Justice Narasimha Elevated to Collegium
Justice P S Narasimha has officially become a member of the Supreme Court Collegium following the retirement of Justice J K Maheshwari on Sunday, June 28, 2026. As the fifth senior-most judge of the apex court, Justice Narasimha will serve on the Collegium until his own retirement on May 2, 2028.
Collegium Composition After Retirement
Justice Maheshwari demitted office after a tenure of nearly five years. The reconstituted Collegium now comprises Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justice Vikram Nath, Justice B V Nagarathna, Justice M M Sundresh, and Justice P S Narasimha. The Collegium system, established by a Supreme Court judgement in 1993, empowers the five senior-most judges to recommend appointments, transfers, and elevations of judges to the Supreme Court and 25 high courts.
Collegium System and Government Role
Under this system, the government may return a recommendation to the Collegium. While it typically accepts reiterated recommendations, there have been instances where the government either returned the file or did not respond. This mechanism aims to balance judicial independence with executive oversight in judicial appointments.
Background of Justice P S Narasimha
Born on May 3, 1963, in Hyderabad, Justice Narasimha earned triple majors in economics, political science, and public administration from Nizam College, Hyderabad. He pursued law at the Campus Law Centre, Delhi University, graduating in 1988. Enrolled as an advocate the same year, he initially practiced in the high court, civil courts, and tribunals in Hyderabad before shifting his practice to the Supreme Court.
Notable Legal Career
Justice Narasimha appeared in numerous cases before the Supreme Court, including Constitution Bench matters. He served as commission counsel for the Justice Chinnappa Reddy Commission and was a member of the Supreme Court Legal Aid Committee. In 2008, the full court of the Supreme Court designated him as a senior advocate. As a senior advocate, he handled public law cases involving constitutional, administrative, and environmental issues.
Role as Additional Solicitor General
In 2014, Justice Narasimha was appointed additional solicitor general of India. In this capacity, he assisted the court in landmark cases, including the NJAC case before a Constitution Bench. He also participated in a Supreme Court delegation to the Canadian Supreme Court, presenting a paper on extradition and the environment.
Elevation to Supreme Court
Justice Narasimha was elevated directly from the Bar as a Supreme Court judge on August 31, 2021. His direct elevation from the Bar is relatively rare and highlights his distinguished legal career. His tenure on the Collegium will be closely watched as it handles critical judicial appointments in the coming years.
