On 11-07-2024, the Collegium comprising of Dr. Justice DY Chandrachud, CJI, Justice Sanjiv Khanna, Justice B R Gavai, Justice Surya Kant and Justice Hrishikesh Roy deliberated over filling up vacancies of judges in the Supreme Court occasioned by the retirement of Justice Aniruddha Bose and Justice A S Bopanna.
The Collegium considered the names of the Chief Justices of the High Courts and of senior Judges in the High Courts within the zone of consideration. In arriving at its recommendations, the Collegium giving due regard to seniority, their merit as demonstrated by their authored judgments and Integrity and performance
The Collegium also considered the need to ensure diversity by the in terms of region, gender and community in the Supreme Court.
After due deliberations, the Collegium thus decided to recommend the following Judges for appointment as Judges of the Supreme Court:
Justice Nongmeikapam Kotiswar Singh
Justice N Kotiswar Singh originally hails from Manipur. He was appointed as a Judge of the Gauhati High Court on 17-10-2011. On the formation of the High Court of Manipur, he was transferred as a Judge of that High Court from the Gauhati High Court. On 15 -02-2023, he was appointed as Chief Justice of the High Court for Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. He is due to retire on 28-02-2025.
His appointment as a Judge of the Supreme Court will provide representation to the NorthEast, and in particular he will be the first Judge from the State of Manipur to be appointed as a Judge of the Supreme Court.
The Collegium noted that Justice N. Kotiswar Singh has an impeccable record, both in judicial capacity and in terms of the work which has been rendered by him on the administrative side, as the Chief Justice of the High Court for Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
Justice R. Mahadevan
Justice R Mahadevan is a Judge of the Madras High Court and is presently its Acting Chief Justice. Being conversant with the work of Justice Mahadevan on the judicial side and as a senior Judge of the High Court, the Collegium was of the view that he is eminently suitable for appointment as a Judge of the Supreme Court.
Justice Mahadevan belongs to a backward community from the State of Tamil Nadu. His appointment will bring diversity to the Bench.
The Collegium took due note of the fact that Justice R Mahadevan ranks third in the order of presently serving judges of the Madras High Court including the Judges who have been posted as Chief Justices outside the Madras High Court. At this stage, the Collegium has given precedence to the candidature of Justice R Mahadevan in order to give representation to the backward community.
