IT News
Imphal, July 16:
The Supreme Court of India, the highest apex court of the country, has appointed it’s first-ever judge from Manipur. A notification issued by the Ministry of Law and Justice, Department of Justice, Government of India announced the appointment of Justice Nongmeikapam Kotiswar Singh, currently serving as the Chief Justice of the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, to be a Judge of the Supreme Court of India effective from the date he assumes office. Along with Kotiswar, Justice R Mahadevan was also appointed as a Judge of the Supreme Court. Following their appointments, the apex court now has a full strength of 34 judges, including Chief Justice DY Chandrachud.
The Supreme Court Collegium, comprising CJI Chandrachud and Justices Sanjiv Khanna, BR Gavai, Surya Kant, and Hrishikesh Roy, convened to make recommendations for the appointment of judges to the apex court.
Justice N Kotiswar Singh, previously the Chief Justice of Jammu and Kashmir, is the first judge from Manipur to be appointed to the Supreme Court.
Born on March 1, 1963, in Imphal, Manipur, Justice Singh is the son of the late Justice N. Ibotombi Singh of the Gauhati High Court, who also served as Manipur’s first Advocate General. Justice Kotiswar Singh graduated from Kirori Mal College, Delhi University, in 1983 and completed his LLB from Delhi University.
Justice Kotiswar Singh began his career serving as the Advocate General of Manipur from 2007 until 2011. In 2011, he was appointed as an additional judge of the Gauhati High Court and became a permanent judge in 2012. He was transferred to the newly formed Manipur High Court in 2013. After several years, he returned to the Gauhati High Court in 2018. In 2023, he became Chief Justice of the High Court for Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
Justice Kotiswar Singh was designated as a Senior Advocate by the Gauhati High Court in 2008. His elevation to the Supreme Court is seen as a significant representation for the North-East, particularly Manipur.