. Section-12 of Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 provides certain categories of people who are eligible to get free legal aid & assistance. In that pursuant Madhya Pradesh State Legal Services Authority has been constituted.

About the Conclave

NyayaTech is the blend of two ideas: Nyaya (Justice) and Technology. NyayaTech represents the evolving vision of justice in a world where courts, lawyers, and citizens increasingly rely on digital systems to resolve disputes and access legal support. A digital justice system is not just about speed but also about access, inclusion, and fairness. With this conclave, NyayaTech seeks to bridge the gap between law and technology, ensuring that innovation truly reaches those who need justice the most. NyayaTech provides a platform to explore how technology can transform legal aid, public interest litigation, dispute resolution, and community access to legal services.

About the Competition

The PIL Drafting Competition provides participants with an opportunity to demonstrate their understanding of Public Interest Litigation, constitutional principles, legal research, and effective legal drafting through the preparation of a complete PIL.

Participants are required to prepare the petition in proper court format, supported by relevant annexures and appropriate prayers.

Competition Format

The PIL Drafting Competition consists of a single round.

Participants are required to submit a complete Public Interest Litigation (PIL) draft in proper court format, including:

All relevant annexures
Appropriate prayers/reliefs

There is no separate presentation or oral final round specified for this competition in the competition document.

Drafting Guidelines

Participants must follow the prescribed requirements:

Follow the Supreme Court / High Court format for Public Interest Litigation
Language: English
Font: Times New Roman, 12 pt
Line Spacing: 1.5
Footnotes: Times New Roman, 10 pt, single-spaced
File Formats: .doc/.docx and .pdf
Maximum Length: 12–15 pages, excluding annexures
Relevant laws, notifications, or credible reports must be attached as annexures
Participants must maintain anonymity in the draft
No names or institutional identifiers should appear in the draft
Plagiarism will result in disqualification.

What the Judges Will Assess

The PIL drafts will be evaluated on the following criteria:

Legal Research
Drafting Quality and Clarity
Understanding of PIL Jurisprudence
Public Interest Element
Structure of Reliefs and Prayers
Practicality and Constitutional Soundness

Rewards

Winner

₹20,000 + Certificate of Merit

Runner-Up

₹10,000 + Certificate of Merit

Who Can Participate?

The competition is open to:

Individual participants, or
Co-author teams of a maximum of two members.

Registration Fee

Preliminary Round

₹1,000 preliminary-round registration fee.

If selected for the competition, the preliminary-round registration fee will be deductible from the final-round registration fee.

Final Round

Single Participant

Without Accommodation: ₹3,000
With Accommodation: ₹4,000

Two Members

Without Accommodation: ₹5,500
With Accommodation: ₹7,500

Important Dates