Sharing An Article Critical Of PM Modi Does Not Impinge On Suitability For Judgeship: SC Collegium Reiterates Recommendation Of Madras HC Lawyer

The Supreme Court Collegium has reiterated its recommendation for elevation of Advocate R. John Sathyan as a Madras High Court Judge, after Centre returned the file citing an online article critical of Prime Minister Narendra Modi that was shared by Sathyan.

The Collegium comprising CJI DY Chandrachud, Justices SK Kaul and KM Joseph said that all the consultee-Judges at the relevant time, when the recommendation was first made, had found him suitable for elevation and that nothing adverse has come to notice against his integrity.

Sathyan had also shared a post regarding a medical aspirant committing suicide in 2017, which contained tags such as tag 'political betrayal', ‘shame of you India’.

The proposal to elevate him was made in February last year. The IB report notes that he does not have any overt political leanings.

In this backdrop, the Collegium said,

"adverse comments of the IB extracted above in respect of posts made by him i.e. sharing an article published in ‘The Quint’ and another post regarding committing of suicide by a medical aspirant candidate in 2017 will not impinge on the suitability, character or integrity of Shri Sathyan. The Collegium is of the considered opinion that Shri R. John Sathyan is fit and suitable for being appointed as a Judge of the Madras High Court."

The Collegium therefore reiterated its earlier proposal and recommended that he be given precedence in the matter of appointment as Judge over certain names separately recommended today for appointment as Judges of the Madras High Court.

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