The President of India Ms.Droupadi Murmu has nominated the Supreme Court Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul as the Executive Chairman of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA).
The ministry of Law and Justice has issued a notification on the same dated November 25, 2022, which reads,
In exercise of the powers conferred under Clause (b) of sub-section (2) of Section 3 of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987, the President is pleased to nominate Hon’ble Shri Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul, Judge, Supreme Court of India, as Executive Chairman, National Legal Services Authority, with immediate effect”
As per the Legal Services Authority Act of 1987,the Chief Justice of India is NALSA’s Patron-on-Chief .
The President of the country with the help of the Chief Justice of India, appoints an active or retired Supreme Court Judge as the Executive Chairman.
As per convention, the post of Executive Chairman of NALSA is always taken by the second senior judge of the Supreme Court.
It was earlier held by CJI DY Chandra during the tenure of UU Lalit, whereas Justice UU Lalit held this post during the tenure of former CJI NV Ramana.
Justice Kaul is the senior most judge after CJI. He has held the position of former Chief Justice of Madras High Court and Punjab and Haryana High Court.
Justice Kaul has also served as former judge of Delhi High Court, where he also served as an acting Chief Justice.