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Highness the Maharaja of Sikkim by His Excellency the Viceroy (vide extracts
from letter No. 2283 dated 2.8.1895 from Government of Bengal to
Government of India)
Between this period Sikkim was virtually under the superintendence of the
Political Officer in Sikkim to assist the Maharaja in Council and it was during
this period that all administrative reforms were undertaken and carried out in

the State.
18 July 1906  Extract of the Council Meeting held at the Residency, Gangtok reflects that
th
certain Kazis and Thikadars (Adda Courts) were invested with higher judicial
powers, divided into four classes and their pecuniary jurisdiction were
defined.
th
28 July 1906  This order of the Maharaja in Council limits and clearly defines the judicial
powers of the Kazis, Lamas and Thiccadars. That vide the said Order of the
Maharaja in Council pecuniary jurisdictions were defined.
 Serious offences were to be tried in the Court of the Political agent.
 Everybody had right of appeal to the Court of His Highness the Maharaja
and the Political Agent.

1910-1911  Administrative Report of the Sikkim State shows that the Court of the Political
Officer conducted trials of only British subjects and of serious criminal
offences while the other cases were tried before the Court of the H.H.
Maharaja.
 In the same period one “Indian Panchayat” was also formed consisting “of
Four Indians, (one as President), one Nepali and one Sikkimite as members”.
The Indian Panchayat was empowered to try petty civil and criminal cases

in which British subjects were the Defendants.
1916  The Sikkim Chief Court came into existence. It started hearing appeals
against the decisions of the lower courts i.e. the Courts of Kazis, Lamas,
Thikadars known as the “Adda Courts” exercising the powers simultaneously
with the Court of Political officer.

 The Chief Court also exercised original jurisdiction in both civil and criminal
matters.
1 April, 1923  Sikkim State Judicial Department Form no. II of Order of H.H. Maharaja of
st
Sikkim for vesting the powers of Munsiff for the trial of suits and clearly
defining their powers.
1 April, 1923  Sikkim State Judicial Department Form no. III of Order of H.H. Maharaja of
st
Sikkim for vesting the powers of criminal courts. The Courts of Magistrate

were divided into four classes.
 While the Court of Magistrates of 1 class were given the power of
st

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