Ira Deshpande, Pune
Two new judges, Justice N Kotiswar Singh and Justice R Mahadevan were elevated to the Supreme Court Bench on 17th July. The elevation was approved by President Droupadi Murmu post-consultation with the Chief Justice of India. The new addition will restore the apex court’s strength to a total of 34 judges.
Recommendations for the appointment of the judges came from the Supreme Court Collegium comprising Justices Sanjiv Khanna, BR Gaval, Surya Kant, Hrishikesh Roy, and CJI Chandrachud.
The Collegium’s recommendation of Justice Mahadevan, currently serving as the acting Chief Justice of Madras High Court, highlighted his roots in a backward community from Tamil Nadu, adding to the representation and diversity of the Supreme Court. In an order passed in R. Gandhi versus the State, Justice Mahadevan upheld the validity of the declaration of Telegu as a classical language. Justice Mahadevan has also issued key directions to aid the preservation of various temples and ancient monuments recognized by UNESCO. Throughout his career of serving as a High Court Judge of Madras and Acting Chief Justice of the same, Justice Mahadevan has disposed of over 96,000 cases. Justice Mahadevan has also served as an additional Government Pleader (Taxes) for the Tamil Nadu Government.
Justice N Kotiswar Singh was previously the Chief Justice of Jammu and Kashmir. With this elevation, Justice Singh is the first judge from Manipur to be elevated to the Supreme Court Bench. Coming from a legacy of law, Justice Singh is the son of late Justice N. Ibotombi Singh of the Gauhati High Court, who also became Manipur’s first Advocate General. Justice Singh was appointed as the Judge of Manipur High Court right upon its creation in 2013. All are set to retire on 28th February 2025 (as the age for retirement for the High Court Judges remains 62). He will not serve as a judge at the Supreme Court until 28th February 2028, when the age of retirement is 65. In a career of 25 years, Justice Kotiswar Singh has practiced primarily in criminal, civil, and service matters. Justice Singh formerly also served as the Acting Chief Justice of the Manipur High Court from July 2017 to May 2018 and the Gauhati High Court from September 2020 to February 2023.