Rehan Khan
On 16th July, President Droupadi Murmu appointed Justices N. Kotiswar Singh and R. Mahadevan as Judges of the Supreme Court of India. This decision came after a recommendation from the five-member Supreme Court Collegium, led by Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud. This collegium, which also comprised Justices Sanjiv Khanna, Bhushan R. Gavai, Surya Kant, and Hrishikesh Roy, put forward their names after evaluating criteria such as seniority, merit, and judicial integrity.
Following this recommendation, the Centre officially notified the appointments of Justices Singh and Mahadevan. With these new appointments, the Supreme Court will return to its full sanctioned strength of 34 judges, ensuring the judiciary is fully staffed to handle its extensive caseload.
Justice N. Kotiswar Singh has made history as the first judge from Manipur to be appointed to the Supreme Court of India. His appointment comes at a time when Manipur has been experiencing significant ethnic violence, adding a layer of significance to his elevation.
The Supreme Court collegium, in it’s resolution recommending Justice Singh, emphasized the importance of representation for Northeast India. By appointing Justice Singh, who hails from Manipur, the collegium underscored the need for diverse regional representation in the highest court of the nation. Before his appointment to the Supreme Court, Justice Singh served as the Chief Justice of the High Court for Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. He was scheduled to retire on February 28, 2025.
Justice Singh’s elevation not only marks a significant milestone for the state of Manipur but also for the broader Northeast region, highlighting the judiciary’s commitment to inclusivity and representation across different regions of India.
The collegium commended Justice Mahadevan, deeming him “eminently suitable” for the position of Supreme Court judge. They emphasized that Justice Mahadevan, hailing from a backward community in Tamil Nadu, would enhance the diversity of the Supreme Court Bench.
Justice Mahadevan is currently the Chief Justice of Madras High Court. He served as Additional Government Pleader for the Government of Tamil Nadu, Additional Central Government Standing Counsel and Senior Panel Counsel for the Government of India at Madras High Court. In 2013, he was elevated as a judge of Madras High Court.
His appointment is seen as a step toward greater inclusivity and representation within the judiciary, reflecting the court’s commitment to embracing judges from varied backgrounds and communities.