Justice A. Mohammed Mustaque Sworn In as Chief Justice of Sikkim High Court
Former Kerala High Court judge takes oath in Gangtok, marking a key step towards strengthening Sikkim’s judicial system.
Gangtok: Justice A. Mohammed Mustaque, a judge of the Kerala High Court, was formally sworn in as the Chief Justice of the Sikkim High Court on Sunday. The oath-taking ceremony was held at the Ashirwad Hall of Lok Bhavan in Gangtok, where Sikkim Governor Om Prakash Mathur administered the oath of office.
The ceremony was attended by several senior political and judicial dignitaries, including Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang, Assembly Speaker Mingma Norbu Sherpa, Deputy Speaker Raj Kumari Thapa, cabinet ministers, MLAs, senior government officials, and judges of the judiciary. Speakers at the event expressed confidence that the appointment would help strengthen the judicial system and ensure timely delivery of justice in the state.
Justice Mustaque’s appointment was made following a recommendation by the Supreme Court Collegium, headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant. Prior to this, Justice Meenakshi Madan Rai had been serving as the Acting Chief Justice of the Sikkim High Court.
It is noteworthy that the Sikkim High Court is the smallest high court in the country and had only two judges until now. With Justice Mustaque assuming charge, the total strength of judges has reached three, which is the court’s sanctioned full strength. Legal experts believe this will help speed up hearings and reduce the pendency of cases.
Born on June 1, 1967, Justice A. Mohammed Mustaque hails from Kannur district in Kerala. He completed his schooling and higher education in Kerala. After earning his law degree (LLB) from VB College of Law, Udupi, he completed his LLM in Labour Law from Mahatma Gandhi University, Kerala. He also holds specialised knowledge in international law.
Justice Mustaque began his legal career in 1989 and continued to pursue academic excellence alongside his practice. He completed a course in Space and Telecommunications Law from the University of Paris and studied Private International Law at The Hague Academy. He is widely regarded as a jurist with deep understanding of both national and international legal frameworks.
In 2014, he was appointed as an Additional Judge of the Kerala High Court and became a permanent judge in 2016. From 2024, he also served as the Acting Chief Justice of the Kerala High Court. Within legal circles, he is known as a balanced and principled judge who upholds constitutional values.
Justice Mustaque’s appointment is being seen as an important step towards enhancing judicial efficiency and transparency, not only in Sikkim but across the country.
