Former Supreme Court judge and CJ of Orissa High court , justice SN Phukan passed away on Sunday. He was 81 years old.
Justice Phukan joined the Gauhati High Court Bar after his enrolment. In 1963, he was appointed to the Assam Judicial Services. In 1976, he became the Law Secretary of Assam.
Following his appointment as a permanent judge of the Gauhati High Court, he also served as its Acting Chief Justice. In September 1994, he was transferred to the High Court of Himachal Pradesh, in which court he served as Chief Justice from March 1995. In August 1996, he was transferred once more to the Orissa High Court, where he also served as Chief Justice.
Thereafter, he was elevated as a judge of the Supreme Court in January 1999. He retired in 2002.