Arjan Kumar Sikri
Arjan Kumar Sikri (born 7 March 1954) is an eminent jurist and a former judge of the Supreme Court of India. He was sworn in as a Supreme Court judge on 12 April 2013. Earlier, he had served as the Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court.[1] He retired as senior most puisne judge of Supreme Court of India on 6 March 2019. Presently, he is an International Judge, at the Singapore International Commercial Court, [SICC] Singapore Supreme Court, he was sworn in to the post on the 2nd of August 2019, by the President of Singapore. He is also the Chairperson of News Broadcasting Standards Authority [2]
Hon'ble Mr. Justice Arjan Kumar Sikri Justice | |
---|---|
Judge of the Supreme Court of India | |
In office 12 April 2013 – 6 March 2019 | |
Appointed by | Pranab Mukherjee |
Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court | |
In office 23 September 2012 – 11 April 2013 | |
Nominated by | S. H. Kapadia |
Appointed by | Pranab Mukherjee |
Preceded by | Justice Ranjan Gogoi |
Succeeded by | Justice Jasbir Singh (acting) |
Personal details | |
Born | 7 March 1954 |
Nationality | Indian |
Spouse(s) | Madhu Sikri |
Children | Saket Sikri |
Alma mater | Faculty of Law, University of Delhi |
Website | Official website |
Early life and education
Sikri has an excellent academic record. He stood third in the merit list in Higher Secondary from CBSE, Delhi. He completed his B.Com. (Hons.) from Shri Ram College of Commerce, Delhi in 1974. He completed his LL.B. from Faculty of Law, University of Delhi in 1977 and won a gold medal for attaining first position in LL.B. in Delhi University. He completed his LLM from Delhi University and stood first in the three-year course.[3][4]
Career
As a lawyer
Sikri was enrolled as an advocate in 1977 and he started practising in Delhi. He had specialization in Constitutional cases, Labour - Service Matters and Arbitration matters. He was counsel for numerous Public Sector Undertakings, Educational Institutions, Banks & Financial Institutions and various Private Sector Corporations. He was also a part-time lecturer in Campus Law Centre, Delhi University during 1984-89. He was vice-President, Delhi High Court Bar Association during 1994-95.[3] He was designated as a Senior Advocate by Delhi High Court in 1997.[5]
As a judge
Sikri was appointed as Judge of the High Court of Delhi in July, 1999 and has also served as the Acting Chief Justice of Delhi High Court from 10 October 2011 before being elevated as the Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court in September 2012.[3][4] in 2013 he was elevated to the Supreme Court of India.[6]
Other positions
- Member, General Body and Academic Council of National Judicial Academy (India)
- Patron-in-Chief, Delhi Judicial Academy.
- Member of the committee on Restatement of Law by the Chief Justice of India.
- Patron-in-Chief and Executive Chairman, Delhi Legal Services Authority.
- Secretary, International Law Association (Indian Branch)
- Member, Governing Council of the Indian Law Institute
- Chancellor of the National Law University, Delhi (past).[3][7]
Achievements
Sikri was chosen as one of the 50 most influential persons in Intellectual Property in the world in a survey conducted by Managing Intellectual Property Association (MIPA) for 2007.[8]
Notable Judgments
- In 2013, a Punjab and Haryana High Court Bench consisting of chief justice A. K. Sikri and justice Jain had upheld the appointment of Punjab director general of police Sumedh Singh Saini who was chargesheeted in a criminal case by a CBI court in Delhi holding that he was "legally competent" to hold his present position.[9]
- A division bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court headed by Chief Justice Sikri had issued notice to Ministry of External Affairs of India taking cognizance of a Public Interest Litigation application seeking release of two prisoners from Punjab, languishing in Pakistan jails even after completion of their sentence.[10]
- A division bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court headed by Chief Justice Sikri had issued directions to the states of Punjab and Haryana and Chandigarh administration on what remedial measures to take to curb the menace of crime against women.[11] Earlier he had also noted that Judges have to be sensitized about securing out speedy justice in cases related to crime against women, elders, children and discrimination against HIV-infected persons.[12]
- In 2011, as acting Chief Justice of Delhi High Court, he treated a letter addressed to him by a lawyer as suo moto Public Interest Litigation [Writ Petition (Civil) 8889 of 2011]. Letter highlighted the illegal practice of falsification of age of children resulting into their treatment as adult criminals and subsequent incarceration as adults in Jails. He issued comprehensive guidelines for various agencies aimed on elimination of incarceration of children as adults in jail. It was in this judgment that he introduced "Age Memo" as a legal tool to document and record age investigation by police.[13]
References
- "Two judges sworn in Supreme Court, strength raised to 30". Zee News. 12 April 2013. Retrieved 12 April 2013.
- "Justice AK Sikri Breaks Down as Lawyers Bid Emotional Farewell to SC Judge". News18. Retrieved 6 March 2019.
- "Profile of Hon'ble Justice Mr. Arjan Kumar Sikri" (PDF). IICLAM. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 February 2014. Retrieved 12 April 2013.
- "Supreme Court to get new judge; Chief Justice of Punjab & Haryana HC AK Sikri set to be elevated". Bar and Bench. 21 March 2013. Archived from the original on 28 June 2013. Retrieved 12 April 2013.
- "List of Senior Advocates" (PDF). Delhi High Court. Retrieved 12 April 2013.
- "Justice Sikri set to be elevated to apex court". Financial Express. 20 March 2013. Archived from the original on 25 March 2013. Retrieved 12 April 2013.
- "Former Judges, Delhi High Court". Delhi High Court. Retrieved 12 April 2013.
- "Sikri is Punjab & Haryana HC Chief Justice". Punjab Newsline. Archived from the original on 31 October 2012. Retrieved 12 April 2013.
- "HC upholds Punjab DGP's appointment". Time of India. 12 April 2013. Retrieved 12 April 2013.
- "Notice to Centre on prisoners in Pak jails". Times of India. 4 April 2013. Retrieved 12 April 2013.
- "Act fast on molesters, HC to Punjab, Haryana". Times of India. 3 April 2013. Retrieved 12 April 2013.
- "Judges need to be sensitized in cases of crimes again women". Times of India. 13 January 2013. Retrieved 12 April 2013.
- "Tihars juvenile woes: Over 200 shouldn't be in jail". First Post. 27 March 2012.