Ministry : Ministry of Home Affairs (CS Division)
Part II-Section 3-Sub-Section (ii)
Subject : Extra Ordinary
Appointment of Senior Advocates as Members of the Supreme Court Legal Services Committee
The National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) has formally appointed five eminent Senior Advocates of the Supreme Court of India as members of the Supreme Court Legal Services Committee, reinforcing institutional capacity for delivering free legal aid and advancing access to justice.
Key Points
- Five Senior Advocates—Siddhartha Dave, Rakesh Kumar Khanna, V. Mohana, Gagan Gupta, and Liz Methew—have been nominated as members of the Supreme Court Legal Services Committee.
- The appointment is made under Section 3A of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987, read with relevant rules and regulations governing NALSA and the Supreme Court’s legal services framework.
- These members will contribute to the Committee’s mandate of providing free and competent legal services to marginalized and vulnerable groups, especially those eligible under legal aid criteria.
- The notification supersedes earlier appointments referenced in Gazette No. 855 dated 26.12.2023, specifically updating the list from serial numbers 6 to 10.
- The decision underscores continued high-level commitment to strengthening India’s public legal services infrastructure through expert representation.
Strengthening Access to Justice Through Expert Legal Leadership
NALSA’s appointment of five distinguished Senior Advocates to the Supreme Court Legal Services Committee marks a strategic enhancement of the country’s highest-tier legal aid mechanism. By inducting senior legal professionals with extensive experience at the apex court, the Authority ensures that marginalized litigants gain access to high-quality legal representation. This move reaffirms India’s institutional commitment to Article 39A of the Constitution, which mandates equal justice and legal aid for all, particularly the economically disadvantaged. The formalization of these appointments through official gazette notification also highlights the transparency and procedural rigor underlying judicial support systems in India.
