Justice Kotiswar: First among equals
- The People's Chronicle Editorial :: July 18, 2024 -

HAVING representation in the highest judicial body of the country is an honour in itself.

So, the appointment of Justice Nongmeikapam Kotiswar Singh as a judge in the Supreme Court of India is not only a proud moment for the people of Manipur, which is currently going through a humanitarian crisis, but also for all the people in the entire northeastern region, where cry for justice is a common theme that runs through their daily existence.

Apart from the fact that he is the first from Manipur to be appointed as a judge of the apex court, thus scripting history; one can say that the elevation of Justice Kotiswar to the apex court of the country from his current assignment as the acting Chief justice of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court has fulfilled the aspiration of people living in the northeast region to have more and even representation in the highest judicial body of the country at least to some extent.

Currently, there are just two judges from the seven northeastern states in the Supreme Court. But both Justices Hrishikesh Roy and Ujjal Bhuyan are from Assam with Gauhati High Court as their parent high court.

To address this scanty as well as unequal representation of judges from the north-East region in the Supreme Court, the appointment of Justice Kotiswar must have been approved even though he too had begun career as a judge at Gauhati High Court with due consideration of his role as one of the first judges of Manipur High Court, which came into existence in 2013.

In fact, this has been noted by the Collegium of Supreme Court in its recommendation made on July 11, when it says "His (Justice Nongmeikapam Kotiswar Singh) 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".

Nonetheless, the journey of Justice Nongmeikapam Kotiswar Singh from starting his career as a judge at Gauhati High Court on October 17, 2011 to his appointment as one of the 34 judges in the Supreme Court of India is no mean achievement.

And, this fact has also been emphasised by the Collegium in its recommendation for his appointment when it says, "Justice Singh has an impeccable record, both in judicial capacity and in terms of the work which has been rendered by him on the administrative side, as the Chief Justice of the High Court for Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.

Considering the candidature of Justice Kotiswar Singh in terms of his judicial performance, administrative acumen, integrity and merit, the Collegium is of the view that he is eminently suitable for being appointed as a Judge of the Supreme Court."

But more than this, what is very significant about the appointment of Justice Kotiswar along with acting Chief Justice of Madras High Court R Mahadevan as the two new judges of the Supreme Court as per recommendation of the same Collegium is the timing.

By recommending their names and ensuring their appointment within the "well defined parameters, the Collegium led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and comprising Justices Sanjiv Khanna, BR Gavai, Surya Kant and Hrishikesh Roy has made sure that the apex court has its full sanctioned strength of 34 judges.

After Justices Aniruddha Bose and AS Bopanna retired from service before the court broke for its seven-week summer vacation in May this year, the sitting strength of the Supreme Court had been reduced to 32 judges.

As the apex court has huge backlog of cases, ensuring full working judge-strength and leaving no vacancy at any point of time is essential for quick disposal of cases so as to reduce the ever-mounting pressure of case pendency in a big country like India.

Now that greater representation and diversity in the Supreme Court have been ensured and a son of Manipur has become the 'primus inter pares', it certainly calls for celebration despite the gloom and doom.