Justice Vikram Nath becomes the Executive Chairman of NALSA

Supreme Court senior judge Justice Vikram Nath has been nominated as the Executive Chairman of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA). Justice Nath is also going to serve as the CJI for seven months between 10 February and 24 September 2027.

• President Droupadi Murmu has nominated Supreme Court senior judge Justice Vikram Nath as the Executive Chairman of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA). This appointment is as per the old convention of giving this role to the senior-most judge after the Chief Justice of India (CJI).
• Justice Nath is also going to serve as the CJI for seven months between 10 February and 24 September 2027. In a notification issued by the Ministry of Law and Justice on 19 November, it was said that this nomination was made under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987.

Jitendra Kumar Maheshwari, Chairperson of SCLSC

• In a parallel appointment, Chief Justice of India Surya Kant has nominated Justice Jitendra Kumar Maheshwari as the Chairman of the Supreme Court Legal Services Committee (SCLSC). NALSA had issued a gazetted notification on 20 November 2025.
• SCLSC plays an important role in providing legal assistance to deprived people seeking justice in the Supreme Court. Justice Maheshwari will be responsible for policy direction, committee operations and implementing legal support programs under the Legal Services Authorities Act.
• NALSA said in a statement that Justice Nath’s leadership will further advance its constitutional mandate under Article 39A to ensure that “no person is denied justice because of money or social difficulties.”
• Justice Nath, who was elevated to the Supreme Court in 2021, had earlier served as the Chief Justice of the Gujarat High Court.
• The Chief Justice of India is the Patron-in-Chief of NALSA, while the second senior-most judge of the Supreme Court of India is the Executive Chairman.

Key cases related to Justice Nath

• Justice Nath was part of the five-judge Constitution Bench that gave its official opinion on the President’s Article 143 reference related to delays in approving state bills.
• The bench said that neither the Governor nor the President can be bound by a timeline set by the Court to give approval, and warned that any such order would obstruct the separation of powers.
• This decision overturned the 2023 verdict of a two-judge bench in the Tamil Nadu case, which had introduced strict deadlines and the controversial idea of “deemed assent.”
• Justice Nath also led a three-judge bench that on 22 August modified earlier directions issued by a two-judge bench regarding large-scale capture and non-release of stray dogs in Delhi–NCR.

History of NALSA

• It is related to the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987, which was implemented in 1995 to provide free legal aid to the weaker sections of society.
• Helpline: 15100.