Britain's first Judge from the sub-continent - a man known for his outspoken and uncompromising views - was named on Thursday, December 31, 2009 for the country's topmost honour. Hi Honour Judge Mota Singh, who once shredded the US-led war on terror in an address at the US embassy in London, was named for a knighthood in the British Queen's New Year's Honours List.
The Sardar, 79, who will be officially known as Sir Mota Singh from now on, was knighted for "services to the administration of justice, community relations and to the voluntary sector".
Mota Singh hit the headlines in 1967 when he appeared in a British court as a turban-wearing barrister. In 1982, upon becoming Britain's first Asian judge, he again insisted on wearing his turban rather than the traditional judge's wig to court.
His white turban has become the trademark of his public appearances.
In 2007, when asked to deliver a lecture as chief guest at a Baisakhi Day celebration at the US embassy in London, he said that while he had no objections to America's pursuit of terrorists to bring them to justice, "an unfortunate and inevitable consequence of this otherwise illegitimate policy has been the escalation rather than the curtailment of terrorist activity".
Judge Mota Singh also said he was "appalled" by violent incidents against some Sikhs in America in the aftermath of 9/11, because of their "visual resemblance" to a few Arabs who were turbans.
[You can read his entire speech if you go to the HISTORY Section of sikhchic.com and click on article, "Justice Mota Singh Speaks Out".]
[From report by Dipankar de Sarkar]
December 31, 2009
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