SC at Full Sanctioned Strength after Justices N Kotiswar Singh & R Mahadevan Takes Oath

The Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud administered the oath to Justices Nongmeikapam Kotiswar Singh and R Mahadevan as Supreme Court judges on July 18, 2024.

The appointments have restored the top court’s full strength of 34 judges, including Chief Justice DY Chandrachud.

On July 11, the Supreme Court Collegium had recommended Chief Justice of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court N Kotiswar Singh and Acting Chief of Madras High Court R Mahadevan for elevation to the apex court.

The Collegium emphasized the importance of diversity on the bench when recommending both judges. Their appointments were approved by the President on July 16.

Justice Nongmeikapam Kotiswar Singh, originally from Manipur, has become the first judge from the state of Manipur to be appointed as a judge of the Supreme Court. The Collegium resolution stated, “His appointment as a judge of the Supreme Court will provide representation to the North-East, and in particular, he will be the first judge from the state of Manipur to be appointed as a judge of the Supreme Court.” Justice Singh will serve as a judge at the Supreme Court until February 28, 2028, where the mandatory retirement age is 65.

The Collegium, consisting of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and Justices Sanjiv Khanna, BR Gavai, Surya Kant, and Hrishikesh Roy, recommended the elevation of Justice Mahadevan, noting that he belongs to a backward community from the state of Tamil Nadu. The resolution stated that his appointment would bring diversity to the bench.

The Collegium also noted that Justice Mahadevan ranked third in the order of currently serving judges of the Madras High Court, including those posted as Chief Justices outside the Madras High Court.

“At this stage, the Collegium has given precedence to the candidature of Justice Mahadevan in order to give representation to the backward community. For the above reasons, the Collegium is of the view that he is suitable and fit for being appointed as a judge of the Supreme Court,” the resolution added.

The two judges were recommended for elevation to fill vacancies in the Supreme Court created by the retirements of Justice Aniruddha Bose on April 10, 2024, and Justice AS Bopanna on May 19, 2024.

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