Supreme Court judge Justice Vikram Nath on Monday officially took over as the Executive Chairman of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA).
President Draupadi Murmu appointed Justice Nath as the Executive Chairman of NALSA on November 19, 2025, following the elevation of Justice Surya Kant as the 53rd Chief Justice of India (CJI).
A notification was issued in this regard on November 19, pursuant to Section 3(2)(b) of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987, which vested the President of India with the authority to nominate a sitting judge of the Supreme Court to take over the post of the Executive Chairman of NALSA. The nomination was made by President Droupadi Murmu in exercise of the said statutory power.
Elevated to the Supreme Court in 2021, Justice Nath has contributed to several significant constitutional and procedural law pronouncements. His judicial tenure includes participation in landmark rulings on access to justice, due process, and the constitutional mandate under Articles 14 and 21. His leadership at NALSA is expected to further advance the authority’s statutory mandate of ensuring “equal access to justice for all,” a principle repeatedly affirmed by the Supreme Court in decisions such as Hussainara Khatoon v. State of Bihar (1979) and Anokhi Lal v. State of Madhya Pradesh (2019), where the Court underscored the indispensable role of free and competent legal aid.
As Executive Chairman, Justice Nath will oversee the nationwide legal services framework, including NALSA’s efforts to strengthen legal literacy campaigns, Lok Adalats, victim compensation schemes, and the legal aid delivery mechanisms operating through State and District Legal Services Authorities. His stewardship is anticipated to reinforce the institutional commitment to ensuring that socio-economically vulnerable citizens receive meaningful and timely legal assistance, as envisaged under the Directive Principles of State Policy and the Legal Services Authorities Act.
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