Page 10 - High_Court_Of_Sikkim_Museum_ebook_Final_2024

FOREWORD

1. The Judicial system of Sikkim has passed through different phases in the course
of its evolution and development to the present stage. Prior to its merger with
the Union of India in the year 1975, the erstwhile Sikkim was under monarchy for
the past over three centuries. The period of monarchy was, in turn, preceded
by some primitive and ancient system of governance that might have
developed depending on the nature of society that was then in existence. Our
knowledge about this period of remote past is too little and too limited. It is
aptly said that much of the past history of Judicial System and Judicial
Institutions of Sikkim is lost in the mist of antiquity.

2. It is said that past is the store house of information and knowledge and without
knowledge of the past we would be like a wayfarer who does not remember
the route by which he had travelled; he would know just where he stands, but
not where he came from. It thus follows that one cannot be an intelligent
citizen without knowing something about the origin and development of the
different phases of contemporary civilization. It is, however, a matter of
concern that in our State we seem to have given little or no importance to the
history of our land and people since the pre-historic period even when it is so
important and so relevant.

3. It is in this background that the need to take suitable measures to protect and
preserve the past judicial history of the State in the interest of one and all
assumed importance a long time ago. However, the matter of such an
importance was taken note of and given due attention only in the year 2016
on and after the assumption of office by Hon’ble Dr. Justice Satish Kumar
Agnihotri as the Chief Justice of the High Court of Sikkim. It is thus under the
initiative taken and a vision conceived by the present Chief Justice that a
Museum Committee was constituted with a view to establish a High Court of
Sikkim Museum in the Old (1910) Chief Justice Bungalow located in
Baluwakhani, Gangtok which in itself is a heritage building.

4. The Museum Committee, soon after its establishment and under the able
guidance of the Hon’ble Chief Justice commenced the work of tracing out
and collecting different items of articles such as historical documents, old
photographs of Buildings where the High Court was housed in the initial years
after its establishment in the year 1955 along with such other items of articles
and artefacts as may throw light on the past history of the judicial system and
judiciary of the State. In this regard, the cooperation extended to the museum
by the Namgyal Institute of Tibetology by making available documents of
historical importance and the Department of Culture by sparing a technical
officer to supervise the work of different galleries of the museum has been
noteworthy. The other departments to which the Museum Committee is deeply
indebted for their support in giving full and final shape to the project are the
State Jail and Directorate of Handicrafts and Handlooms. It was through their