The Chief Justice of India has appointed Justice Surya Kant, the Supreme Court's second senior-most judge, as Chairman of the Supreme Court Legal Services Committee (SCLSC).

Justice Surya Kant succeeds Justice B.R. Gavai, who held the position prior to his appointment as Executive Chairman of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA). The Chief Justice of India serves as the patron-in-chief of the SCLSC.

The SCLSC has been constituted under Section 3A of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 for providing free and competent legal services to the weaker sections of society in the cases that fall under the jurisdiction of the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India. The Committee consists of a sitting Judge of the Hon'ble Supreme Court, who is the Chairman and 9 members nominated by the Hon'ble  Chief Justice of India.

“In exercise of the powers conferred by Section 3A of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 (39 of 1987), Hon’ble the Chief Justice of India is pleased to nominate Hon'ble Mr. Justice Surya Kant, Judge, Supreme Court of India, as Chairman of the Supreme Court Legal Services Committee with immediate effect and makes the following amendment in its Notification No. S.O. 115(E) dated 09.02.2000, namely:

In the said Notification, for the serial number (1) and the entries relating thereto, the following shall be substituted, namely:

1. “MR. JUSTICE SURYA KANT – CHAIRMAN”

Judge, Supreme Court of India.”

[Tap here for the Official notification.]