CJI Names Justice B.V. Nagarathna Chairperson of Supreme Court Legal Services Committee

The Chief Justice of India has nominated Supreme Court judge Justice Bangalore Venkataramiah Nagarathna as chairperson of the Supreme Court Legal Services Committee.

The Committee is the apex-level body responsible for providing free legal aid and advice to eligible litigants approaching the Supreme Court, and for coordinating legal services authorities across states under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987.

Justice Nagarathna, elevated to the Supreme Court in 2021 from the Karnataka High Court, is the daughter of a former Chief Justice of India and has authored several significant judgments on federalism, taxation and service law during her tenure.

Her appointment to head the Committee adds an administrative responsibility to her judicial docket, overseeing panel lawyers, legal aid clinics and the disposal of applications for free representation before the apex court.

The chairpersonship of the Committee typically rotates among sitting Supreme Court judges as designated by the CJI, and the role carries significance for access-to-justice initiatives the judiciary runs alongside its adjudicatory functions.

Justice Nagarathna is among the senior judges on the current Supreme Court bench and is in the line of seniority that has drawn attention regarding future elevation to the office of the Chief Justice of India.

The nomination takes immediate effect, according to the order issued by the CJI's office.