Collegium reiterates proposal to elevate R John Sathyan after Central government rejected his name for sharing post critical of PM Modi

The Supreme Court Collegium has reiterated its proposal to elevate Advocate R John Sathyan as a judge of the Madras High Court, after the Central government rejected his name citing an Intelligence Bureau (IB) report stating that he had shared an article that was critical of Prime Minister Narendra Modi..The report had stated that Sathyan had shared such an article published in The Quint, as well as another post portraying the suicide of a medical aspirant in 2017 as a 'political betrayal' and a 'shame of India'. However, the Collegium said in its latest statement,"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.".On February 16, 2022, the Collegium headed by former Chief Justice of India NV Ramana had recommended the names of six lawyers — Nidumolu Mala, Sunder Mohan, Kabali Kumaresh Babu, S Sounthar, Abdul Ghani Abdul Hameed, and R John Sathyan for judgeship at the High Court.This, after the Madras High Collegium recommended the same to the apex court in 2021.While the other names were cleared and they were appointed as High Court judges, the names of Sathyan and Hameed were sent back.The Collegium revealed that the consultee judges at the time - Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul, Indira Banerjee, V Ramasubramanian and MM Sundresh - found Sathyan suitable for elevation. It further said that he has a good personal and professional image, and that nothing adverse has come to notice against his integrity..It thus reiterated its earlier proposal to elevate Sathyan, noting,"The Collegium further recommends that he be given precedence in the matter of appointment as Judge over certain names separately recommended today by this Collegium for appointment as Judges of the Madras High Court.".Sathyan is a leading criminal lawyer in Chennai. He studied law at Madras Law College. .[Read Collegium statement]