The Supreme Court collegium, led by Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud, has proposed the elevation of two high court judges to the apex court. Justice N Kotiswar Singh, currently Chief Justice of the Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court, and Justice R Mahadevan, acting Chief Justice of the Madras High Court, have been recommended for appointment to the Supreme Court.
According to the resolution, Justice Singh’s candidacy was evaluated based on his judicial track record, administrative skills, integrity, and overall merit, making him highly suitable for the role. The collegium, under Chief Justice Chandrachud’s leadership, considered criteria such as seniority, merit, performance, integrity, regional diversity, and inclusion of marginalized communities in making these recommendations to the President.
Justice Mahadevan, known for his background in a backward community in Tamil Nadu, will contribute to diversity within the Supreme Court, noted the collegium. The recommendation prioritized his appointment to ensure representation from such communities.
Additionally, the collegium also endorsed the appointment of Chief Justices for several high courts: Justice Manmohan for Delhi High Court, Justice M S Ramachandra Rao for Jharkhand High Court, Justice Rajiv Shakdher for Himachal Pradesh High Court, Justice Suresh Kait for Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court, Justice Gurmeet Singh Sandhawalia for Madhya Pradesh High Court, Justice Nitin Jamdar for Kerala High Court, Justice KR Shriram for Madras High Court, and Justice Tashi Rabstan for Meghalaya High Court.
The Supreme Court currently operates with 32 judges against its sanctioned strength of 34 judges.