Kochi: More than 80 students representing various institutions in Kerala participated in the Comparative US India Constitutional Law Debate conducted at the National University of Advanced Legal Studies on July 26. Organized by the US Consulate General in Chennai and Loyola College, the debate aims to foster a greater respect and understanding for the constitutional values shared by the world’s oldest and largest democracies.

Prashant Nair IAS, Managing Director of Kerala Shipping and Inland Navigation Corporation, announced the top four Kerala students who will debate against their peers from Tamil Nadu and Karnataka during the final debate round in Chennai, September 14.

Selected students from Round 1 in Kochi:

1. Akin Babu, Amal Jyothi College of Engineering, Kanjirappally

2. Safa Navas, Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT), Kochi

3. Levin Thomas, Sacred Heart College, Thevara

4. Akbar Zaheer, National University of Advanced Legal Studies (NUALS), Kochi

Moulik D. Berkana, Cultural Affairs Officer, U.S. Consulate General in Chennai said, “We see this debate among undergraduate students as an exercise itself in democratic thought and free expression. India and the United States share enduring interests and values, and our partnership stands upon a shared commitment to democracy and the rule of law.”

The judging panel comprised Moulik D. Berkana; Sudhir Krishnaswamy, co-founder of Centre for Law & Policy Research (CLPR) and a faculty member at Azim Premji University in Bengaluru; Suhrith Parthasarathy, advocate at the Madras High Court and a columnist; and Dr. S.S Girishankar, Assistant Professor, Government Law College, Ernakulam.

The debate contest will continue in Bengaluru on August 2, Tiruchirappalli on August 9, and Chennai on August 19. The top four from each city will participate in the final round in Chennai on September 14. The winner of the final round in Chennai will receive a MacbookPro as the first prize and subscriptions to prominent resource databases about law and a trophy. All the participants will receive certificates.

Interested students can view a full description of the debate competition on the US Consulate General Chennai Facebook page.

To sign up, please contact the event coordinator at 94489-76833