Punch Coomaraswamy

Punch Coomaraswamy (16 October 1925 – 8 January 1999) was a High Court judge in Singapore and envoy to India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Australia, Fiji, the United States and Brazil.[2]

Punch Coomaraswamy
Punch Coomaraswamy as Speaker of the Parliament of Singapore from 1966 to 1970
Supreme Court Judge of Singapore
In office 7 September 1984 – 15 October 1993
Ambassador of Singapore to the United States
In office October 1976 – August 1984
Preceded by	Ernest Steven Monteiro
Succeeded by	Prof. Tommy Koh
President of Singapore (Acting)
In office 5 March 1968 – 5 May 1968
Prime Minister	Lee Kuan Yew
Preceded by	Yusof Ishak (President)
Succeeded by	Yusof Ishak (President)
4th Speaker of the Parliament of Singapore
In office August 1966 – 1970
Deputy	Dr Yeoh Ghim Seng (1968 – 1970)[1]
Preceded by	Arumugam Ponnu Rajah
Succeeded by	Dr Yeoh Ghim Seng
Deputy Speaker of the Parliament of Singapore
In office February 1966 – August 1966
Preceded by	Dr Fong Kim Heng
Succeeded by	Dr Yeoh Ghim Seng
Personal details
Born	16 October 1925 Segamat, Johor, Malaysia
Died	8 January 1999 (aged 73) Singapore
Cause of death	Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Spouse(s)	Kailanayaky ("Kaila") Coomaraswamy nee Appachy
Children	Mohan (son) Shobanna (daughter) Vinodh (son)
Alma mater	University of Nottingham
Profession	Lawyer, Diplomat, Judge

Education

Coomaraswamy was the son of Kandiah and Chellam Coomaraswamy. Kandiah Coomaraswamy was a medical doctor who served in the then Straits Settlements Medical Service from 1916 to 1955, when he retired.[3] Coomaraswamy received his early education at the English College in Johor and later obtained his law degree from the University of Nottingham in England.[4]

Career

Coomaraswamy practised in the firm of Braddell Brothers as an advocate during the 1950s and 1960s. From 1958 to 1960, he was appointed the Honorary Secretary of Singapore Bar Council. He was a visiting lecturer in the law of evidence at the University of Singapore (now National University of Singapore) from 1959 to 1969.[2] From 1961 to 1969, he was a lecturer for the Board of Legal Education, Singapore.[2][5]

In February 1966, he was appointed the Deputy Speaker of Parliament and in August of the same year, he was appointed the Speaker of Parliament.[2][6] He was the Acting President of Singapore from 5 March to 5 May 1968.[2][7] Dr Yeoh Ghim Seng took over as the Speaker of the Parliament in January 1970.[7]

His first appointment with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was from January 1970 to July 1973 as Singapore's High Commissioner to India, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bangladesh.[5][7] From July 1973 to September 1976, he was Singapore's High Commissioner to Australia and Fiji, and from October 1976 to August 1984, he was Singapore's Ambassador to the United States and Brazil.[2][8][9][10]

He served as a Supreme Court judge from 7 September 1984[5][11] to 15 October 1993.[2][4][12]

Family and death

Coomaraswamy married Kaila on 9 November 1956 and had three children from the marriage.[5] He died in his sleep on 8 January 1999 as a result of chronic lung disease caused by smoking.[2][13] One of his sons, Vinodh Coomaraswamy, is currently a judge in the High Court of Singapore.[14]

Awards

• 1946: Pacific War (1941 to 1945) Medal (United Kingdom)[2]
• 1976: Public Service Star Award[2][9]
• 1980: Meritorious Service Medal[2][15]

References

1. "Speakers of Parliament". Parliament of Singapore. Archived from the original on 21 January 2020. Scroll to bottom and expand the list of former Deputy Speaker
2. "Punch Coomaraswamy". nlb.gov.sg. 2016. Archived from the original on 6 September 2019.
3. "Doctor served for 37 years". The Straits Times. 19 November 1961. p. 2.
4. "Punch Coomaraswamy to be appointed Supreme Court judge". Singapore Monitor. 6 May 1984. p. 3.
5. "Home – after 14 years abroad". The Straits Times. 6 May 1984. p. 9.
6. "Deputy Speaker takes over in Spore". The Straits Times. 18 August 1966. p. 11.
7. "S'pore names envoy to Bangla". The Straits Times. 16 June 1972. p. 7.
8. "Singapore Ambassadors to the United States of America". Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 4 September 2019. Archived from the original on 6 September 2019.
9. "Punch named new envoy to US". The Straits Times. 12 August 1976. p. 8.
10. "Punch also envoy to Brazil". BUSINESS TIMES. 11 December 1976. p. 12.
11. "Former envoy Punch sworn in as judge". The Straits Times. 8 September 1984. p. 15.
12. "After nine years, Justice Punch Coomaraswamy retires from Bench". The Straits Times. 1 October 1993. p. 3.
13. "Ex-envoy and High Court judge dies". The Straits Times. 9 January 1999. p. 51.
14. Appointment of Judicial Commissioner Vinodh Coomaraswamy as Judge of the Supreme Court of Singapore, Supreme Court of Singapore, 24 June 2013, archived from the original on 26 June 2013.
15. "Buang and Punch get top honours". The Straits Times. 9 August 1980. p. 11.

External links

• A Tribute to Punch Coomaraswamy