A known human rights lawyers and Canadian citizen of Indian origin, Palbinder Kaur Shergill has been appointed a judge of the Canadian Supreme Court of British Columbia in New Westminster. Shergill is the first turbaned Sikh to be appointed to the judiciary of the country.
Shergill, a resident of Surrey, ran her own law firm in British Columbia handling personal injury, civil litigation and constitutional law.
reported she has argued cases that have shaped human rights and religious freedom laws in the country.
In 2012, she was appointed Queen's Counsel, a honourary title given by the province to lawyers who have made exceptional contributions to the profession.
She is also a recipient of the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal for community service.
The celebrated her appointed and wrote Justice Shergill is a prominent member of the Sikh community in Canada and is regularly invited to speak on human rights and Sikh issues both nationally and internationally.
WSO President Mukhbir Singh said, “The appointment of Justice Shergill is another milestone for the Sikh community in Canada. It is a matter of great pride that we today have the first turbaned Sikh appointed to the judiciary in Canada and that too someone who has worked so closely with our organization.”
Shergill was four year old when her family moved to Canada in mid-70s from Rurka Kalan, a village in Jalandhar district in Punjab, India.
She has three children with her husband, Amritpal Singh Shergill, who hails from nearby Jagatpur village of Nawanshar district.
spoke to the Jagatpur village’s sarpanch (head), who said, “She has brought the name of our village on the world map and we are going to honour her extended family members here tomorrow.”
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