First Chief Justice of Sikkim HC no more

Tribune News Service

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Chandigarh, September 14

The first Chief Justice of the Sikkim High Court, Justice Man Mohan Singh Gujral, is no more. Described by his friends and colleagues as a “fine, honest and knowledgeable judge”, Justice Gujral breathed his last on Sunday evening after a brief illness.

Justice Gujral was elevated as a judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court on August 21, 1969, and assumed the office of the Chief Justice of the Sikkim High Court on May 7, 1976. He retired on March 15, 1983.

His former colleagues insist he was among the few judges to take on the challenges imposed by the Emergency and was even tipped to be a Supreme Court judge but was never elevated.

Incredibly active even at the age of 95, Justice Gujral would go for walks regularly to the Sukhna Lake. His son Jag Mohan Gujral says he was playing bridge at the golf club till about 10 days ago. His cremation will take place at 4pm on Tuesday.

Dubbing him an “outstanding judge”, former Supreme Court judge Kuldip Singh says he was an excellent Chief Justice. Even as a Bar member during his days as an advocate, he was quite eminent.

“In those days, it was not easy to be appointed as a District and Sessions Judge directly. But he was not only appointed directly, but also proved to be an extremely honest and dedicated judge. Possessing all virtues of a good judge, he was apt at handling all type of cases,” he said.

Former Chief Justice of the Andhra Pradesh High Court, Justice Manmohan Singh Liberhan says Justice Gujral had all qualities of a judge. “Rather, he was one of the best judges in the Indian judiciary,” he said.

Recalling his outstanding professional achievements, Justice Liberhan says Justice Gujral remained District and Sessions judge at Ambala, Chandigarh, Shimla and Rohtak. He was also the Legal Remembrancer of joint Punjab.

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