Dharamshala: The President of Central Tibetan Administration Dr Lobsang Sangay offered his condolence over the demise of Senior Supreme Court Advocate, former Legal Advisor to Ministry of External Affairs and CTA legal advisor, Shri J.M. Mukhi, who passed away on Monday in Delhi.
“It is with profound sadness that we mourn the passing away of Mr J.M. Mukhi, a legal luminary of global repute and a lifelong friend and supporter of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Tibetan people,” said President Dr Sangay said.
“On behalf of the Central Tibetan Administration and the Tibetan people, I offer our heartfelt condolences to his family and friends.”
For decades on, Mr Mukhi Ji assisted the Central Tibetan Administration on a range of legal matters as its legal advisor and remained one of the longest supporters of the Tibetan cause. He was also a father figure for countless Tibetan students pursuing a career in law whom he mentored and guided as his own.
“Mr Mukhi’s support to the Tibetan cause and the people has been longstanding and will always be remembered by the Tibetan people with the deepest affection and gratitude,” Dr Sangay said.
Late Mr Mukhi was cremated this Wednesday in Delhi. Representative Ngodup Dongchung and Secretary Dhondup Gyalpo of the Bureau of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, New Delhi attended the ceremony and paid their respects. Coordinator Jigme Tsultrim and staff of ITCO attended the prayer session antim ardas today.
Mr Jai Mangharam Mukhi, born in 1928, completed his matriculation at the tender age of 13, then went on to study Law, Political Science, International Law and International Relations at the University of Bombay, the London School of Economics, and the University of Cambridge, Corpus Christi College. He was called to the English Bar at Lincoln’s Inn. Mr Mukhi was the Chair of a UN Committee that investigated the infiltration of the Viet Cong into South Vietnam. Later he was appointed Legal Counsel to assist India at the International Court of Justice after India was sued by Portugal for the passage of rights into Goa, a case that India won. Mr Mukhi was invited to write the first Constitution for Ghana after its independence in 1963, which was selected over several other options. However, one of Mr Mukhi’s deepest love and most abiding concern was for the Tibetan people, and he assisted the Bureau on a range of legal matters. In 2016, Mr Mukhi was the inspiration in setting up a Scholarship for Tibetan students to study as visiting members at the University of Oxford, UK.
Mr Mukhi passed away on Monday, 22 March and is survived by his beloved wife, three children, and four grandchildren.
Information courtesy of Bureau of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, New Delhi