Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang-Golay and Chief Justice of the High Court of Sikkim and Chancellor of Sikkim National Law University, Justice Biswanath Somadder, jointly inaugurated the Sikkim National Law University at SICUN, Assam Lingzey.
The event was attended by Justice Meenakshi Madan Rai and Justice Bhaskar Raj Pradhan of the High Court of Sikkim, Education and Law Minister Raju Basnet, Labour Minister Bhim Hang Limboo, MLA Pamin Lepcha, Vice Chancellor Dr Achina Kundu, along with former judges, senior officials, members of the Bar Association of Sikkim, and representatives of the University’s governing and executive councils.
The University, established to expand opportunities for aspiring students from Sikkim and across the country, commenced its first academic session 2025–26 on September 1, 2025, offering BA LLB (Honours) and LLM programmes. Prof Dr Achina Kundu has assumed charge as the first Vice-Chancellor, while Sonam Denka Wangdi has been appointed Registrar. Academic operations have begun at the Sikkim Judicial Academy, with the permanent campus identified at Assam Lingzey.
In his address, the Chief Minister described the establishment of the University as a milestone for legal education in the State, stating that it would strengthen justice delivery and enable students to pursue quality education closer to home. He also announced measures including the creation of the Directorate of Prosecution and the launch of the Kanooni Sahyog Abhiyan, a legal services outreach programme. The Nari Adalat, introduced in August 2025, was highlighted as a community-based, women-led justice forum.
The Chief Minister noted Sikkim’s No. 1 ranking among small States in the India Justice Report 2025 and credited the judiciary, police, prison authorities, and legal services institutions for the achievement.
Justice Biswanath Somadder described the University as an important step for Sikkim, emphasising its focus on supporting students of Sikkimese origin and envisioning it as a model institution among National Law Universities in the country.
