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Justice
Choor Singh
Justice Choor Singh
Judge of the Supreme Court of Singapore
	In office; 28 August 1963 – 30 November 1980
Personal details
Born	Choor Singh Sidhu; 1911?; India
Died	31 March 2009 (age 98); Singapore
Nationality	Singaporean
Committees	Founder, patron and honorary chairman, board of trustees, Singapore Khalsa Association

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Choor Singh Sidhu (1911? – 31 March 2009), known professionally as Choor Singh, was a judge of the Supreme Court of Singapore and, after his retirement from the Bench, a philanthropist and writer of books about Sikhism. After completing his secondary education at Raffles Institution in 1929, he worked as a clerk in a law firm and then in the Official Assignee's office as a civil servant. Following law studies at Gray's Inn, he became a district judge in 1960 and was appointed a judge of the Supreme Court in 1963. Particularly noted for his criminal judgments, Choor Singh was the first Singapore judge to impose the death penalty on a woman. Following his retirement in 1980, Choor Singh involved himself in Sikh religious affairs. He founded the Singapore Khalsa Association and served as patron and honorary chairman of its board of trustees. He also contributed to Sikh educational charities, and wrote several books on Sikhism. In 1994, the Sikh community bestowed on him its highest honour by inviting him to lay the foundation stone for the new Gurdwara Sahib building at the Gurdwara Khalsa Dharmak Sabha at 18 Niven Road.

Childhood, education and early career

Born in India, Choor Singh Sidhu came to Singapore at the age of four years with his mother and sister to join his father who was already employed there as a night watchman in a godown near Boat Quay by the Singapore River. He attended Pearl's Hill School and Outram School, then completed his secondary education at Raffles Institution in 1929. He worked for three years as a clerk in a law firm, after which he joined the Government Clerical Services and was posted to the Official Assignee's office. Interested in the law, he read law books in his leisure time and began saving money to study law in England. This proved to be unnecessary; following a change in the rules, he was able to enrol as an external student at Gray's Inn.^[1]^[2] In 1949 he became a Barrister-at-Law and was appointed a magistrate that year, becoming the first Indian to hold such a position in colonial Malaya.^[3]^[4]

Choor Singh was one of the founder members of the Sri Guru Nanak Sat Sang Sabha (the Congregation of Sri Guru Nanak's Company) which was registered on 26 June 1953. The Gurdwara Sri Guru Nanak Satsang Sabha in Katong was built for this congregation in 1969.^[5]

Judicial career

In 1960, Choor Singh became a district judge, and in that year published a book called Gaming in Malaya on the Common Gaming Houses Ordinances of the Federation of Malaya and Singapore. Three years later, on 28 August 1963, he was appointed a judge of the Supreme Court.^[6] During his 17-year career on the Bench, 105 of his judgments were reported in the law reports.^[7] Particularly noted for his criminal judgments, he was known as "the Hanging Judge" for handing down capital sentences. He was the first judge in Singapore to impose the death penalty on a woman, Mimi Wong, a cabaret singer who murdered her Japanese lover's wife in 1970.^[8] In a 1996 interview with The Straits Times, he said: "I'm satisfied that I've made no mistake and that I've done my duty according to the law."^[1] All the five judgments he wrote as a member of the Criminal Court of Appeal were upheld by the Privy Council,^[9] which was then Singapore's highest appellate court.^[1]^[7] Between 1967 and 1979, he was also Commissioner of the Land Acquisition Appeals Board.^[10] He retired as a judge on 30 November 1980.^[6]

Later years

A keen cricketer when younger, following his retirement Choor Singh played golf^[1] and took up gardening.^[2] He also continued his close involvement with Sikh religious affairs. One of the young Sikhs who founded the Singapore Khalsa Association in 1931,^[11] he served as its patron and honorary chairman of the board of trustees.^[12] He also wrote several books on Sikhism, including Bhai Maharaj Singh: Saint-soldier of the Sikh Faith (1991; later edition, 1999), The Sikh Gurus (1991), Understanding Sikhism (1994; later edition, 2001) and Who is a Sikh? (2004).

Placing great importance on learning for his community in Singapore, Choor Singh contributed to their educational charities.^[13] He was a life member of the Singapore Indian Education Trust.^[14] The Sikh community bestowed on him its highest honour by inviting him to lay the foundation stone for the new Gurdwara Sahib building at the Gurdwara Khalsa Dharmak Sabha at 18 Niven Road on 14 August 1994.^[13]^[15]^[16] He also instituted the Justice Choor Singh Gold Medal, which is awarded by the National Institute of Education to the best student teacher in education studies with a distinction in practicum in the final examination for the Postgraduate Diploma in Education (Primary or Secondary) programme.^[17] In 2001, he donated S$140,000 to the Singapore Management University's Centre for Cross-Cultural Studies.^[3]

Choor Singh was an honorary member of the Law Society of Singapore.^[18]

For two years before his death, Choor Singh had found it difficult to walk. He died in his bed on 31 March 2009 aged 98.^[1] Pre-deceased by his wife, Bhagwan Kaur,^[19] in 2004,^[1] he left behind two sons, Duleep Singh Sidhu and Dr. Daljeet Singh Sidhu, and a daughter, Manjeet Kaur Sidhu. The following self-written epitaph was published in his obituary notice in The Straits Times on 1 April 2009:^[19]

I came here by His grace
After toiling in many lower lives.
I have done my duty to my State,
To my community and my Faith.
I leave now as ordained by my fate,
To meet Him and sit at His Lotus feet.

Works

Gaming in Malaya: A Commentary on the Common Gaming Houses Ordinance, 1953, of the Federation of Malaya, and the Common Gaming Houses Ordinance, Cap. 114, of the State of Singapore, Singapore: Malayan Law Journal, 1960, OCLC 207497.
Bhai Maharaj Singh: Saint-soldier of the Sikh Faith, Singapore: Central Sikh Gurdwara Board, 1991. A later edition was published as Bhai Maharaj Singh: Saint-soldier Martyr of the Sikh Faith, Singapore: Central Sikh Gurdwara Board, [1999], OCLC 226181044 {{citation}}: Check date values in: |year= (help).
The Sikh Gurus, Singapore: Sri Guru Nanak Sat Sang Sabha, [1991], OCLC 226154224 {{citation}}: Check date values in: |year= (help).
Understanding Sikhism: The Gospel of the Gurus, Singapore: Central Sikh Gurdwara Board, 1994, OCLC 226156539. A later edition was published as Sikhs and Sikhisms: Understanding Sikhism (the Gospel of the Gurus): A Precise Account of the Religious History of the Sikhs, their Political Heritage and their Aspirations for the Future, Singapore: Central Sikh Gurdwara Board, [2001], OCLC 52630397 {{citation}}: Check date values in: |year= (help).
Amar Shaheed Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale: Martyr of the Sikh Faith, Hertfordshire: European Institute of Sikh Studies, 1997, OCLC 42716478.
Who is a Sikh?: And other Essays on Several other Non-Sikh Punjabi Religious Societies other than Hindus and Muslim, Singapore: [Choor Singh Sidhu], 2004, OCLC 308905793.

Notes

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Khushwant Singh (2 April 2009), "Retired judge Choor Singh dies at 98", The Straits Times, p. B3.
^ ^a ^b Khushwant Singh (2 April 2009), Justice Choor Singh: Singapore loses a noble leader, SikhChic.com, archived from the original on 5 April 2009, retrieved 5 April 2009.
^ ^a ^b Singapore Management University launches Centre for Cross-Cultural Studies: Justice Choor Singh kicks off launch with $140,000 donation to Centre, Singapore Management University, 18 January 2001, archived from the original on 4 April 2009, retrieved 4 April 2009.
^ Another source states that while studying for his degree, Choor Singh was appointed an assistant coroner in 1948, became a full coroner two years later, and was called to the Bar in 1955: Khushwant Singh, "Justice Choor Singh: Singapore loses a noble leader", SikhChic.com.
^ Gurdwara Sri Guru Nanak Satsang Sabha (Katong), All About Sikhs: Your Gateway to Sikhism, archived from the original on 5 April 2009, retrieved 5 April 2009.
^ ^a ^b Former judges of the Republic of Singapore, Supreme Court of Singapore, 3 April 2009, retrieved 4 April 2009 {{citation}}: |archive-date= requires |archive-url= (help); Unknown parameter |archiverurl= ignored (help).
^ ^a ^b Chan Sek Keong (1 April 2009), Retired Justice Choor Singh [letter from the Chief Justice of Singapore to retired Justice Choor Singh's family], Supreme Court of Singapore, archived from the original on 4 April 2009, retrieved 4 April 2009, para. 6.
^ An appeal against his judgment was dismissed by the Court of Appeal in 1972: see Wong Mimi v Public Prosecutor [1972–1974] S.L.R. 73.
^ Two of these judgments were Ong Ah Chuan v. Public Prosecutor [1981] 1 M.L.J. 64 (the Privy Council's judgment is also reported at [1980–1981] S.L.R. 48 and [1981] A.C. 648); and Tan Ah Tee v. Public Prosecutor [1978–1979] S.L.R. 211, which was upheld by the Privy Council on appeal in Haw Tua Tau v. Public Prosecutor [1980–1981] S.L.R. 73, [1981] 2 M.L.J. 49, [1982] A.C. 136.
^ Our people, 15 January 2008, archived from the original on 5 April 2009, retrieved 5 April 2009.
^ Who was Singapore's first NRI [Non-resident Indian]?, NRI Internet.com, archived from the original on 5 April 2009, retrieved 5 April 2009.
^ "Retired Justice Choor Singh [condolence notice]", The Straits Times, p. B12, 2 April 2009, For his unstinting Commitment to Community and Faith. ... Our Founder, Patron & Honorary Chairman – Board of Trustees[,] Singapore Khalsa Association ... From: Patrons, Board of Trustees[,] Management Committees & Staff of Singapore Khalsa Association and Khalsa Dharmak Sabha.
^ ^a ^b Retired Justice Choor Singh [letter from the Chief Justice of Singapore to retired Justice Choor Singh's family], paras. 7 and 8.
^ Life members, Singapore Indian Education Trust, archived from the original on 5 April 2009, retrieved 5 April 2009.
^ Retired Justice Choor Singh [letter from the Chief Justice of Singapore to retired Justice Choor Singh's family], paras. 7 and 8.
^ Gurdwara Khalsa Dharmak Sabha, All About Sikhs: Your Gateway to Sikhism, archived from the original on 4 April 2009, retrieved 4 April 2009.
^ Prizes and awards, National Institute of Education, archived from the original on 5 April 2009, retrieved 5 April 2009.
^ Honorary members, Law Society of Singapore, archived from the original on 5 April 2009, retrieved 5 April 2009.
^ ^a ^b "Retired Justice Choor Singh [obituary notice]", The Straits Times, p. B14, 1 April 2009.

References

Chan, Sek Keong (1 April 2009), Retired Justice Choor Singh [letter from the Chief Justice of Singapore to retired Justice Choor Singh's family], Supreme Court of Singapore, archived from the original on 4 April 2009, retrieved 4 April 2009.
Singh, Khushwant (2 April 2009), "Retired judge Choor Singh dies at 98", The Straits Times, p. B3.

@@ Line 28: / Line 28: @@
 ==Judicial career==
-In 1960, Choor Singh became a district judge, and in that year published a book called ''Gaming in Malaya'' on the Common Gaming Houses Ordinances of the [[Federation of Malaya]] and Singapore. Three years later, on 28 August 1963, he was appointed a judge of the [[Supreme Court of Singapore|Supreme Court]].<ref name="Former judges">{{citation|title=Former judges of the Republic of Singapore|url=http://app.supremecourt.gov.sg/default.aspx?pgID=2621|archiverurl=http://www.webcitation.org/5flRIkfkd|archivedate=4 April 2009|publisher=[[Supreme Court of Singapore]]|date=3 April 2009|accessdate=4 April 2009}}.</ref> During his 17-year career on the Bench, 105 of his judgments were reported in the law reports.<ref name="CSK letter">{{citation|author=[[Chan Sek Keong]]|title=Retired Justice Choor Singh &#91;letter from the Chief Justice of Singapore to retired Justice Choor Singh's family&#93;|url=http://www.singaporelawwatch.sg/remweb/legal/ln2/rss/commentaries/61493.html|archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/5flRgIene|archivedate=4 April 2009|publisher=Supreme Court of Singapore|date=1 April 2009|accessdate=4 April 2009}}, para. 6.</ref> Particularly noted for his criminal judgments, he was known as "the Hanging Judge" for handing down [[capital punishment in Singapore|capital sentences]]. He was the first judge in Singapore to impose the death penalty on a woman, Mimi Wong, a cabaret singer who murdered her Japanese lover's wife in 1970.<ref>An appeal against his judgment was dismissed by the Court of Appeal in 1972: see ''Wong Mimi v Public Prosecutor'' [1972–1974] S.L.R. 73.</ref> In a 1996 interview with ''[[The Straits Times]]'', he said: "I'm satisfied that I've made no mistake and that I've done my duty according to the law."<ref name="ST 20090402"/> All the five judgments he wrote as a member of the Criminal Court of Appeal were upheld by the [[Judicial Committee of the Privy Council|Privy Council]],<ref>Two of these judgments were ''Ong Ah Chuan v. Public Prosecutor'' [1981] 1 M.L.J. 64 (the Privy Council's judgment is also reported at [1980–1981] S.L.R. 48 and [1981] A.C. 648); and ''Tan Ah Tee v. Public Prosecutor'' [1978–1979] S.L.R. 211, which was upheld by the Privy Council on appeal in ''Haw Tua Tau v. Public Prosecutor'' [1980–1981] S.L.R. 73, [1981] 2 M.L.J. 49, [1982] A.C. 136.</ref> which was then Singapore's highest [[appellate court]].<ref name="ST 20090402"/><ref name="CSK letter"/> He retired as a judge on 30 November 1980.<ref name="Former judges"/>
+In 1960, Choor Singh became a district judge, and in that year published a book called ''Gaming in Malaya'' on the Common Gaming Houses Ordinances of the [[Federation of Malaya]] and Singapore. Three years later, on 28 August 1963, he was appointed a judge of the [[Supreme Court of Singapore|Supreme Court]].<ref name="Former judges">{{citation|title=Former judges of the Republic of Singapore|url=http://app.supremecourt.gov.sg/default.aspx?pgID=2621|archiverurl=http://www.webcitation.org/5flRIkfkd|archivedate=4 April 2009|publisher=[[Supreme Court of Singapore]]|date=3 April 2009|accessdate=4 April 2009}}.</ref> During his 17-year career on the Bench, 105 of his judgments were reported in the law reports.<ref name="CSK letter">{{citation|author=[[Chan Sek Keong]]|title=Retired Justice Choor Singh &#91;letter from the Chief Justice of Singapore to retired Justice Choor Singh's family&#93;|url=http://www.singaporelawwatch.sg/remweb/legal/ln2/rss/commentaries/61493.html|archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/5flRgIene|archivedate=4 April 2009|publisher=Supreme Court of Singapore|date=1 April 2009|accessdate=4 April 2009}}, para. 6.</ref> Particularly noted for his criminal judgments, he was known as "the Hanging Judge" for handing down [[capital punishment in Singapore|capital sentences]]. He was the first judge in Singapore to impose the death penalty on a woman, Mimi Wong, a cabaret singer who murdered her Japanese lover's wife in 1970.<ref>An appeal against his judgment was dismissed by the Court of Appeal in 1972: see ''Wong Mimi v Public Prosecutor'' [1972–1974] S.L.R. 73.</ref> In a 1996 interview with ''[[The Straits Times]]'', he said: "I'm satisfied that I've made no mistake and that I've done my duty according to the law."<ref name="ST 20090402"/> All the five judgments he wrote as a member of the Criminal Court of Appeal were upheld by the [[Judicial Committee of the Privy Council|Privy Council]],<ref>Two of these judgments were ''Ong Ah Chuan v. Public Prosecutor'' [1981] 1 M.L.J. 64 (the Privy Council's judgment is also reported at [1980–1981] S.L.R. 48 and [1981] A.C. 648); and ''Tan Ah Tee v. Public Prosecutor'' [1978–1979] S.L.R. 211, which was upheld by the Privy Council on appeal in ''Haw Tua Tau v. Public Prosecutor'' [1980–1981] S.L.R. 73, [1981] 2 M.L.J. 49, [1982] A.C. 136.</ref> which was then Singapore's highest [[appellate court]].<ref name="ST 20090402"/><ref name="CSK letter"/> Between 1967 and 1979, he was also Commissioner of the Land Acquisition Appeals Board.<ref>{{citation|title=Our people|url=http://notesapp.internet.gov.sg/__48256E090042D3DA.nsf/LookupContentDocsByKey/JBON-5VLBLR?OpenDocument|archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/5fn0rqfLb|archivedate=5 April 2009|publisher=|date=15 January 2008|accessdate=5 April 2009}}.</ref> He retired as a judge on 30 November 1980.<ref name="Former judges"/>
 ==Later years==
-A keen [[cricket]]er when younger, following his retirement Choor Singh played golf<ref name="ST 20090402"/> and took up gardening.<ref name=SikhChic/> He also continued his close involvement with [[Sikhism|Sikh]] religious affairs. One of the young Sikhs who founded the Singapore Khalsa Association in 1931,<ref>{{citation|title=Who was Singapore's first NRI [Non-resident Indian]?|url=http://www.nriinternet.com/Section3Who/WhoAsia/Singapore/FirstNRIinSingapore.htm|archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/5fmwL5bGl|archivedate=5 April 2009|publisher=NRI Internet.com|accessdate=5 April 2009}}.</ref> he served as its patron and honorary chairman of the board of trustees.<ref>{{citation|title=Retired Justice Choor Singh [condolence notice]|newspaper=The Straits Times|date=2 April 2009|page=B12|quote=For his unstinting Commitment to Community and Faith. ... Our Founder, Patron & Honorary Chairman – Board of Trustees[,] Singapore Khalsa Association ... From: Patrons, Board of Trustees[,] Management Committees & Staff of Singapore Khalsa Association and Khalsa Dharmak Sabha}}.</ref> He also wrote several books on Sikhism, including ''Bhai Maharaj Singh: Saint-soldier of the Sikh Faith'' (1991; later edition, 1999), ''The Sikh Gurus'' (1991), ''Understanding Sikhism'' (1994; later edition, 2001) and ''Who is a Sikh?'' (2004). Placing great importance on learning for his community in Singapore, he contributed to their educational charities. The Sikh community bestowed on him its highest honour by inviting him to lay the foundation stone for the new Gurdwara Sahib building at the Gurdwara Khalsa Dharmak Sabha at 18 Niven Road on 14 August 1994.<ref>Retired Justice Choor Singh [letter from the Chief Justice of Singapore to retired Justice Choor Singh's family], paras. 7 and 8.</ref><ref>{{citation|title=Gurdwara Khalsa Dharmak Sabha|url=http://www.allaboutsikhs.com/world-gurudwaras/gurdwara-khalsa-dharmak-sabha-singapore.html|archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/5flYw1CFs|archivedate=4 April 2009|publisher=All About Sikhs: Your Gateway to Sikhism|accessdate=4 April 2009}}.</ref> In 2001, he donated [[Singapore dollar|S$]]140,000 to the [[Singapore Management University]]'s Centre for Cross-Cultural Studies.<ref name=SMU/>
+A keen [[cricket]]er when younger, following his retirement Choor Singh played golf<ref name="ST 20090402"/> and took up gardening.<ref name=SikhChic/> He also continued his close involvement with [[Sikhism|Sikh]] religious affairs. One of the young Sikhs who founded the Singapore Khalsa Association in 1931,<ref>{{citation|title=Who was Singapore's first NRI [Non-resident Indian]?|url=http://www.nriinternet.com/Section3Who/WhoAsia/Singapore/FirstNRIinSingapore.htm|archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/5fmwL5bGl|archivedate=5 April 2009|publisher=NRI Internet.com|accessdate=5 April 2009}}.</ref> he served as its patron and honorary chairman of the board of trustees.<ref>{{citation|title=Retired Justice Choor Singh [condolence notice]|newspaper=The Straits Times|date=2 April 2009|page=B12|quote=For his unstinting Commitment to Community and Faith. ... Our Founder, Patron & Honorary Chairman – Board of Trustees[,] Singapore Khalsa Association ... From: Patrons, Board of Trustees[,] Management Committees & Staff of Singapore Khalsa Association and Khalsa Dharmak Sabha}}.</ref> He also wrote several books on Sikhism, including ''Bhai Maharaj Singh: Saint-soldier of the Sikh Faith'' (1991; later edition, 1999), ''The Sikh Gurus'' (1991), ''Understanding Sikhism'' (1994; later edition, 2001) and ''Who is a Sikh?'' (2004).
+Placing great importance on learning for his community in Singapore, Choor Singh contributed to their educational charities.<ref name="CSK letter 7-8">Retired Justice Choor Singh [letter from the Chief Justice of Singapore to retired Justice Choor Singh's family], paras. 7 and 8.</ref> He was a life member of the Singapore Indian Education Trust.<ref>{{citation|title=Life members|url=http://www.siet-trust.org.sg/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=54&Itemid=60&limitstart=1|archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/5fn0Ql4ww|archivedate=5 April 2009|publisher=Singapore Indian Education Trust|accessdate=5 April 2009}}.</ref> The Sikh community bestowed on him its highest honour by inviting him to lay the foundation stone for the new Gurdwara Sahib building at the Gurdwara Khalsa Dharmak Sabha at 18 Niven Road on 14 August 1994.<ref name="CSK letter 7-8"/><ref>Retired Justice Choor Singh [letter from the Chief Justice of Singapore to retired Justice Choor Singh's family], paras. 7 and 8.</ref><ref>{{citation|title=Gurdwara Khalsa Dharmak Sabha|url=http://www.allaboutsikhs.com/world-gurudwaras/gurdwara-khalsa-dharmak-sabha-singapore.html|archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/5flYw1CFs|archivedate=4 April 2009|publisher=All About Sikhs: Your Gateway to Sikhism|accessdate=4 April 2009}}.</ref> He also instituted the Justice Choor Singh Gold Medal, which is awarded by the [[National Institute of Education]] to the best student teacher in education studies with a distinction in [[practicum]] in the final examination for the Postgraduate Diploma in Education (Primary or Secondary) programme.<ref>{{citation|title=Prizes and awards|url=http://www.nie.edu.sg/itt_hb/web/2006/gi06/prizes.html|archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/5fn02GSPZ|archivedate=5 April 2009|publisher=[[National Institute of Education]]|accessdate=5 April 2009}}.</ref> In 2001, he donated [[Singapore dollar|S$]]140,000 to the [[Singapore Management University]]'s Centre for Cross-Cultural Studies.<ref name=SMU/>
+Choor Singh was an honorary member of the [[Law Society of Singapore]].<ref>{{citation|title=Honorary members|url=http://www.lawsociety.org.sg/about/organisation_structure/presidentHonMember.aspx|archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/5fmzJSx7d|archivedate=5 April 2009|publisher=[[Law Society of Singapore]]|accessdate=5 April 2009}}.</ref>
 For two years before his death, Choor Singh had found it difficult to walk. He died in his bed on 31 March 2009 aged 98.<ref name="ST 20090402"/> Pre-deceased by his wife, Bhagwan Kaur,<ref name="ST obituary">{{citation|title=Retired Justice Choor Singh [obituary notice]|newspaper=The Straits Times|date=1 April 2009|page=B14}}.</ref> in 2004,<ref name="ST 20090402"/> he left behind two sons, Duleep Singh Sidhu and Dr. Daljeet Singh Sidhu, and a daughter, Manjeet Kaur Sidhu. The following self-written epitaph was published in his obituary notice in ''[[The Straits Times]]'' on 1 April 2009:<ref name="ST obituary"/>