New Delhi: Justice B.V. Nagarathna has been appointed as the Chairperson of the Supreme Court Legal Services Committee (SCLSC), marking another significant administrative responsibility for the senior Supreme Court judge. The appointment places her at the helm of the body responsible for ensuring access to justice by providing free legal aid and legal representation to eligible litigants before the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court Legal Services Committee functions under the framework of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 and is constituted to implement legal aid programmes for persons entitled to free legal services in matters before the Supreme Court. The Committee facilitates legal representation, appoints legal aid counsel, and works to make the constitutional promise of equal access to justice a practical reality.
Justice Nagarathna brings extensive judicial and legal experience to the position. Born on October 30, 1962, in Bengaluru, she completed her B.A. (Hons.) in History from Jesus and Mary College, University of Delhi, in 1984 and obtained her LL.B. degree from the Campus Law Centre, University of Delhi, in July 1987.
She commenced legal practice in 1987 with KESVY & Co., Advocates, before establishing an independent practice in July 1994. During her years at the Bar, she handled a broad spectrum of matters, including constitutional law, administrative law, commercial law, and family law. She also represented the Karnataka State Legal Services Authority and the High Court Legal Services Committee and was appointed as amicus curiae in several matters.
Justice Nagarathna was appointed as an Additional Judge of the High Court of Karnataka on February 18, 2008, and became a Permanent Judge on February 17, 2010. During her tenure in the High Court, she served as President of the Karnataka Judicial Academy and the Bangalore Mediation Centre, contributing significantly to judicial education and alternative dispute resolution mechanisms.
She also played an important academic and institutional role by contributing the chapter on the courts of Karnataka to the Supreme Court's publication Courts of India. She further chaired the committee responsible for bringing out the Kannada translation of the publication, which was released in April 2021.
Justice Nagarathna was elevated to the Supreme Court of India on August 31, 2021. She has since authored several notable judgments across constitutional, administrative, and civil law, earning recognition for her emphasis on constitutional values, gender justice, and the rule of law.
Justice Nagarathna is due to retire on October 29, 2027. She is also in line to become the first woman Chief Justice of India, subject to the established convention of seniority.
