History of Sikkim Government Law College

“A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots.”            Marcus Gravey              

The Profoundly esteemed professional institution Sikkim Government Law College celebrated its 40th birth anniversary on 24th of September 2020. It is my profound pleasure to bring in front of you all the rich history of SGLC, its contribution towards society and its achievements.
Sikkim Government Law College popularly known as SGLC is anassumed and the first professional institute established in the State of Sikkim. It is the second oldest college throughout the state. This, in itself proves that SGLC has aresplendenthistory.The institution has come a long way from anevening school at a rented building to one of the esteemed professional institute in the State today.
The institution was established on 24th September 1980. Initially, the institution was affiliated to North Bengal University and had 3 years LLB course after graduation. Initially,the instituteran an evening college so as to provide feasibility to government service holders to study who were already graduate and placed in Sikkim government services and to those enthusiasts who had an interest to opt and avail law courses so as to provide such interested persons scope in the arena of judiciary, administration and legal practice.
In the initial days of its establishment the college ran its classes in Old West Point School below Banshilal Petrol Pump, Gangtok, today popularly known as “Hungry Jack”. Later on, it was shifted to Kazi Road in a private building. It took a long span of time for the institution to get its own premises. It was only in the year 2007 that the college shifted to its present premises on a State-owned Government Building.
This institution has been recognized under University Grant Commission since 1993 and have been granted the status of University under Section 2(f) and 12(b) of the University Grant Commission Act, 1956. In the year 1996 the law college transformed its 3-yearsLLB course to 5-years integrated B.ALL.B course after completion of Higher Secondary education.
Due to absence of any university in the State till 2007 the college was affiliated to North Bengal University since its inception. In 2008 the institution got affiliated to Sikkim University by virtue of Sikkim University Act, 2007 passed by the Indian Parliament. It was from the year 2014 that the college introduced B.ALL. Bhonor course under Sikkim University Regulation Act, by way of amendment being made time and again.The institution has produced many academicians, bureaucrats, judicial officers, police officers, lawyers, politicians and many more.There are many dignified personnel within the State and in other States of the country who were at one point of time student of this profoundly esteemed institution and there are many more alumni of this institution who have been doing their part in contributing towards society.
Talking about the achievements of the institution NSS Cell SGLC has been constantly organizing an awareness programs on various themes in order to aware public at large. Accordingly, Legal Aid Cell, SGLC has taken an initiative of imparting legal education to the public at large by organizing various awareness programs at different places. Furthermore, the institute is also actively initiating a means and ways to work on environmental issues by carrying out cleanliness drive and awareness program. The institution within a short span of formation of Moot Court Society SGLC, which is indeed pivotal in furnishing the drafting and litigating quality, the team that was sent were able to grab Best Memorial in a National Moot Court Competition organized by Delhi Metropolitan Education. The institute also sends the team to different Schools of Law established throughout the country for national mooting competition. Adding to it the team has also enthusiastically participated in a virtual mooting organized by School of Law, Sharda University this year itself. The institute has also successfully organized 1st National Moot Court Competition in collaboration with NHRC and intra moot court competition consecutively for two years. The students have also grabbed various awards in the field of debate, quiz, essay and other extra curriculum.
Despite of an institution getting its own premises the institution lacks infrastructural facilities till date. However, with the collaboration of concerned department the institution has a belief that in the impending days the overall infrastructural development takes place whereby the institution will have its own auditorium, playground, hostel facilities, quarters for teachers and many more.
The institution indeed carries a rich history and moves on making its history an affluent one as I believe it gives society more of a learned counsels and intellectuals in days to come.

(Compiled By: Dew Kumar Chettri, former member of Students Representative Council, Sikkim Government Law College)