Sir Moti Tikaram, KBE, CF (18 March 1925 – 17 May 2012) was an Indo-Fijian judge, civil servant, and football administrator. He was the first Fijian appointed to be a magistrate, and the first appointed as a judge of the High Court of Fiji. From 1972 to 1987 he was Fiji's first ombudsman. He later served as President of the Fiji Court of Appeal.
| Born | 18 March 1925[1] Lami, Colony of Fiji, British Empire |
|---|---|
| Died | 17 May 2012 (aged 87) |
| Education | L.L.B. |
| Occupation(s) | Judge, ombudsman |
| Children | 3 |
Early life
editTikaram was born in Lami near Suva, and was educated at Samabula Government Indian School, Suva Methodist Primary School, and Marist Brothers High School.[2] He studied journalism at the University of Auckland in New Zealand, but switched to law after two years,[2] completing his studies at Victoria University of Wellington and graduating in 1954.[3] He was admitted to the bar in New Zealand in 1954,[4] and in Fiji in 1955.[5] He worked as a lawyer for several years, and successfully defended Tongan MP Samisoni Puliuvea Afuha'amango against a charge of sedition.[2][6]
Legal and judicial career
editHe was appointed a stipendary magistrate in 1959. Following a riot at the Suva gaol in 1963, he was appointed to lead the resulting inquiry, and his recommendations formed the basis of a new prisons law.[7][8] In April 1969 he became the first Fijian-born person to be appointed a judge.[7] Following the retirement of Clifford Hammett, he served as acting Chief Justice of Fiji until replaced by John Nimmo.[9]
In 1972, he was appointed Fiji's first Ombudsman.[3][10] He served in the role until the 1987 Fijian coups d'état, when he retired;[11] at the time of his retirement, he was the longest serving national ombudsman in the world.[2] He was a member of the International Commission of Jurists from 1984 to 1989.[12]
After Fiji became a republic in 1987, he was re-appointed a judge and served for many years as the President of the Fiji Court of Appeal.[13]
Following his death in 2012 the University of Fiji established an annual Sir Moti Tikaram Memorial Lecture in his honour.[14][15]
Football administrator
editTikaram was the President of the Fiji Football Association from 1959 to 1960, and was credited with making the Association multi-racial and initiating moves to have its name changed from Fiji Indian Football Association.[16]
Awards
edit- He was made a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 1980 New Year Honours.[17]
- In 2007, he was awarded the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman by the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs.[2]
- In 2009, was awarded the "Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Award" in New Delhi, India at the Indian Diaspora Celebrations.[18][19]
Family
editHe was the great uncle of actor Ramon Tikaram and singer-songwriter Tanita Tikaram.
References
edit- ^ The Far East and Australasia 1981-82. 1981. ISBN 9780905118666.
- ^ a b c d e Karan, Maneesha (14 February 2007). "Sir Moti relives early days". Fiji Times. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 2007-08-09.
- ^ a b "Fiji's Ombudsman". The Press. 3 March 1972. p. 8. Retrieved 25 April 2023 – via Papers Past.
- ^ "Personal Items". The Press. 9 April 1954. p. 10. Retrieved 25 April 2023 – via Papers Past.
- ^ "News of the Small-Ships". Pacific Islands Monthly. Vol. XXV, no. 7. 1 February 1955. p. 117. Retrieved 25 April 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Tongan M.P. Acquitted On Sedition Charge". The Press. 13 June 1957. p. 11. Retrieved 25 April 2023 – via Papers Past.
- ^ a b "People". Pacific Islands Monthly. Vol. 40, no. 6. 1 June 1969. p. 105. Retrieved 25 April 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Behind Fiji's Prison Troubles". Pacific Islands Monthly. Vol. 36, no. 4. 1 April 1965. p. 59. Retrieved 25 April 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Judge lands in Suva". Canberra Times. 7 February 1972. p. 7. Retrieved 25 April 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Taking scissors to red tape". Pacific Islands Monthly. Vol. 43, no. 4. 1 April 1972. p. 43. Retrieved 25 April 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Rabuka appoints ombudsman". Canberra Times. 26 November 1987. p. 5. Retrieved 25 April 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "International Commission of Jurists". Retrieved 2007-08-09.
- ^ SAKIASI NAWAIKAMA (16 July 2009). "A distinguished path". Fiji Times. Archived from the original on 17 July 2009. Retrieved 18 July 2009.
- ^ "A True Son Of Fiji, Sir Moti Tikaram". Fiji Sun. 18 November 2014. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
- ^ "Sir Moti Tikaram Memorial Lecture". University of Fiji. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
- ^ "How it started". Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2007-08-09.
- ^ "No. 48046". The London Gazette (Supplement). 28 December 1979. p. 35.
- ^ "Sir Moti honoured in India". Retrieved 2009-01-31.
- ^ "Retired Fiji Supreme Court Judge given a prestigious award in India". RNZ. 31 January 2009. Retrieved 25 April 2023.