Chief Justice to head Law School

COIMBATORE: The State government has decided to install the Chief Justice of the Madras High Court as the Chancellor of the proposed Tamil Nadu National Law School (University) in Srirangam in Tiruchy.In all State-run universities, including the Tamil Nadu Dr Ambedkar Law University in Chennai, only the Governor has been anointed the Chancellor.However, the Tamil Nadu National Law School Act 2012 says: “The Chief Justice of the HC shall be the Chancellor: Provided that the Chief Justice may nominate a judge of the HC as the Chancellor of the School.” Sources in the Law Department indicated that the decision was taken on the premise that the involvement of senior practising judicial officers would help design and impart legal education of international standards.Senior advocate V Suresh pointed out that this is on the lines of a few other National Law Schools like NALSAR, Hyderabad, where serving Chief Justices don the role of Chancellors.Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa had laid the foundation for the Law School a month ago.The CJ would also chair the Law School’s general council (akin to the Senate or Academic-Senate of other universities) and select the V-C from out of a panel of three names recommended by the Selection Committee.But, there is one apprehension.“If someone wants to legally challenge an academic or administrative decision of the NLS, he/she will have to approach the Madras HC.In such an eventuality, arguing before the Chief Justice could be tricky,” a Government Law College professor contended.Suresh dispelled such fears saying “he norm is that whenever such conflict of interest arises the CJ would recuse himself and ask another judge to hear the case.”