GUWAHATI, May 18 � Renowned jurist Pachu Gopal Baruah died at a city hospital around 8.30am today due to old-age ailments. Baruah, who served the State as its Advocate General twice during the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) regime, was 82.
Regarded as a towering figure for his knowledge, acumen and commitment to the profession by the members of the legal fraternity here, Baruah successfully led the people�s legal battle against the Union Government�s act of imposing the Disturbed Areas Act during the Assam Agitation. The Union Government sought to impose the Act in a bid to ensure flow of crude oil to other parts of the country.
He was also instrumental in cancelling the nomination of Begum Abida Ahmed, the wife of former President of India Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed, during the 1980 Parliamentary elections.
Recently, he successfully pleaded a case on illegal coal mining in Meghalaya and could obtain a stay on such activities from the Gauhati High Court.
He had been mobilising public opinion for the past several years for introducing a Kashmir-type Constitutional safeguard for Assam as well as dual citizenship in the State. And during his last days, he was trying to mobilise the people against fixing March 24, 1971 as the cut-off date for citizenship registration in the process of updating the National Register of Citizens (NRC). He had been arguing that there can�t be two dates for the purpose in the country. Such a provision was against the country�s Constitution.
For the purpose of taking up the issue with the Union Government, he even expressed his willingness to accompany a delegation of the voluntary organisation Save Guwahati Build Guwahati (SGBG) to the national capital in April last.
But destiny had willed it otherwise. He fell ill during a visit to his native town Jorhat on April 16 due to respiratory problems, necessitating his shifting to Gauhati Medical College Hospital (GMCH). He was released from the GMCH on April 29 after some improvement in his condition.
Again, he was in some discomfort on Sunday but slight improvements were seen in his condition yesterday. Doctors attending on him attributed the discomfort to the antibiotics that he was taking and said that he would be all right within the next five days.
However, he faced respiratory problems again around 9.30 pm yesterday and he was shifted to the International Hospital where he breathed his last this morning, said family sources.
Born to the famous Rasendra Barua�s family of Jorhat on March 12, 1929, Baruah joined the Gauhati High Court in the late 1960s at the instance of the then Chief Justice of Gauhati High Court Sarat Kumar Dutta. Earlier, Justice Dutta had appreciated Baruah for turning down a suggestion to join the session judge�s court as a judge. His mentor Kuladhar Chaliha also smelt the attributes of a great lawyer in him.
Baruah was the founder president of the All India Advocate Generals� Association, a former chairman of the NE Bar Council and a life member of the Gauhati High Court Bar Association.
Known for his avid interest in reading, Baruah also used to write for the newspapers and journals regularly on contemporary issues, particularly the ones that involved the interest of the indigenous people of the State.
He used to be the chief sponsor of the family�s 250-year old Durga Puja in Jorhat. He was also connected with sports activities and cricket was his favourite game.
People from different walks of life thronged his Gandhibasti residence here to mourn his demise and pay last respects. The visitors included former Chief Minister of the State Prafulla Kumar Mahanta, former Gauhati High Court judge Dhiresh Narayan Choudhury, former Advocate General of the State Abdul Muhib Majumdar, AGP leader Brindaban Goswami and former Cotton College professor Upen Sarma, among others.
His body was taken to the Gauhati High Court where the judges and his colleagues paid their last respect, to the noted jurist. At the Uzanbazar Swahid Nyas, AASU leaders and people from various walks of life paid their last respect to Baruah. His last rites were performed at the Navagraha cremation ground this afternoon in the presence of a large number of friends, fans and relatives.
He leaves behind two sons, Rajiv Baruah and Indranil Baruah, two daughters � Rima Baruah and Subhalakshmi Baruah Hazarika and a host of relatives. His wife had predeceased him about 22 years back.
Mourning: The Gauhati High Court mourned the demise of Baruah at a condolence meeting today.
Former judge of the Gauhati High Court Justice (Retd) Dhiresh Narayan Choudhury described Baruah as a true nationalist. His demise is a great loss for the people of the State, said Justice Choudhury.
Former Advocate General of the State Abdul Muhib Majumdar said that he was shocked by the news of Baruah�s demise. For, he said, he had worked with Baruah for over 40 years in the GU Law College and also in the Gauhati High Court.
�He was an outstanding jurist and legal luminary. His demise is a great loss to the legal fraternity as well as to the State,� said Majumdar.
Former Advocate General of Assam Prasanta Goswami also described Baruah as an outstanding lawyer. His demise is a great loss to the legal fraternity and Assam as well, Goswami said. Goswami paid his last respects to Baruah at the Navagraha cremation ground.
Noted critic Prof Upen Sarma described Baruah as a vibrant personality. �He was conversant with all the current problems plaguing Assam and he endeavoured to suggest remedies of all contemporary problems, said Prof Sarma.
Power, Commerce and Industries Minister Pradyut Bordoloi mourned the death of Baruah.
All Assam Students� Union, North East Students� Organisation, Asom Gana Parishad and Save Guwahati Build Guwahati have also mourned the demise of Baruah.
The Jorhat district unit of AASU also condoled the death of the noted jurist.
Former president of Asom Sattra Mahasabha Bhadrakrishna Goswami also has condoled Baruah�s death.
