The High Court Legal Services Sub-Committee (HCLSSC), Lucknow Bench, has constituted a Monitoring Committee to oversee the implementation of legal aid services and ensure compliance with the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) framed pursuant to the Supreme Court’s directions in Shankar Mahto v. State of Bihar. The committee has been tasked with periodically reviewing the functioning of the legal aid system, monitoring timelines, evaluating performance, and addressing complaints.
The decision was communicated through a letter dated July 16, 2026, issued by Bhagirath Verma, Registrar (Judicial)(Stationery) and Secretary of the High Court Legal Services Sub-Committee, Lucknow. The letter states that the constitution of the committee follows the directions issued by the Administrative Committee under the order of the Chief Justice dated May 15, 2026. It also refers to an earlier communication dated May 29, 2026, from the Secretary of the High Court Legal Services Committee, Allahabad, regarding the nomination of members as required under Paragraph 8 of the SOP approved by the Supreme Court in its order dated April 16, 2026, in Criminal Appeal No. 1971 of 2026 (Arising out of SLP (Crl.) No. 6906 of 2017), Shankar Mahto v. State of Bihar.
Members of the Monitoring Committee
The newly constituted Monitoring Committee comprises:
- Shri Amrendra Nath Tripathi, Senior Advocate
- Shri Chandra Shekhar Pandey, Advocate
- Shri Shiv Nath Tilhari, Advocate
- Shri Anurag Verma, Advocate
- Presenting Officer, Legal Services Sub-Committee, Lucknow Bench (Ex-Officio Member)
Three-Year Tenure
According to the SOP reproduced in the communication, members of the Monitoring Committee will hold office for a period of three years, while the Member Secretary will serve ex officio.
Committee’s Responsibilities
The SOP assigns several oversight functions to the committee, including:
- Conducting monthly reviews of progress, delays, and compliance.
- Monitoring adherence to prescribed timelines.
- Evaluating the performance of lawyers, translators, and jail staff.
- Recommending appropriate action, including warnings, training, or removal in cases of default.
- Investigating complaints within 15 days.
- Meeting at least once every fortnight, either physically or virtually, to review progress and make recommendations to improve the efficiency of the legal aid system.
Reporting Obligations
The committee has also been entrusted with reporting responsibilities. It will submit monthly reports in a standardised format to the State Legal Services Committee (SCLSC) and the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA). In addition, it will prepare an annual consolidated report highlighting trends and recommendations arising from its reviews.
