STATEMENT The Supreme Court Collegium in its meeting held on 17 January 2023, on reconsideration, has resolved to reiterate its earlier recommendation for elevation of Shri R. John Sathyan, Advocate as a Judge in the Madras High Court in the following terms: In this view, 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.
STATEMENT
The Supreme Court Collegium in its meeting held on 17 January 2023, on reconsideration, has resolved to reiterate its earlier recommendation for elevation of Shri R. John Sathyan, Advocate as a Judge in the Madras High Court in the following terms:
All the consultee-Judges at the relevant time, viz. Shri Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul, Ms. Justice Indira Banerjee, Shri Justice V. Ramasubramanian and Shri Justice M.M. Sundresh had found him suitable for elevation. The IB report indicates as under:
“As per open sources, two posts made by him, i.e. sharing of an article published in ‘The Quint’, which was critical of the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi; and another post regarding committing of suicide by medical aspirant Anitha, who ended her life in 2017 since she was unable to clear NEET, portraying it as a killing by ‘political betrayal’ and a tag stating ‘shame of you India’ came to notice.”
All the consultee-Judges had a favourable opinion about suitability of Shri Sathyan. The Intelligence Bureau has reported that he enjoys a good personal and professional image and that nothing adverse has come to notice against his integrity. Shri Sathyan belongs to the Christian community. The IB report notes that he does not have any overt political leanings. In this backdrop, the 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. In this view, 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.
