Surendra Nath Sarma, an eminent senior advocate, sportsman, swimmer, social worker and a leading citizen of Guwahati left for his heavenly abode on November 5 due to a massive heart attack. He was born on February 24, 1952 at Guwahati and had his education at Guwahati Cotton Collegiate HS School and did his Law in 1977 from JB Law College under Gauhati University and enrolled as an advocate in the year 1977. He started his practice from 1979 under the guidance of PK Goswami and JP Bhattacharjee, Senior Advocates of Gauhati High Court.
He served the Gauhati High Court Bar Association as its president from 2019 to 2021, during the Covid-19 pandemic and earlier also served as a secretary of Gauhati High Court Bar Association. During pandemic, he extended immense help to the junior lawyers. He was a good sportsman and swimmer from his college days and brought laurels to the college. Even in the Gauhati High Court's Annual Sports Meet he proved himself as one of the best Badminton Player.
During 43 years of his practice he established himself as a distinguished lawyer of the North-eastern region and was designated as a senior advocate by Gauhati High Court in the year 1999. He served as a Standing Counsel of Education Department, Government of Assam in the year 2003. He was also standing counsel of Oil India and also represented Brahmaputra Valley Fertilizers Corporation Ltd. Assam, Assam Carbon Product Ltd., Art Fed, ONGC and Numaligarh Refinery.
He was specialized in industrial dispute cases and always represented the management. His art of submission in the High Court was precise and impressive. He could cite the judgments of Apex Court and Gauhati High Court instantly. He had a very soft heart for juniors and always guided them for positivity in life and encouraged to take the profession seriously. Many juniors used to throng at his house with legal problems and Late Sarma always extended help to them.
Being president of the Gauhati High Court Bar Association his service for welfare of the lawyers was very remarkable. Late Sarma was a very popular and a man of golden heart and was passionate for motor bikes. His sudden demise has cast a pall of gloom in the lawyer's circle. His death was condoled by Gauhati High Court Bar Association and the Gauhati High Court in a reference where many members of the Gauhati High Court recalled his contribution in the field of Law. His funeral was largely attended by his well wishers, lawyers, judges and other leading citizens of Guwahati. His death was an immense loss to the legal fraternity which is not easy to fill. He was 70 years old at the time of death and survived by his wife, son and daughter. On the occasion of his Adya Shraddha ,I pay my homage to his departed soul.
– Subhash Chandra Biswas
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