The Tamil Nadu National Law School (TNNLS) in Srirangam taluk is likely to offer more courses, including B.Com LLB (Honours) and LLM with different specialisations, from the next academic year.
At present, the law school is offering a five-year integrated B.A.,LL.B (Honours) degree from this academic year with an intake of 100 students, 45 each under the quotas of Tamil Nadu and all India and 10 under NRI quota.
On Wednesday, Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, through video conferencing from Chennai, inaugurated the law school in the presence of acting Chief Justice of Madras High Court and Chancellor of the TNNLS, Rajesh Kumar Agrawal. She handed over admission letters to seven candidates.
In February last year, the Chief Minister laid foundation stone for the school building at a function held in Srirangam.
Established on a 25-acre campus in Navalurkuttapattu on the Tiruchi-Dindigul National Highway at an investment of Rs.100 crore, the law school has been included in the University Grants Commission-approved list of universities. Required faculty is in place, sources in the college say, adding that the last date for admission is August 29. The administrative, undergraduate and amenities blocks and hostels for men and women have already been built. Work is underway on construction of a few other buildings including the residential quarters for officers and faculty.
While appreciating the State government for starting the national law school in Srirangam, advocates in Chennai point out that the authorities should devote equal attention to the development of the government law colleges in the State. They point out that every effort should be made to bring the government colleges also on a par with the national law schools. Many of the existing law colleges, especially run by government, face shortage of teachers in law and non-law faculties, says S.Prabakaran, Member, Bar Council of India (BCI) and the president of the Tamil Nadu Advocates’ Association. The council had issued notices to the colleges. It was issuing direction to the universities to maintain a teacher-student ratio of 1:40. Now there were several guest lecturers in the colleges, he says.
