Member Secretary

Shri Sanjay Singh, a distinguished officer of the Uttar Pradesh Higher Judicial Service, is presently serving as the Member Secretary of the Uttar Pradesh State Legal Services Authority (UPSLSA). He began his legal journey as an advocate at the Punjab & Haryana High Court, having completed his B.A. (Hons.) and LL.B. from Panjab University in 1999, followed by an LL.M. from Kurukshetra University in 2015.

After qualifying the Uttar Pradesh Higher Judicial Services Examination in 2013, he was appointed as Additional District and Sessions Judge at Banda. Over his judicial career from 2013 to 2021,he has adjudicated a remarkable number of cases: 1052 Motor Accident Claim Petitions, 139 Civil Appeals, 126 Sessions Trials, 277 Criminal Revision Cases, and approximately more than 3000 miscellaneous matters, reflecting his deep legal acumen and commitment to justice.

His tenure included significant administrative roles across various committees, such as Infrastructure, Nazarat, and O.S.D. (Computer). As Chairman of the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal in Aligarh, he received prestigious commendations & amp; honor from the Hon’ble Governor, Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, and the Hon’ble Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court for achieving the highest disposal of MACT cases through Lok Adalat in 2021.

In his current role as Member Secretary, UPSLSA, Shri Sanjay Singh has demonstrated exceptional leadership, notably in organizing and innovating Lok Adalats. His efforts led to record-breaking highest disposals in National Lok Adalats across the country, earning him appreciations from the Hon’ble Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court twice. He spearheaded the introduction of thematic Lok Adalats for Petty Offences, Negotiable Instruments Act cases, Arbitration executions, banking disputes, and electricity matters—catalyzing quicker resolution for litigants. Additionally, he initiated the digitization of Bank Recovery Cases for more streamlined cases handling.

Shri Sanjay Singh has been a strong advocate for mediation and capacity-building. He organized 40-hour Mediation Training Programs for 72 High Court mediators, 115 judicial officers, and 433 district court advocates. He also led a specialized workshops on “Mediation” for 169 Family Court Counsellors at JTRI, Lucknow in three phases.

He is a regular and frequent guest speaker at training programs for civil judges, deputy collectors, legal aid counsels, and others, showcasing his unwavering commitment to legal education.

One of his pioneering achievements has been the implementation of the Legal Aid Defense Counsel System in all 74 districts of Uttar Pradesh– a landmark step towards institutionalizing free legal defense for the marginalized. Shri Sanjay Singh has strengthened the legal aid framework substantially. Under his stewardship, UPSLSA has ensured access to justice for marginalized communities. He personally conducted surprise inspections in jails across the state, leading to tangible improvements in prison conditions. His initiatives include formulating Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) on jail appeals, matrimonial disputes, and commercial litigation, thereby promoting efficient, equitable legal assistance.

A key innovator, Shri Sanjay Singh integrated Anganwadi workers and ASHA workers as Para Legal Volunteers (PLVs), thereby expanding outreach in rural and underserved areas. His initiatives such as legal education for the transgender community, development of a mobile app for PLVs, the CACA Project, psychological counseling centers in jails, and the “Samvad Se Samadhan” program for prisoners, have gained widespread recognition.

He has also actively involved law students in awareness drives for National Lok Adalats, instilling legal literacy at the grassroots. Under his leadership, new District Legal Services Authorities were established in Sambhal, Shamli, and Hapur—marking a milestone in legal services outreach.

One of his landmark achievements includes the establishment of the UPSLSA Front Offices at the Hon’ble High Court premises atAllahabad and Lucknow, providing free legal aid and advice to the needy and vulnerable sections of society.

In 2024, under the directive of the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India, a Special Lok Adalat was conducted from 29th July to 2nd August. Despite Uttar Pradesh’s demographic challenges, a meticulous action plan led by Shri Sanjay Singh resulted in effective case identification and timely notice delivery. As a result, 83 cases were successfully settled, earning him an appreciation letter from the Hon’ble Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court.

Under the “Undertrial Review Committee Special Campaign” initiated by NALSA, Shri Sanjay Singh led state-wide efforts to provide legal aid to prisoners. His strategic supervision from 2023 to 2025 resulted in the release of 4348 prisoners in 2023, 2895 prisoners in 2024, and 1438 prisoners in the first two quarter of 2025.

The new office premises of the Uttar Pradesh State Legal Services Authority (UPSLSA) was inaugurated by Hon’ble Mr. Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna  Gavai,  Judge, Supreme Court of India and Executive Chairman, National Legal Services Authority (NALSA), New Delhi, on 18th January 2025. This momentous occasion took place during his tenure as Member Secretary of UPSLSA and marked a significant milestone in the infrastructural advancement of UPSLSA, symbolizing its growing institutional strength and commitment to legal empowerment.

In furtherance of this vision, a One-Day State-Level Sensitization Programme was successfully organized on 18th January 2025 at the Judicial Training and Research Institute (JTRI), Gomti Nagar, Lucknow. This event was a direct outcome of the persistent and dedicated efforts of Shri Sanjay Singh towards fostering stakeholder engagement and strengthening the framework of legal aid services across the state.

The sensitization programme served as a dynamic platform to promote inter-departmental collaboration and to deepen awareness of key legal and social welfare issues. The event brought together a wide spectrum of participants, including Secretaries of all District Legal Services Authorities (DLSAs) in Uttar Pradesh, newly appointed Civil Judges, District Social Welfare Officers, District Probation Officers, as well as Chief and Deputy Legal Aid Defense Counsels. The programme also saw enthusiastic participation from Mediators, Panel Advocates, Para Legal Volunteers (PLVs), and law students from various colleges and universities in the Lucknow region.

The sessions focused on enhancing participants’ understanding of legal aid delivery mechanisms, improving inter-agency coordination, and clarifying the roles and responsibilities of various functionaries involved in the justice delivery and social support systems. Through interactive discussions and knowledge-sharing sessions, the programme enriched the participants with practical insights and strategic approaches, thereby contributing to the development of a more inclusive, accessible, and robust legal aid ecosystem in Uttar Pradesh.