The Union government has appointed second seniormost judge of the Supreme Court, Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai, as new Executive Chairman of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA).
A notification issued by the Ministry of Law and Justice said that in exercise of powers conferred under Clause (b) of sub-section (2) of Section 3 of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987, President Droupadi Murmu was pleased to nominate Jastice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai as Executive Chairman of NALSA, with effect from November 11, 2024.
Justice Gavai has succeeded Justice Sanjiv Khanna, who was recently sworn-in as the 51st Chief Justice of India.
As per the convention of NALSA, the position of Executive Chairman is held by the second senior-most judge of the Supreme Court of India. Justice Gavai earlier served as the Chairman of the Supreme Court Legal Services Committee (SCLSC), the body responsible for providing legal aid to litigants in the Apex Court.
A statement issued by NALSA said that Justice Gavai, as Executive Chairman, would oversee the authority’s mission to deliver accessible and free legal assistance to all citizens, with particular focus on individuals from marginalised and economically disadvantaged backgrounds across India.
His leadership was expected to further NALSA’s commitment to upholding the constitutional mandate of Article 39-A, ensuring that justice was not denied to any citizen due to financial or social barriers.