The Supreme Court of India welcomed its newest members on Thursday, including Justice N. Kotiswar Singh, a 61-year-old from Manipur, marking the first time the state is represented in the apex court. Chief Justice of India, D.Y. Chandrachud, administered the oath to Justice Singh along with Justice R. Mahadevan from the Madras High Court in a ceremony held in a packed courtroom. This brings the total number of judges in the Supreme Court to 33, including the Chief Justice.
The Notable Nickname ‘Gun’
Justice N. Kotiswar Singh is known by the moniker ‘Gun,’ a nickname he acquired under dramatic circumstances. His father, N. Ibotombi Singh, served as the Advocate General of Manipur, a role Justice Singh also held from 2007 until 2011. He was subsequently appointed to the Guwahati High Court and served as the Chief Justice of the Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Courts until 2023.
The origins of his nickname date back to 2010 when Justice Singh, then Advocate General of Manipur, was accidentally shot by a minister from the Congress government. The incident occurred when the minister’s gun discharged unexpectedly while they were traveling together by car. Justice Singh was seriously injured and had to be hospitalized. Since then, he has been popularly referred to as ‘Gun.’
Judicial Appointments and Retirements
The appointments of Justice Singh and Justice Mahadevan fill vacancies left by the retirements of Justices A.S. Bopanna and Aniruddha Bose. The Supreme Court is set to see further changes later this year with the retirements of Justice Hima Kohli and Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud. The promotions of the new justices were confirmed on July 16, following approval from the central government after recommendations by the Supreme Court Collegium.
Justice Singh’s unique background and the dramatic circumstances of his past have made his appointment a notable event in the judicial landscape of India.
