This morning, July 18, at 10:30 AM, Justices Nongmeikapam Kotiswar Singh and R. Mahadevan were officially sworn in as Supreme Court judges. Their appointments follow a resolution passed by the Supreme Court Collegium on July 11, led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, with the Union notifying the appointments on July 16.
The Collegium, responsible for judicial appointments, selected Justices Singh and Mahadevan based on their exceptional qualifications and the diversity they bring to the bench. Justice N. Kotiswar Singh, previously the Chief Justice of the Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court, is the first judge from Manipur to join the Supreme Court, marking a historic step towards greater representation for the North-East region. The Collegium lauded his judicial performance, administrative skills, integrity, and overall merit.
Justice R. Mahadevan, who served as the Acting Chief Justice of the Madras High Court, also brings valuable experience and diversity to the Supreme Court. Coming from a backward community in Tamil Nadu, his appointment aims to enhance representation of diverse backgrounds on the bench. Despite being third in seniority among Madras High Court judges, the Collegium selected Justice Mahadevan to ensure representation for his community, acknowledging his qualifications and experience.
With the induction of Justices Singh and Mahadevan, the Supreme Court has returned to its full strength of 34 judges.
