Chief Justice of India Surya Kant has nominated Justice BV Nagarathna as Chairperson of the Supreme Court Legal Services Committee (SCLSC), with effect from June 29, 2026, exercising powers under Section 3A of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987.
The National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) issued a gazette notification on July 2, 2026 formally notifying the appointment, according to Bar & Bench.
Background & Case History
Justice Bangalore Venkataramiah Nagarathna was elevated to the Supreme Court of India on August 31, 2021, marking the beginning of what would become one of the most closely watched judicial careers in the country’s history.
Born on October 30, 1962 in Bengaluru, Justice Nagarathna is scheduled to retire on October 29, 2027, per records on the Supreme Court of India’s official website.
The SCLSC chairpersonship became vacant following the retirement of Justice JK Maheshwari, who had headed the committee before demitting office, as reported by both Bar & Bench and LiveLaw.
- August 31, 2021: Justice BV Nagarathna elevated as Judge of the Supreme Court of India.
- June 29, 2026: Justice Nagarathna’s appointment as SCLSC Chairperson takes formal effect.
- July 2, 2026: NALSA issues gazette notification formally notifying the appointment.
- October 29, 2027: Justice Nagarathna’s scheduled retirement date from the Supreme Court.
Arguments & Submissions
The appointment is an administrative nomination by the Chief Justice of India and does not arise from adversarial proceedings. No submissions or arguments from contesting parties are involved in this process.
The nomination flows directly from the Chief Justice’s statutory authority under Section 3A of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987, which vests the power of appointment in the office of the CJI, as confirmed by Bar & Bench.
No direct quotes from counsel or parties are reported in connection with this appointment in the verified sources.
The Ruling: Key Findings
Chief Justice Surya Kant exercised powers conferred by Section 3A of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 to nominate Justice BV Nagarathna to the position, according to LiveLaw.
The appointment takes effect from June 29, 2026, and was subsequently formalised through a gazette notification issued by NALSA on July 2, 2026, as reported by Bar & Bench.
Justice Nagarathna succeeds Justice JK Maheshwari, who headed the SCLSC before his retirement from the Supreme Court, per both Bar & Bench and LiveLaw.
By established convention, the third senior judge of the Supreme Court heads the SCLSC, and Justice Nagarathna’s nomination is consistent with that practice, as reported by LiveLaw.
Legal Analysis & Implications
The SCLSC operates under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987, and carries the mandate of providing free legal services to eligible persons in matters before the Supreme Court of India.
The committee also processes applications for legal aid and appoints legal services counsel for beneficiaries in deserving cases, according to LiveLaw. This makes the chairpersonship a role of significant reach and public consequence.
Section 3A of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 is the statutory basis for the CJI’s power to nominate the SCLSC Chairperson — a provision that ensures the committee’s leadership is drawn from the apex court’s sitting bench.
The appointment carries added historical weight. Justice Nagarathna is widely noted as being in line to become the first woman Chief Justice of India, with her expected elevation in 2027 preceding her scheduled retirement on October 29, 2027, per Wikipedia and Supreme Court records.
Her stewardship of the SCLSC will therefore unfold during a critical period of her judicial tenure, placing access-to-justice reform at the centre of her institutional responsibilities ahead of that historic milestone.
Reactions & Stakeholder Response
No formal reactions from Bar Council bodies, civil society organisations, or senior counsel have been reported in the verified sources in connection with this appointment.
The legal community has nonetheless taken note of the appointment’s significance, given Justice Nagarathna’s profile as a sitting judge who also chairs the Supreme Court Gender Sensitisation and Internal Complaints Committee, per the pre-verified research.
What’s Next
With the gazette notification already issued and the appointment effective from June 29, 2026, Justice BV Nagarathna assumes formal charge of the SCLSC immediately. No further procedural steps for the appointment itself are pending.
Attention will now turn to the SCLSC’s functioning under her leadership — including how legal aid applications before the Supreme Court are processed and how counsel are appointed in deserving cases, as per the committee’s mandate under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987.
Justice Nagarathna’s tenure as SCLSC Chairperson will run until her retirement on October 29, 2027, unless changed by a subsequent CJI nomination.
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Disclaimer
Disclaimer: This article is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Laws may change or vary by case — consult a qualified lawyer before acting. The Courtroom is not liable for any reliance on this content.
