Tamil Nadu Government Withdraws Order Appointing Law University Registrar as DLS
The state will initiate a regular recruitment process for the Director of Legal Studies position.
1Government Order Withdrawn
The Tamil Nadu government informed the Madras High Court of its decision to withdraw a Government Order issued on September 8, 2026. This order had temporarily promoted Gowri Ramesh, the Registrar of Tamil Nadu Dr. Ambedkar Law University, to the position of Director of Legal Studies, sparking significant legal challenges regarding administrative appointments.
2Legal Challenge Background
M. Rajeswaran, principal of a government law college, initiated the legal challenge against the appointment. He argued that a full-time university registrar holding additional charge of the Director of Legal Studies post violated established service rules. The petitioner emphasized that the role requires a regular appointment process rather than temporary administrative shifts.
3Procedural Rule Violations
The petitioner contended that the Director of Legal Studies vacancy must be filled through direct recruitment, transfer, or promotion of qualified law college principals. By invoking emergency powers under Section 47(1) of the 2016 Service Act, the government bypassed these standard protocols, leading to multiple writ petitions filed throughout the year 2026.
4Previous Judicial Interventions
Justice P.T. Asha initially stayed a March 2026 order that granted additional charge to Ms. Ramesh. Although the state attempted to appoint a joint secretary in July 2026, the subsequent September order reignited the dispute. Justice Mummineni Sudheer Kumar later stayed the September order, citing the government's failure to honor previous court undertakings.
5Court Bench Ruling
Chief Justice Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari and Justice G. Arul Murugan recorded the Advocate General's submission regarding the withdrawal of the controversial order. The bench disposed of the pending writ appeal and closed the associated petition, noting that the government's decision rendered the previous legal disputes moot while emphasizing the need for legal compliance.
6Future Recruitment Plans
The state government has committed to filling the Director of Legal Studies position through a regular process as contemplated under the Special Rules for the Tamil Nadu Collegiate Educational Service. Officials stated that they will pursue the promotion process in accordance with the law to ensure long-term stability in the department's leadership.
7Interim Administrative Steps
Pending the completion of the regular recruitment process, the state will take temporary steps to manage the Director of Legal Studies office. This approach mirrors the strategy employed in July 2026, when a joint secretary from the Law department was assigned the additional charge to maintain operational continuity during the ongoing legal proceedings.
8Significance of Compliance
This development underscores the judiciary's role in enforcing administrative accountability within state service rules. By forcing the government to adhere to the Special Rules, the court has ensured that senior academic positions are filled through transparent, merit-based procedures rather than temporary, emergency-based appointments that bypass the established hierarchy of the collegiate service.