Descendants Cannot Seek Inclusion In Sikkim Subject Register Based Solely On Ancestor's Unused Eligibility: Sikkim High Court

The Sikkim High Court has held that descendants seeking inclusion in the Sikkim Subject Register must establish that their predecessors fulfilled the mandatory requirement of renouncing their former nationality under the Sikkim Subjects Regulation, 1961.A bench of Chief Justice A. Muhamed Mustaque observed:“There is substantial evidence before this Court in the present Writ Petition...

Sikkim High Court Refuses To Revoke Suspension Of Judicial Officer Accused Of Letting Clerk Record Evidence

The Sikkim High Court has rejected a writ petition filed by a Judicial Officer of Sikkim Superior Judicial Service challenging her suspension on allegations that she stayed away from court while letting her Peshkar (clerk) record evidence in open court. The bench of Chief Justice A Muhamed Mustaque observed that the material against the petitioner was being collected, and there is an...

Presence Of Accused's Semen On Victim's Clothes Insufficient To Sustain Rape Conviction Absent Proof Of Penetration: Sikkim High Court

The Sikkim High Court has altered the conviction of a man from offence of rape to that of attempted rape under Section 511 read with Section 376 IPC, noting that even though the accused's semen was present on the victim's clothes, there was an absence of proof for penetration. The division bench of the Chief Justice A Muhamed Mustaque and Justice Bhaskar Raj Pradhan observed that the victim was...

'OK Not To Be OK': Sikkim High Court Cites Demi Lovato Song, Urges State To Strengthen Children's Mental Health Measures After Teen's Suicide

Citing upbeat self-love anthem by singer Demi Lovato and Marshmello— "OK Not To Be Okay", the Sikkim High Court today implored the State government to strengthen its measures for improvement of mental health of children.The "deep sense of worry" was expressed after the division bench of Chief Justice A Muhamed Mustaque and Justice Bhaskar Raj Pradhan read the suicide note of a 16-year-old...

Victim's Birth Certificate Registered 17 Years After Birth Cannot Automatically Establish Minority: Sikkim HC Acquits Man In POCSO Case

The Sikkim High Court has held that a birth certificate registered years after a person's birth cannot automatically be presumed to be correct when statutory requirements under the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969, were not complied with. The division bench of Justice Meenakshi Madan Rai and Justice Bhaskar Raj Pradhan observed that the birth certificate was issued on April 5,...

RTI Applicant Entitled To Recruitment Exam Merit List, Marks Subject To No Social Media Publication: Sikkim High Court

The Sikkim High Court directed the Sikkim Public Service Commission (SPSC) to furnish a consolidated merit list and interview marks of candidates who appeared in the Sikkim Services (Combined Recruitment) Examination, 2022, while recording an undertaking from the RTI applicant that the information would not be published on any social media platform.Recording the SPSC's willingness to comply...

Rape Conviction Can Rest On Victim's Testimony Despite Failed Test Identification Parade, Negative Forensic Report: Sikkim High Court

The High Court of Sikkim has upheld the conviction of a bus driver for rape under Section 376(1) of the Indian Penal Code, holding that the victim's testimony, corroborated by medical evidence and other prosecution witnesses, was sufficient to establish the accused's guilt even though the victim had failed to identify him during a Test Identification Parade (TIP) and the forensic examination...

Centre Notifies Appointment Of Justice Meenakshi Madan Rai As Chief Justice Of Patna High Court

The Central Government on Tuesday (June 2) notified the appointment of Sikkim High Court judge Justice Meenakshi Madan Rai as Chief Justice of Sikkim High Court. Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal took to X (formerly Twitter) to notify the appointment which states:"In exercise of the power conferred by the Constitution of India and in consultation with the Chief Justice of India, the...

SC Collegium Recommends Appointment Of Sikkim HC Judge Meenakshi Rai As Patna HC Chief Justice

The Supreme Court Collegium in its meeting held on 22nd May, 2026 has recommended appointment of Ms. Justice Meenakshi M. Rai, Judge, High Court of Sikkim as Chief Justice, High Court of Judicature at Patna, consequent upon retirement of incumbent Chief Justice on 4th June,...

Suspension Period Treated As Extra-Ordinary Leave Cannot Count Towards Pensionable Service For Convicted Govt Servant: Sikkim High Court

The Sikkim High Court has held that a government servant convicted in a criminal case was not entitled to pension after failing to complete the mandatory 10 years of qualifying service under the Sikkim Services (Pension) Rules, 1990. The Court observed that since the petitioner's suspension period had been validly treated as extra-ordinary leave, it could not be reckoned for qualifying...

Testimony Of Differently-Abled Rape Survivor Cannot Be Discarded For Inability To Name Accused: Sikkim High Court

The Sikkim High Court has held that the testimony of a differently-abled victim in a sexual offence case cannot be discarded merely due to her inability to clearly communicate or identify the accused, stressing that courts must focus on the substance of what is conveyed rather than the manner of expression. The Court observed that failure of a victim with intellectual disability to...

'Partial Penetration Suffices Under POCSO': Sikkim High Court Upholds Conviction Of 60-Year-Old Man For Sexually Assaulting 5-Yr-Old

The Sikkim High Court upheld the conviction of a 60-year-old accused for committing aggravated penetrative sexual assault on a five-year-old child under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 (POCSO Act) Division Bench of Justice Meenakshi Madan Rai and Justice Bhaskar Raj remarked that: “...having prima facie found that, the Appellant, aged about sixty years, had...