Justice Sailendu Nath Phukan passes away

JORHAT: Sailendu Nath Phukan, former Justice of the Supreme Court of India, former Chief Justice of Himachal Pradesh and Odisha High Courts, and former chairman of Assam Human Rights Commission, passed away at a private hospital at 5.45 am on Sunday. He leaves behind two sons, two daughters and a host of relatives. He was 83. Justice Sailendu Phukan was associated with several organizations, including Helpline, till his demise.

After passing LL.B, Phukan first joined the Jorhat District Court and then started practice in Gauhati High Court in 1962. He cleared Assam Judicial Service in 1963. In 1970, he joined the Government of Meghalaya on deputation and became the Law Secretary and Legal Remembrancer in January, 1976. He also served as part-time lecturer in a college as well as legal advisor of various corporations of the State. Phukan was elevated as a permanent judge of the Gauhati High Court in 1985. On September 30, 1994 he was transferred to Himachal Pradesh High Court as acting Chief Justice. In 1996 he became the Chief Justice of Orissa High Court. Justice Phukan joined the Supreme Court of India as a judge on January 28, 1999. He retired in 2002.

His last rites will be performed at the Tarajan Crematorium on Monday. Condolences have started flowing as the news of his demise spread. Assam Assembly Speaker Hitendra Nath Goswami, Jorhat MP Kamakhya Prasad Tasa, Nikhil Bharat Congress Committee general secretary Rana Goswami, members of Jorhat Bar Association, Jorhat Deputy Commissioner Narayan Konwar, Jorhat Superintendent of Police Vaibhav Nimbalkar and several other organizations paid floral tribute to the departed soul at his residence.

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