The first Supreme Court judge from the state of Manipur, N. Kotiswar Singh took oath on Thursday, (July 18). The Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud today administered oath to two new judges of the Supreme Court after the Centre notified their appointment on Tuesday.
Who Is Justice Nongmeikapam Kotiswar Singh
Born on March 1, 1963, in Imphal, Justice Nongmeikapam Kotiswar Singh was serving as the Chief Justice of the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh from February 15, 2023, before he took oath as a Supreme Court judge.
He started his career as a judge from the Gauhati High Court. His father, Justice N Ibotombi Singh was also a judge in the Gauhati High Court.
Justice Singh was appointed as a Judge of the Gauhati High Court in 2011. However, on formation of the High Court of Manipur, Justice Singh was transferred to Manipur High Court.
In February 2023, he was appointed as Chief Justice of the High Court for Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
Justice Singh completed his graduation from Delhi's Kirori Mal College in 1983 in Political Science. Thereafter he obtained an LL.B. degree from Delhi University in 1986. Justice Singh enrolled as an Advocate in 1986 under the Bar Council of Delhi and later transferred to the roll of the Bar Council of Assam, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Manipur, Tripura, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim.
After completing his law degree he started his legal career at Gauhati High Court. He became a senior advocate in March 2008 and was appointed as an additional judge in October 2011.
Justice Singh also practised in the Supreme Court for a short while.
Representation Of Northeast In Supreme Court
The Supreme Court collegium while recommending Singh's name had said that his elevation to the Supreme Court will provide representation to North-eastern states in the top court. At present, the Supreme Court has just two judges from the seven northeastern states of India—Justices Hrishikesh Roy and Ujjal Bhuyan, both from Gauhati High Court.
The Collegium while recommending his name also noted that 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 and Kashmir and Ladakh.