Dharamshala: The leadership and staff of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) held a prayer service this afternoon to mourn the demise of former Tibetan Chief Justice Commissioner and former Deputy Speaker Sonam Sangpo Jadur, who passed away on 28 September 2024 at the age of 85.

Cabinet Secretary Tsegyal Chukya Dranyi read a brief bio of the late Tibetan Chief Justice Commissioner followed by a condolences remarks from the officiating Sikyong, Education Kalon (Minister) Tharlam Dolma Changra.

Brief Bio: Sonam Sangpo Jadur was born on 28 September 1938 in Jadur, where he learned reading and writing at the local monastery and later served as its treasurer. After coming to exile following the PLA’s illegal annexation of Tibet, he served as translator and representative of the Tibetans working as road construction labourers in Shimla and Kullu area.

In 1966, he helped secure land for the Dolanji Tibetan Settlement and subsequently served as its Settlement Officer from 1979.

From 2 September 1982 to 11 May 1990, he served as a member of the 8th, 9th, and 10th Tibetan Parliament in Exile, then called the Assembly of Tibetan People’s Deputies (ATPD), representing the Bon tradition of Tibetan religion. After the democratic reform of the Central Tibetan Administration, he was further elected as a member of the 11th, 12th, and 13th Tibetan Parliament in Exile, representing the Bon tradition. He served as Deputy Speaker during the 11th and 13th terms.

On 26 September 2001, he was appointed Tibetan Justice Commissioner, serving until 30 September 2002. He then became Chief Justice Commissioner of the Tibetan Supreme Justice Commission from 1 October 2002 until his retirement on 28 September 2004.

Sonam Sangpo Jadur passed away on 28 September 2024 in Dolanji after a prolonged illness and is survived by his beloved wife.