Court orders fact-finding probe by Bar members, seeks structural safety report, and asks State to spell out immediate repair plan and timeline
Gangtok, Sept. 22, 2026: The Sikkim High Court on Monday took suo motu cognizance of the deteriorating infrastructure at the Sikkim Government Law College, Burtuk, Gangtok, and directed urgent fact-finding and safety assessment measures to address the concerns raised by students and former students.
A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice A. Muhamed Mustaque and Justice Bhaskar Raj Pradhan initiated the public interest litigation based on a representation submitted on September 11, 2026, to the Chief Justice by former students and members of the Representative Council of the law college.
During the hearing, the Bench interacted with three students of the college — Tilak Sharma, a fifth-year law student, Bibachana Rai, a fourth-year student, and Shrijan Pradhan, also a fourth-year student — who highlighted the poor condition of the institution and placed photographs before the Court showing the dilapidated state of the building.
After hearing the students and the Additional Advocate General for the State, the Court identified several pressing concerns. These included the structural stability of the college building, inadequate library facilities as per Bar Council of India requirements, absence of moot court halls, lack of a proper conference hall or auditorium for seminars, no hostel facilities, insufficient washrooms and toilets, and the absence of sports facilities.
Observing that these issues required immediate factual verification, the High Court directed the constitution of a Fact-Finding Committee comprising members of the Bar Associations of Sikkim. The committee will be headed by Senior Advocate Karma Thinlay Namgyal as Convenor, with Senior Advocate Tashi Rapten Barfungpa, Deputy Solicitor General of India Sangita Pradhan, and Advocates Zola Megi and Kazi Sangay Thupden as members.
The committee has been tasked with conducting an inquiry into the lack of facilities at the law college and submitting a report before the Court.
In addition, the Bench directed the Structural Engineer of the Buildings & Housing Department, Government of Sikkim, to immediately inspect the law college building and file a report on its structural stability at the next hearing.
The Court also asked the State Government to place on record the measures it proposes to take and the timeline for implementing those measures. Meanwhile, it recorded the statement of the Additional Advocate General that arrangements had been made to conduct both offline and online classes for the students.
The matter has been posted for further hearing on September 29, 2026.
Bottom Line :
Suo motu PIL concerning dilapidated infrastructure of Sikkim Government Law College - High Court directed constitution of a Fact-Finding Committee comprising members of the Bar to inquire into deficiencies in infrastructure and facilities, and also directed Structural Engineer of Buildings & Housing Department to inspect building and submit report on structural stability - State Government directed to place on record measures proposed and timeline for rectification, while noting interim arrangement for offline and online classes.
Statutory provision(s): Not specified in the judgment
