Justice Mota Singh - Sikhs The Supreme

Can you expect a judge from England sans wig and wearing turban? Answer to this question is yes, there is. It is really surprising but it is fact that Justice Mota Singh was the first and the only judge to wear a turban (white) instead of a wig.

HJustice Mota Singh has many distinctions to his credit. Apart from being the FIRST ASIAN JUDGE of a British Court, he has also the honour of being the Queen's Counsel, Member of the Parliament of Kenya and Secretary of the Law Society of Kenya. He recalls that at that time he was the first and the only judge with a turban sans wig. He was born and brought up in Kenya. He left for England in 1954 to study Law. After that he returned to Kenya and practiced for eight years. Then he became Member of Parliament and Secretary of the Law Society of Kenya. In 1965, The Mighty Sikhs / 165 he left for England and started practicing at Bar. Within 11 years, he became the Queen's Counsel. Subsequently, he was elevated first as a part time, then a full time judge, which earned him the honour of being the first judge in England from any Ethnic Minority Community. After retirement he settled in England.

During his tenure as a judge, he received respect and affection from everyone he came in contact. His superb achievements have raised the profile of Asian community in the west. This first Asian jugde of UK, who is also the lawyer of the Queen was honoured with 'KNIGHTHOOD', the highest civilian award of UK, in December 2009, alongwith some other prominent Sikhs viz. Paramjit Pal Singh Bassi, Sujinder Singh Sangha. Now 'SIR' is added at the beginning of their names. He retired as a crown court judge. He retired as a Crown Court Judge one level below the High Court. Now again history repeated itself when Justice Rabinder Singh was appointed as a First Asian Judge to the High Court of UK, one of the country’s most influential and prestigious legal appointments. Now he is automatically running for Chief Justice as and when the post becomes vacant. He is a leading human rights lawyer, who successfully appeared on behalf of Indian doctors in an immigration case in 2002.

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