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Knighthood for UK’s first Sikh judge Mota Singh 

Mota Singh, the UK’s first Sikh and Asian Judge, was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II last Thursday, receiving the highest civilian honour for his services to the administration of justice and community relations. 

“I really feel humbled. It is such a great honour. It means recognition of the services rendered to the British community at large,” an elated Mota Singh, who is also a Queen’s Counsel, told PTI. 

His decision to wear a white turban in court, instead of a wig, came to be seen as a sign of a multicultural Britain. A Ramgarhia Sikh, 79year-old Mota Singh was raised and educated in Nairobi, Kenya. In 1954, he moved to England to compete the remaining part of his study in law. He joined the English Bar in 1967 and within months, developed a successful practice in civil law. He will now be known as Sir Mota Singh.  

Mota Singh, who had said that he never experienced racism in Britain when he became the country’s first Sikh and Asian judge in 1982, was knighted by Queen Elizabeth in her New Year Honours List 2010.

6 January 2010
 

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