The Supreme Court has declined to take up a plea by Permanent Lok Adalat members for a structured pay scale and directed that the writ petition be forwarded to the Member Secretary of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) to be considered as a representation by its Governing Council within four months. [Roonam Kaushik & Ors v. Union of India & Anr]
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New Delhi: A Bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V Mohana disposed of the petition, filed by 14 Permanent Lok Adalat members, after hearing Senior Advocate Karuna Nundy for the petitioners.
What the petitioners sought
The petitioners asked for a structured, reasonable and dignified pay scale, preferably monthly, at par with the Chairman of the Permanent Lok Adalat and other judicial forums. Ms Nundy submitted that these bodies once dealt mainly with public utility matters but now handle banking, NBFC, housing and education disputes, so that their pecuniary and subject-matter jurisdiction has expanded considerably. She told the Court that they disposed of cases worth Rs 660 crore last year.
Members are paid Rs 2,500 per sitting and earn roughly Rs 25,000 to Rs 50,000, she submitted, whereas a district consumer forum member gets about Rs 1.6 lakh after a court order. Members work continuously at the district level and cannot take up other work. Representations had been made and two matters went to High Courts, she said, but they were repeatedly sent back to the authorities.
What the Bench said
The Chief Justice observed orally that the work is a kind of voluntary service, that members are part of the legal aid scheme and that conditions of service and parity do not apply to such service. He noted that Legal Services Authorities have limited funds which must be distributed equitably, and that financial support differs from State to State under different Acts. Even if the Court wished to help, he said, a structural change in the routine allocation of funds would be required. These were oral remarks and are not part of the order.
The direction
The Registry was directed to send a copy of the writ petition to the NALSA Member Secretary, for consideration as a representation by the NALSA Governing Council. NALSA has been given four months. As reported, the Bench added:
“It will be appreciated if NALSA takes an appropriate decision in the matter at the earliest.”
NALSA’s position on the demand was not recorded. The Court has not decided the merits of the pay claim, and the outcome now rests with the Governing Council.
Case details: Roonam Kaushik & Ors v. Union of India & Anr | Diary No. 36768/2026 | Bench: CJI Surya Kant, Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana | Disposed of; NALSA to consider within four months.
Appearances: Senior Advocate Karuna Nundy (for the petitioners).