NEW DELHI: Justice N Kotiswar Singh and Justice R Mahadevan were elevated to the Supreme Court on Tuesday, announced by law minister Arjun Ram Meghwal on X. Their appointments, approved by the President after consultation with the Chief Justice of India, will restore the apex court’s full strength of 34 judges, including the Chief Justice DY Chandrachud.
The Supreme Court Collegium, comprising CJI Chandrachud and Justices Sanjiv Khanna, BR Gavai, Surya Kant, and Hrishikesh Roy, convened to make recommendations for the appointment of judges to the apex court.
The Collegium recommended the elevation of Justice Mahadevan, currently serving as the acting Chief Justice of the Madras high court. The resolution highlighted Justice Mahadevan‘s background, noting that he belongs to a backward community from the State of Tamil Nadu and that his appointment would contribute to the diversity of the Supreme Court Bench.
First SC judge from Manipur
Justice N Kotiswar Singh, previously the Chief Justice of Jammu and Kashmir, is the first judge from Manipur to be appointed to the Supreme Court.
Born on March 1, 1963, in Imphal, Manipur, Justice Singh is the son of the late Justice N. Ibotombi Singh of the Gauhati high court, who also served as Manipur’s first Advocate General. Justice Singh graduated from Kirori Mal College, Delhi University, in 1983 and completed his LLB from Delhi University.
Justice Singh began his career serving as the Advocate General of Manipur from 2007 until 2011. In 2011, he was appointed as an additional judge of the Gauhati High Court and became a permanent judge in 2012. He was transferred to the newly formed Manipur High Court in 2013. After several years, he returned to the Gauhati High Court in 2018. In 2023, he became Chief Justice of the High Court for Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
Justice Singh was designated as a Senior Advocate by the Gauhati High Court in 2008. His elevation to the Supreme Court is seen as a significant representation for the North-East, particularly Manipur. The collegium praised his judicial performance, administrative skills, integrity, and merit in their resolution for his appointment.
The Supreme Court Collegium, comprising CJI Chandrachud and Justices Sanjiv Khanna, BR Gavai, Surya Kant, and Hrishikesh Roy, convened to make recommendations for the appointment of judges to the apex court.
The Collegium recommended the elevation of Justice Mahadevan, currently serving as the acting Chief Justice of the Madras high court. The resolution highlighted Justice Mahadevan‘s background, noting that he belongs to a backward community from the State of Tamil Nadu and that his appointment would contribute to the diversity of the Supreme Court Bench.
First SC judge from Manipur
Justice N Kotiswar Singh, previously the Chief Justice of Jammu and Kashmir, is the first judge from Manipur to be appointed to the Supreme Court.
Born on March 1, 1963, in Imphal, Manipur, Justice Singh is the son of the late Justice N. Ibotombi Singh of the Gauhati high court, who also served as Manipur’s first Advocate General. Justice Singh graduated from Kirori Mal College, Delhi University, in 1983 and completed his LLB from Delhi University.
Justice Singh began his career serving as the Advocate General of Manipur from 2007 until 2011. In 2011, he was appointed as an additional judge of the Gauhati High Court and became a permanent judge in 2012. He was transferred to the newly formed Manipur High Court in 2013. After several years, he returned to the Gauhati High Court in 2018. In 2023, he became Chief Justice of the High Court for Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
Justice Singh was designated as a Senior Advocate by the Gauhati High Court in 2008. His elevation to the Supreme Court is seen as a significant representation for the North-East, particularly Manipur. The collegium praised his judicial performance, administrative skills, integrity, and merit in their resolution for his appointment.
