Punch Coomaraswamy
Punch Coomaraswamy (c. 1925 – 8 January 1999) was a High Court judge in Singapore and envoy to India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Australia, Fiji, the United States and Brazil.[2]
Punch Coomaraswamy | |
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Photo of Punch Coomaraswamy as Speaker of the Parliament of Singapore in 1966 to 1970 | |
Supreme Court Judge of Singapore | |
In office 7 September 1984 – October 1993 | |
Ambassador of Singapore to the United States | |
In office October 1976 – August 1984 | |
Preceded by | Ernest Steven Monteiro |
Succeeded by | Prof. Tommy Koh |
President of Singapore (Acting) | |
In office 5 March 1968 – 5 May 1968 | |
Prime Minister | Lee Kuan Yew |
Preceded by | Yusof Ishak (President) |
Succeeded by | Yusof Ishak (President) |
4th Speaker of the Parliament of Singapore | |
In office August 1966 – 1970 | |
Deputy | Dr Yeoh Ghim Seng (1968 – 1970)[1] |
Preceded by | Arumugam Ponnu Rajah |
Succeeded by | Dr Yeoh Ghim Seng |
Deputy Speaker of the Parliament of Singapore | |
In office February 1966 – August 1966 | |
Preceded by | Dr Fong Kim Heng |
Succeeded by | Dr Yeoh Ghim Seng |
Personal details | |
Born | 1925 Segamat, Johor, Malaysia |
Died | 8 January 1999 73–74) Singapore | (aged
Cause of death | Lungs Problem |
Spouse(s) | Kaila nee Appachy |
Children | Mohan (son) Shoba (daughter) Vinodh (son) |
Alma mater | University of Nottingham |
Profession | Judge, Diplomat |
Education
Coomaraswamy was the son of K.Coomaraswamy, a medical doctor serving the then Straits Settlements Medical Service from 1916 and retired in 1955.[3] He received his early education at the English College in Johor and later obtained his law degree from the University of Nottingham in England.[4]
Career
Coomaraswamy worked in Braddell Brothers as a lawyer during 1960s. Between 1958 and 1960, he was appointed as the Honorary Secretary of Singapore Bar Council and was a visiting lecturer in University of Singapore (now National University of Singapore) between 1959 and 1969.[2] Between 1961 and 1969, he was a lecturer in Board of Legal Education, Singapore.[2][5]
In February 1966, he was appointed as the Deputy Speaker of Parliament and in August of the same year, he was appointed as the Speaker of Parliament.[2][6] He was the Acting President of Singapore between 5 March and 5 May 1968.[2][7] Dr Yeoh Ghim Seng took over as the Speaker of the Parliament in 1970.[7]
His first appointment with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was between January 1970 and July 1973 as the High Commissioner to India, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bangladesh.[5][7] Between July 1973 and September 1976, he was the High Commissioner to Australia and Fiji and between October 1976 to August 1984, he was appointed as the Ambassador to United States and Brazil.[2][8][9][10]
He served as a Supreme Court judge between 7 September 1984[5][11] and October 1993.[2][4][12]
Family and death
Coomaraswamy married Kaila and had 3 children from the marriage.[5] He died in his sleep on 8 January 1999 after a bout of lung problems.[2][13] One of his sons, Vinodh Coomaraswamy, is currently a judge in the Court of Appeal of Singapore.[14]
Awards
- 1946: Pacific War (1941 to 1945) Medal (United Kingdom)[2]
- 1976: Public Service Star Award[2][9]
- 1980: Meritorious Service Medal[2][15]
Reference
- "Speakers of Parliament". Parliament of Singapore. Archived from the original on 21 January 2020.
Scroll to bottom and expand the list of former Deputy Speaker
- "Punch Coomaraswamy". nlb.gov.sg. 2016. Archived from the original on 6 September 2019.
- "Doctor served for 37 years". The Straits Times. 19 November 1961. p. 2.
- "Punch Coomaraswamy to be appointed Supreme Court judge". Singapore Monitor. 6 May 1984. p. 3.
- "Home – after 14 years abroad". The Straits Times. 6 May 1984. p. 9.
- "Deputy Speaker takes over in Spore". The Straits Times. 18 August 1966. p. 11.
- "S'pore names envoy to Bangla". The Straits Times. 16 June 1972. p. 7.
- "Singapore Ambassadors to the United States of America". Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 4 September 2019. Archived from the original on 6 September 2019.
- "Punch named new envoy to US". The Straits Times. 12 August 1976. p. 8.
- "Punch also envoy to Brazil". BUSINESS TIMES. 11 December 1976. p. 12.
- "Former envoy Punch sworn in as judge". The Straits Times. 8 September 1984. p. 15.
- "After nine years, Justice Punch Coomaraswamy retires from Bench". The Straits Times. 1 October 1993. p. 3.
- "Ex-envoy and High Court judge dies". The Straits Times. 9 January 1999. p. 51.
- Appointment of Judicial Commissioner Vinodh Coomaraswamy as Judge of the Supreme Court of Singapore, Supreme Court of Singapore, 24 June 2013, archived from the original on 26 June 2013.
- "Buang and Punch get top honours". The Straits Times. 9 August 1980. p. 11.
External links
Parliament of Singapore | ||
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Preceded by Dr Fong Kim Heng |
Deputy Speaker of the Parliament of Singapore 1966 |
Succeeded by Dr Yeoh Ghim Seng |
Preceded by Arumugam Ponnu Rajah |
Speaker of the Parliament of Singapore 1966-1968 |
Succeeded by Dr Yeoh Ghim Seng |
Political offices | ||
Preceded by Yusof Ishak as President of Singapore |
President of Singapore (Acting) 1968 |
Succeeded by Yusof Ishak as President of Singapore |
Diplomatic posts | ||
Preceded by Ernest Steven Monteiro |
Ambassador of Singapore to the United States 1976-1984 |
Succeeded by Prof. Tommy Koh |