Government of India has appointed Justice Jagdish Singh Khehar, as the new Executive Chairman of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA). He succeeds Justice Anil R. Dave, who retired from the Supreme Court. Chief Justice of India Justice TS Thakur is the patron-in-chief of NALSA.

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 Jagdish Singh Khehar, Judge, Supreme Court of India, as Executive Chairman, National Legal Services Authority, with effect from 19th November, 2016.

NATIONAL LEGAL SERVICES AUTHORITY

• National Legal Services Authority of India (NALSA) was formed on 5 December 1995 under the authority of the Legal Services Authorities Act 1987.
• Its purpose is to provide free legal services to eligible candidates (defined in Sec. 12 of the Act), and to organize Lok Adalats for speedy resolution of cases.
• The Chief Justice of India is patron-in-chief of NALSA while second seniormost judge of Supreme Court of India is the Executive-Chairman.
• There is a provision for similar mechanism at state and district level also headed by Chief Justice of High Courts and Chief Judges of District courts respectively.
• The prime objective of NALSA is speedy disposal of cases and reducing the burden of judiciary.