Supreme Court Justice J.K. Maheshwari has been appointed Chairperson of the Supreme Court Legal Services Committee (SCLSC), strengthening access to free legal aid and ensuring that marginalized and economically disadvantaged citizens can approach the apex court for justice.
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NEW DELHI: On November 24, 2025, the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) issued a gazette notification announcing that Justice Maheshwari has been nominated as Chairperson of the SCLSC.
The nomination was made by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant, under the powers conferred by Section 3A of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987.
Justice Maheshwari, who has been serving on the Supreme Court since 2021, will now oversee the SCLSC, the apex body responsible for providing free legal services to eligible litigants before the Supreme Court.
Article 39-A of the Indian Constitution mandates that the State ensure the legal system promotes justice based on equal opportunity. It specifically requires the provision of free legal aid to prevent economic or social disadvantages from denying any citizen access to justice.
The Supreme Court Legal Services Committee (SCLSC) was established to extend this constitutional promise to the marginalized and weaker sections of society. As the apex court, the Supreme Court of India is the final authority on justice, but approaching it can be challenging due to high fees, complex procedures, and other barriers.
A large segment of India’s population cannot afford to seek justice at the Supreme Court. To address this, the SCLSC was created to provide free legal aid to eligible individuals under Section 12 of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987. The Committee ensures that financial, social, or other disadvantages do not prevent citizens from exercising their right to access the country’s highest court of justice.
About Justice J. K. Maheshwari
Justice J.K. Maheshwari was born on June 29, 1961, in Jaura, Morena District, Madhya Pradesh, into a middle-class family with a village background. He earned his BA (1982), LLB (1985), and LLM (1991) from Jiwaji University, Gwalior.
He enrolled with the Madhya Pradesh State Bar Council in 1985 and practiced mainly at the Gwalior Bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court, handling civil, criminal, constitutional, service, and tax matters. He also appeared before the Central Administrative Tribunal, Jabalpur. In 2002, he became a member of the State Bar Council and chaired its Disciplinary Committee.
Judicial Career
- Madhya Pradesh High Court: Appointed Additional Judge in 2005 and permanent Judge in 2008. Served on key High Court committees, including Administrative, Finance, Juvenile Justice, and Building Committees.
- Andhra Pradesh High Court: First Chief Justice (2019–2021), overseeing the construction of the Chief Justice’s bungalow, drafting judicial rules, and initiating virtual court hearings during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Sikkim High Court: Chief Justice in 2021 for eight months.
- Supreme Court of India: Appointed Judge on 31 August 2021, handling rosters on labor, rent, service, compensation, criminal, civil, and consumer matters.
Notable Judgements
In the Supreme Court:
- Bhopal Gas Leak Compensation (1984): Part of the bench that dismissed a curative petition seeking additional compensation in 2023, upholding the 1989 settlement.
- Divorce under Article 142: Allowed direct divorce in cases of irretrievable breakdown of marriage, bypassing the standard “cooling-off” period.
In the Andhra Pradesh High Court:
- COVID-19 PPE Case (2020): Directed hospital authorities and government officials to ensure availability of WHO-approved PPE and proper care for medical staff.
In a related development, Justice Vikram Nath has been appointed Executive Chairperson of NALSA, which oversees legal services across India.
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