Guwahati, Dec. 7: Justice (retd) K.N. Saikia, who had prepared a report on secret killings in Assam, died at a private hospital here this morning. He was 90 and is survived by two sons, four daughters and grandchildren.

Saikia's daughter Anjana Neog said he was admitted to the ICU of International Hospital on December 1 with age-related ailments.

Saikia's body was taken to his residence on S.K. Bhuyan Road near Dighalipukhuri where he lived alone. He will be cremated tomorrow when his elder son, who works in Sri Lanka, arrives.

Saikia was born in 1926 at Simaluguri Bharalua Gaon in Sivasagar district. After acquiring a law degree from Gauhati University, he enrolled as Gauhati High Court advocate in 1955. In 1978, he became chairman of Assam Land Reforms Commission.

Saikia was appointed a permanent judge of Gauhati High Court in 1979 and later became its Chief Justice. Saikia was appointed a Supreme Court judge on December 14, 1988, and served the apex court till his retirement on February 28, 1991.

Initially, the Assam government had asked the K.N. Saikia Commission to probe 11 major cases of secret killings that took place during the AGP rule. Later, 24 more cases were included.

According to Secret Killings of Assam, a book by Mrinal Talukdar, Utpal Borpujari and Kaushik Deka, "The Saikia Commission was notified on August 2005. His brief was to go deep into the main cases and find out the truth. He did go deep into the issue, summoned hundreds of police officers, victims, Sulfa leaders and journalists over the course of the two-yearlong trial of the most complex and inter-linked criminal case of the region". "The Justice K.N. Saikia Inquiry Commission report held the state police responsible for its supporting role in the killings. It also pointed a finger towards then chief minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta," the book says.

Assam Congress president Ripun Bora and former chief minister Tarun Gogoi condoled his death. Gogoi said Saikia's death was an irreparable loss to the state.