Harjit Singh Nijar

Mr Jayasingam s/o Manickam a long standing Advocate and Solicitor practicing at Muar, in his address said:-

“May it please your Lordship,

This solemn assembly before your Lordship today is in tribute to the memory of our late lamented colleague Mr Harjit Singh Nijar, an Advocate and Solicitor of this Honourable Court, whose untimely death occurred on 24th August 2008 after a short illness.

My Lord, the late Mr Harjit Singh Nijar more affectionately called as H.S.Nijar was born on the 8th May 1948 at Muar, Johore. He was the 4th child of the late Mr Sadu Singh Nijar and the late Madam Tej Kaur. The couple had seven (7) children.

The late Mr Harjit Singh Nijar had his primary education at the Ismail Primary school. Thereafter he proceeded to the High School at Muar for his secondary education. At school he was an active student leader and sportsman. He was a founder Chairman of the Rotaract Club and played for the School’s First XI Hockey team. Upon successful completion of his Higher School Certificate (HSC), he proceeded to London to read law at the Honourable Society of the Inner Temple. In London he played an active role in the Malaysian and Singaporean Law Students Society, becoming its President; as well as the President of the Federation of United Kingdom and Eire Malaysian and Singapore Students Organisation (FUEMSSO).

He was called to the Bar of England & Wales on 19th July 1973. He is a member of the Honourable Society of the Inner Temple. Upon his return to Malaysia, he commenced his pupilage in the chambers of Mr Yong Shok Lin of Messrs Shok Lin & Bok. He was admitted as an Advocate and Solicitor of the High Court at Malaya on 5th August 1974.

Thereafter he commenced practice for a short duration in Kuala Lumpur, and then moved to Batu Pahat and then Segamat. In September 1979 he set up together with his elder brother G.S.Nijar, the law firm of Nijar & Nijar. He managed the Muar office while his brother ran the office in Johor Bahru.

Mr H S Nijar continued to practice at Muar until his demise on 24th August 2008. Mr H S Nijar leaves behind his wife, M.K.Nijar & three (3) children, two (2) boys and a girl. M K Nijar commenced practice at the firm Nijar & Nijar in November 1982 and still in active legal practice.

Their son, Amresh Nijar also an Advocate and Solicitor commenced practice in Nijar & Nijar, Muar in January 2008. His daughter Anisha is completing her studies as a medical student; while his youngest son, Harvinder plans to be an engineer.

The late Mr H S Nijar was an active litigator and handled a variety of cases and a number of cases conducted by him have been reported in the Law Journals. The most famous of these is the case of Siti Rohani Bte Mohd Shah and 2 others v Hj.Zainal bin Hj.Safiee & Anor, which is often quoted by lawyers handling “running down” matters where the issue involved is whether a underage person, without license is per se negligent.

The late Mr H S Nijar was an active member of the Rotary Club of Muar. He had served as President of the Club in the year 1997/98 and was an Assistant Governor for Group One in Rotary International District 3310. He was also a highly respected member of the Sikh Community and served for a time as President of the Temple Committee and was the Trustee of the Sikh Temple Muar till his demise.

My Lord, Mr Harjit Singh Nijar was always held in high respect and esteem by both Bench and Bar for his high integrity as member of the Bar and his amiable disposition. My Lord, I have no hesitation in saying that I speak for all of us when I say he was a good lawyer, a fine man, a devoted husband and a loving parent and that by his demise the Bar has lost a member and a colleague steeped in the finest traditions of our profession. My Lord, I respectfully request your Lordship to direct that a copy of the record of today’s proceedings be sent to Madam M K Nijar.

M Jayasingam

On behalf of the Johor Bar

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