Justices SP Khaund & Mitali Thakuria elevated to permanent judges of Gauhati high court

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court Collegium, headed by chief justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud, has recommended the appointment of two additional judges as permanent judges of the Gauhati high court.

The judges are Justice Susmita Phukan Khaund and Justice Mitali Thakuria.

The Supreme Court Collegium, which includes Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice BR Gavai, evaluated the recommendations in line with the Resolution dated October 26, 2017.

According to an official resolution, a committee of two Supreme Court Judges reviewed the judgments authored by Justices Khaund and Thakuria and found them to be well-reasoned, factually sound, and supported by relevant case laws.

The committee stated, “We find that the judgments authored by Smt. Justice Susmita Phukan Khaund and Smt. Justice Mitali Thakuria are well-reasoned, contain an analysis of the facts of the cases, and are backed by appropriate case laws. We, therefore, agree with the proposal made by the Collegium of the Gauhati High Court and are of the opinion that both the above-named Judges deserve to be considered for appointment as Permanent Judges.”

Justice Mitali Thakuria was born in Guwahati and graduated in 1987 with a degree in Science from Handique Girls College, Guwahati.

She completed her Masters in Zoology and LLB in 1992.

After enrolling in the Bar, she primarily practiced in Civil Court in the District Judges Court campus.

She joined the Judicial Service in March 1998, was promoted to Grade I in December 2012, and served as District & Sessions Judge, Kamrup-Metro until her elevation to additional judge of the Gauhati high court on August 16, 2022.

Justice Susmita Phukan Khaund was born and raised in Namrup, Assam.

She earned a BA (Honors) in Economics from Handique Girls College in Guwahati, Assam and completed her Master’s in Economics from Gauhati University in 1989.

She obtained an LL.B degree from Gauhati University (Government Law College) in 1989 and enrolled as an advocate on March 12, 1991.

She joined the Assam Judicial Service as a Grade-III officer on July 27, 1995, was appointed to Grade II on November 29, 2006, and to Grade I on August 29, 2012.

She was elevated as an additional judge of the Gauhati high court on August 16, 2022.