HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT SIKKIM

• Born on 1st June 1967, Native of Thana, Kannur. Obtained Law Degree from V.B College of Law, Udupi. Obtained L.L.M from M.G. University in Labour Law. Enrolled as a lawyer on 1st October 1989. Practised 7 yrs before various courts and statutory authorities in Kannur. Obtained Master 2 in Space and Telecommunication Law, a funded programme of French Government from Paris XI University. Did Private International Law course at Hague Academy of International Law. Did advanced course on E- Commerce and Intellectual Property from WIPO. Trained as mediator by European Team from U.K. and also by MCPC of Supreme Court of India. Have many international publications to his credit including papers presented at International Astronautical Congress held in Hyderabad, Daejon in Korea and Naples in Italy. Attended various professional advancement courses, international conferences and workshop on subject relating to law. Practised as Ligation Lawyer, Arbitrator and served as a Mediator of Kerala Mediation Center. Was Standing Counsel for Kannur University, appeared for educational institutions, telecom companies, local authorities etc. Practised in civil , commercial constitutional, administrative service, criminal, telecommunication, IP and IT Laws. Was a Faculty for training on mediation with IIAM (Indian Institute of Arbitration and Mediation), Panel Arbitrator of ICADR AND IIAM and Member of International Institute of Space Law and Indian Society of International Law. Worked as Managing Editor of online news legal news letter L.I.N.K. Published from Luxembourg, Charter Member and Treasurer of India International ADR Association and Secretary of Mediators' Council of India. Sworn in as Additional Judge of the High court of Kerala on 23rd January, 2014. Appointed as Permanent Judge of the High Court of Kerala with effect from 10th March 2016 . Appointed as Acting Chief Justice of High Court of Kerala with effect from 5th July 2024.
  
  Appointed as the Chief Justice, High Court of Sikkim with effect from 4th January 2026.

Son of late Shri Bhim Raj Pradhan and Mrs. Bindumati Pradhan. Studied at Tashi Namgyal Academy and St. Paul's School, Darjeeling. B.A.(Hons.) from Elphinstone College, Mumbai and LL.B. from Government Law College, Mumbai. Enrolled with the Bar Council of Maharashtra in 1991. Practiced before the Supreme Court of India, High Courts, District Courts, Tribunals and Commissions, handling Civil, Criminal and Constitutional matters. 

Designated as Senior Advocate in the year 2008 at the age of 42.

Elected as General Secretary (2009-2012) and President (2015–elevation) of the Bar Association of Sikkim. Lifetime Member of the Bar Association of India and the Bar Association of Sikkim, and a Member of the Indian Law Institute, New Delhi.

Other Professional Contributions:

• Master Trainer of National Legal Services Authority, New Delhi (July 2015).
• Member of Committee on Sikkim High Court Practice and Procedure Rules amendments.
• Member of Monitoring Committee, District Legal Services Authority East & North Sikkim (2010–elevation).
• Member of High Court Museum Committee (set up Sikkim's first Judicial Museum).
• Rendered pro bono services to Sikkim Legal Services Authority (SLSA).
• Amicus Curiae in various High Court matters.
• Resource Person/Lecturer for SLSA, Sikkim Judicial Academy, Sikkim University and Sikkim Government Law College.
• Joint Coordinator and Contributor of the Criminal Justice India Series, Vol. 18 (Sikkim), published by Allied Publishers in collaboration with NUJS Kolkata, funded by Ford Foundation.

Appointed as a Judge of the High Court of Sikkim on 18 May 2017. Took oath as Judge of the High Court of Sikkim on 23 May 2017.
His Lordship is heading and a part of various Committees since his elevation.

• Judge-in-Charge/Chairperson of the Sikkim Judicial Academy, High Court of Sikkim
• Executive Chairperson of the Sikkim State Legal Services Authority
• Chairperson of High Court Legal Services Committee
• Judge-in-Charge of the Museum Committee, Arrears Committee, Mediation and Conciliation Committee; Building and Infrastructure of all Districts of Sikkim.
• Administrative Judge of all Districts of Sikkim.
• Member of Recruitment Committee to oversee recruitment process of officers/staff of the High Court and all District Courts and also of the Judicial Officers of the State.
• President of the Board of Governors of Sikkim Judicial Academy.
• Chairperson of the Building Committee and Committee for Monitoring the Infrastructure Development in the High Court and Subordinate Courts of Sikkim; Committee for better and effective implementation of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 and Sikkim Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Rules, 2019; Committee to re-visit all High Court Rules as well as Rules for proper management and preservation of the disposed of records for the High Court and Subordinate Courts; State Court Management Systems Committee, Audit Report Committee;  Vehicles Committee; Committee to oversee direction passed in WP(C) No. 538 of 2023 (Rajeeb Kalita vs. UOI); Committee for Ensuring the Implementation of the Decisions of the Apex Court in Satinder Kumar Antil vs. CBI; Finance Committee to oversee finance, budget, expenditure and accounts; Committee for Service Conditions of the District Judiciary (CSCDJ); High Court Level Accessibility Committee.
• Chairman of Steering Committee for implementation of the Information and Communication Technology, Artificial Intelligence Committee, Grievance Redressal Committee in pursuance of order dated 11.05.2026 in BCI vs. High Court of Andhra Pradesh; Committee for publication of the Sikkim Law Reports of the High Court of Sikkim; Editorial Board for publication of Newsletters of the High Court of Sikkim, Advocates’ Welfare Fund Committee, Advisory Board under the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs & Psychotropic Substances Act, 1988,.
• Member of Library Committee, Budget and Purchase Committees, Public Interest Litigation Committee, Committee for Service Conditions of the District Judiciary (CSCDJ), Grievance Committee to address grievances of officers & staff members, Grievance Committee to address the grievances of former Chief Justices and Judges of High Court of Sikkim, Committee for architectural drawings/plans of the proposed parking, offices and cafeteria.
• Judicial Nodal Point at High Court Level in regard to Judicial Infrastructure Advisory Committee (JIAC).