Justice A. Muhamed Mustaque: From Kerala Bench to Sikkim's Helm

Justice A. Muhamed Mustaque, born Muhamed Mustaque Ayumantakath, stands as a testament to a multifaceted legal career culminating in his appointment as the 24th Chief Justice of the Sikkim High Court on January 4, 2026. Formerly a judge of the Kerala High Court where he also served as Acting Chief Justice from July 5 to September 21, 2024, Mustaque's journey reflects a blend of rigorous practice in alternative dispute resolution (ADR), international law expertise, and a judicial philosophy emphasizing equity and administrative fairness. "A. Muhamed Mustaque... is an Indian jurist currently serving as the Chief justice of the Sikkim High Court. He is former Judge of the Kerala High Court where he also served as the Acting Chief Justice," notes his Wikipedia profile, corroborated by official notifications. His rulings, particularly in land acquisition and public administration, underscore a commitment to statutory protections over procedural oversights, influencing Kerala's legal landscape before his elevation recommended by the Supreme Court Collegium on December 18, 2025.

Early Life and Education

Born on June 1, 1967, in Thana, Kannur, Kerala, Mustaque was initiated into the legal profession by his father, as hinted in an interview snippet: "I was initiated into the legal profession by my father." Native to Kannur, he pursued a diverse educational path that set him apart. He earned his LLB from Vaikunta Baliga College of Law in Udupi, Karnataka, followed by an LLM from Mahatma Gandhi University, Kerala—specified in one profile as in Labour Law. His international pursuits included a Master 2 in Space and Telecommunication Law from Paris XI University (a French Government-funded program), a course in Private International Law at The Hague Academy of International Law, an advanced course on E-Commerce and Intellectual Property from the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), and mediator training by a European team from the UK and the Mediation and Conciliation Project Committee (MCPC) of the Supreme Court of India.

This global exposure fueled publications, including papers at International Astronautical Congresses in Hyderabad, Daejeon (Korea), and Naples (Italy). "Have many international publications to his credit including papers presented at International Astronautical Congress held in Hyderabad, Daejon in Korea and Naples in Italy," records a court biography. Such credentials positioned him as a scholar-practitioner, bridging domestic litigation with emerging fields like telecom, IP, IT, and space law.

Career Progression

Mustaque enrolled as an advocate on October 1, 1989, practicing for seven years in Kannur's courts and statutory authorities primarily as a litigation lawyer and arbitrator. "Mustaque enrolled as an advocate in 1989 and started practising in various courts and statutory authorities in Kannur and served for around seven years mainly as a litigation lawyer and arbitrator. He served as a mediator at Kerala Mediation Centre," details his profile. As standing counsel for Kannur University, he represented educational institutions, telecom companies, and local authorities across civil, commercial, constitutional, administrative, service, criminal, telecom, IP, and IT laws.

Beyond litigation, he was a faculty for mediation training at the Indian Institute of Arbitration and Mediation (IIAM), a panel arbitrator at ICADR and IIAM, and a member of the International Institute of Space Law and Indian Society of International Law. Administratively, he served as managing editor of the online legal newsletter L.I.N.K (published from Luxembourg), charter member and treasurer of the India International ADR Association, and secretary of the Mediators’ Council of India. "Practised as Ligation Lawyer, Arbitrator and served as a Mediator of Kerala Mediation Center. Was Standing Counsel for Kannur University," echoes another source.

Elevated as an Additional Judge of the Kerala High Court on January 23, 2014, he became permanent on March 10, 2016. From September 18, 2019, he chaired the Computerisation Committee, advancing judicial digitization. His Acting Chief Justice role in 2024 preceded his Sikkim appointment.

Timeline of Key Milestones

Notable Judgments and Contributions

Mustaque's jurisprudence spans administrative law, land rights, and environmental regulation, often prioritizing equity.

Land Acquisition and Compensation

In JOY PULLUKKARA Vs STATE OF KERALA [INDKER00000023354, 2020], he affirmed landowners' rights: "The court determined that compensation must align with the Act 30 of 2013, emphasizing equitable treatment of landowners despite inconsistent agreement clauses, leading to a directive for execution of a sale deed while preserving claims for enhanced compensation." Similarly, in LAKSHMIKUTY AMMA Vs THE DEPUTY COLLECTOR [INDKER00000027255, 2020]: "The court ruled that petitioners were to be considered for solatium and interest in land acquisition cases, emphasizing the relevance of recent jurisprudence in determining their entitlements."

Administrative Fairness and Appointments

DR B SREEKUMAR vs KERALA STATE TEXTILE CORPORATION [IND_HC_KLHC010478882012, 2017] protected legitimate appointments: "The court concluded that the government lacked the authority to review the appointment post-facto based on alleged improper qualifications, emphasizing the board's role in setting qualifications and the absence of clearly defined rules for appointments."

In PRAMEELA vs STATE OF KERALA [INDKER00000088893, 2016]: "The Maintenance Tribunal lacks authority to revoke documents executed prior to the enforcement of the Act, rendering the challenged order unsustainable."

Environmental and Municipal Obligations

M/S. ST.JOSEPH GRANITES Vs KERALA STATE POLLUTIN CONTROL BOARD [INDKER00000006627, 2020]: "The court affirmed that the Kerala State Pollution Control Board has the authority to assess and decide on consent applications based on expert committee reports and public objections."

K.M.IQBAL KHAN Vs THE KAYAMKULAM MUNICIPALITY [INDKER00000063591, 2020] directed timely payments: "Writ petition disposed directing Municipality to assess and respond to petitioner's representations within four weeks."

Other cases like KUNHIMOHAMED .N [INDKER00000204668, 2024] enforced contempt for public works payments.

Judicial Philosophy and Approach

Mustaque's approach, informed by ADR roots, favors procedural fairness and statutory fidelity over post-facto interference. He consistently directs authorities for "timely" decisions, as in A.MOHAMMED BASHEER [INDKER00000276356, 2022]: "The court directed the Government to review and decide on the petitioners' claim... within two months." His equity lens—"inadvertent omissions in agreements cannot disadvantage landowners" JOY PULLUKKARA Vs STATE OF KERALA - Supreme(Online)(KER) 2020 33616 —reflects a progressive stance. As Computerisation Committee Chair, he modernized Kerala HC, aligning with his tech-law background.

Impact and Legacy

Mustaque's rulings standardized compensation with solatium/interest, curbed arbitrary reviews, and bolstered pollution board autonomy, aiding Kerala's development projects. His ADR emphasis promotes mediation, reducing backlogs. Digitization efforts enhanced access. Now in Sikkim, his leadership promises efficiency.

Conclusion

Justice Mustaque's elevation encapsulates a career of intellectual depth and fairness. From Kannur practitioner to Sikkim CJ, he embodies judicial evolution, poised to shape northeastern jurisprudence.