By THE NEWSMAN OF INDIA.COM|
The National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) has set up a committee to review the Legal Aid Defense Counsel System (LADCS) Scheme and its policy framework.

As per a press release issued on March 6, 2026, the decision was taken by the Chief Justice of India, who is also the Patron-in-Chief of NALSA, in consultation with the Executive Chairman of the authority. The move follows representations submitted by advocates from Punjab raising concerns regarding the functioning of the LADCS scheme.

The committee will be headed by P. Sam Koshy, Judge of the Telangana High Court and Executive Chairman of the Telangana State Legal Services Authority.

Other members of the committee include A. K. Jayasankaran Nambiar, Judge of the Kerala High Court and Executive Chairman of the Kerala State Legal Services Authority; Sanjiv Pandey, Member Secretary of NALSA who will also serve as Member Coordinator; Kumari Ranjana Asthana, Member Secretary of the Jharkhand State Legal Services Authority; and Manu Kalia, Member Secretary of the Uttar Pradesh State Legal Services Authority.

The panel will examine issues related to the scheme and recommend suitable measures for strengthening the legal aid defence framework.