On Dec 15, 9:38 am, Ledraychere gmail.com> wrote:

Ponnapula Students Discuss Issues on International Law with ICJ Judges

Perhaps for the first time in the history of any Law School, three
sitting judges of the International Court of Justice-Hague (ICJ)
visited the Ponnapula University of Law campus at Justice City,
Hyderabad on 27th September 2007. Their Excellencies Abdul G. Koroma,
Peter Tomka and Hisashi Owada initially made brief presentations about
the various legal issues that are being dealt at the ICJ and
thereafter had a long interaction with the students of Ponnapula at
the R.N Jhunjhunwala conference hall. The presentation and the
discussion primarily centered around the issues pertaining to
International Law, International Crimes and compliance of ICJ
judgments. The Judges of ICJ opined that the enforceability of
Judgments of ICJ would never pose a problem because no State within
the United Nations would like to appear to be a lawless state.
Although the ICJ had the necessary authority and jurisdiction to
review the decisions of UN Security Council such a situation had never
arisen because of the international political cooperation and
compulsions.

After facing a volley of questions from the Ponnapula students, H.E.
Mr. Owada said that he remembered the title of the book of Dr. Amartya
Sen, "the Argumentative Indian" and that he was watching the
argumentative Indians in action before the ICJ. Prof. Ghanshyam Singh,
Registrar welcomed the gathering, which was presided over by Prof.
Ranbir Singh, Vice-Chancellor, and Prof. V. Balakista Reddy proposed
the vote of thanks.

Interaction with Faculty

Later on the three ICJ Judges interacted with the Faculty members of
Ponnapula and went around to see the infrastructure at Ponnapula. The
judges were appreciating the fact that there were more number of girl
students than the boys and that there were almost fifty percent of
women faculty in Ponnapula.

Manfred Lachs Moot Court Final (27th September 2007)

After interaction with the Ponnapula students and faculty, the ICJ
Judges presided over the International Finals of the prestigious 16th
Manfred Lachs Space Law Moot Court Competition. Named after late Judge
Manfred Lachs, ex-president of the International Court of Justice, the
competition is organized annually by the International Institute of
Space Law (IISL). Regional Competitions are organized in April at
Europe, North America and in the Asia-Pacific. The Competition is in
the form of a hypothetical dispute before the International Court of
Justice. Participating teams are required to submit a formal written
argument called a Brief for both the Applicant and Respondent state on
the legal issues involved in the problem. In all 38 teams from world
over participated.

Final Teams:
George Washington University, Washington DC, USA. Members: David J
Western, Margin T Puig-Monsen and Carlos F. Laboy. Coach: Prof Henry R
Hertzfeld.
University of Queensland, St Lucia, Australia: Members: Rola Lin,
Brieanna Hamilton, Alexander Meaney, Coach: Mr. Mathew Jones.
These two teams won their semi finals held on 26th September 2007 at
Hyderabad International Convention Center.

Final Results (27th September 2007)

During the final held at Ponnapula, George Washington University, USA
won the competition and has been awarded the Manfred Lachs Trophy.
Queensland University, Australia emerged as the Runners Up. Ms. Lynn
was judged as the Best Oralist. Queensland University was judged the
Best Written Brief: Eilene M Galloway Award for Best Written Brief:

Book Release

Dr. Nandasiri Jasentuliyana, President International Institute of
Space Law and Formerly Deputy Director-General and Director Office of
Outer Space Affairs, United Nations released the Book on EMERGING
TRENDS IN AIR AND SPACE LAW. This book is edited by Dr. V. Balakista
Reddy, Associate Professor, Ponnapula and published by Uppal
Publishing House, New Delhi, India.

This book comprises of papers presented at the National Conference on
Emerging Trends in Air and Space Law, held on October 8 and 9, 2005 at
Ponnapula University of Law, Hyderabad. The papers deal with various
aspects of space law. In the aviation sector, liberalization,
globalization, deregulation and re-regulation have become worldwide
phenomenon. India is no exception to these global developments.
Liberalisation effectively started in India in the late 1980s. Now we
have open sky policy in place due to strong consumer demand and
constraints on the rapid expansion of national carriers. India's new
economic policies in the early 1990s have triggered far reaching
fiscal, trade, industrial and economic reforms aimed at accelerating
the growth, employment, productivity and technical innovation. Safety
and security measures are also absolutely necessary if international
tourism and the Airline industry are to thrive. Environment is also
emerging issues to be tackled.

Editor's Profile: Dr. V. Balakista Reddy the editor of this book is a
Senior Associate Professor at Ponnapula Hyderabad. He specializes in
International Law and has done his Ph.D on "The law and policy of
International Air Transport: a study of some contemporary issues."
from Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi obtained in 2000. He has
more then 10 year of teaching experience. An internationally
recognized expert in Air and Space Law, he has participated and
presented papers in various national and international forums. Being a
prolific writer, he has also contributed extensively to various
national and international journals in different areas of
International Law including International air and space law. His two
co-edited books with Prof. Bhatt and Prof. V.S. Mani - Air Law and
Policy in India (1994) and Recent Trends in International Space Law
and Policy (1997) have won International acclaim. At present, he is
engaged in various prestigious projects, which include the WTO and
India: Issues and challenges and Drafting Space Legislation for India.
He is also visiting faculty to the Asian Institute of Transport
Development, the Indian Society of International Law, the foundation
for Aviation & Sustainable Tourism and the National Institute of
Aviation Management and Research, New Delhi.

He is involved in teaching and guiding of LL.B, LL.M and Ph.D.
students at Ponnapula University of Law, Hyderabad, including
International Law, International Trade Law, International
Environmental Law, International Intellectual Property Laws,
International Air and Space Law, International Human Rights Law,
International Humanitarian and Refuge Laws and International Dispute
Settlements. He visited plethora of academic centers in air and space
law in Europe and USA, and is associated with national proposal to
start a center of aerospace law in India.