**Executive Summary**
This document is a notification from the Government of Tamil Nadu, dated August 8, 2018. It announces amendments to the Special Rules for the Tamil Nadu Legal Educational Service. These amendments, made in exercise of powers conferred by Article 309 of the Constitution of India, are deemed to have come into force on April 26, 2013.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Introduction of "Principal" Position:**
* A new Class IA position, "Principal," is introduced in the Special Rules.
* The Director of Legal Studies position is in Class I.
* Following the introduction of the Principal position in Class IA, some of the regulations are changed to include and account for the addition.
* **Eligibility for Promotion to Principal:**
* Promotion to Principal is from Associate Professors and Associate Professors (Pre-Law) via a single common seniority list.
* A single common seniority list is created, accounting for section 7 of the Tamil Nadu Government Servants Act, 2016.
* If no qualified candidate exists for promotion, direct recruitment is allowed.
* **Age Limit:**
* The age limit for the position of Principal is 48 years.
* **Qualifications for Promotion to Principal:**
* Must have a Master's degree in Law with no less than 55% marks, or an equivalent degree recognized by Tamil Nadu Dr. Ambedkar Law University.
* Relaxation to 50% marks in Master's degree for candidates belonging to Scheduled Castes or Scheduled Tribes.
* Relaxation to 50% marks for Ph.D. holders passing their Master's before September 19, 1991.
* Holders of Associate Professor and Associate Professor (Pre-Law) posts on March 24, 1999, must have not less than 50% marks in Master's degree in Law.
* **Qualifications for Direct Recruitment to Principal:**
* A Master's degree with at least 55% marks (or equivalent grade).
* A Ph.D. degree in Law with evidence of published work and research guidance.
* Experience as an Associate Professor or Professor with at least 15 years of teaching, research, or administration experience in higher education.
* A minimum score as stipulated in the Academic Performance Indicator (API) based Performance Based Appraisal System (PBAS).
* **Amendments to service membership:**
* Replaces reference to "members of the service in the categories in Class II" with "members of the service in Class IA and in the categories in Class II."
* **Amendments to Director of Legal Studies definition:**
* Replaces reference to "Director of Legal Studies" with "Director of Legal Studies or Principal".
* **Authority for Transfers and Postings:**
* The Government is now responsible for the postings of Class I and IA members
* The Director of Legal Studies is now responsible for all other classes
**Impact Analysis**
**Tamil Nadu Legal Educational Service Personnel**
* **Impact**
* Establishes a new "Principal" position, modifying rules for promotion and direct recruitment.
* Associate Professors and Professors are eligible for promotion.
* Defines eligibility requirements based on education, experience, and API scores.
* **Action Required**
* Personnel need to review eligibility criteria for potential promotion or direct recruitment opportunities.
**Government of Tamil Nadu**
* **Impact**
* Expands the number of positions covered by the special rules
* **Action Required**
* Personnel need to enforce the rules.
Key Entities Referenced
Tamil Nadu Legal Educational Service: The legal educational service in Tamil Nadu, subject to amendments in the notification.
Special Rules: The rules governing the Tamil Nadu Legal Educational Service, specifically Section 33 in Volume II of the Tamil Nadu Services Manual, 2016.
Principal: A new position (Class IA) being inserted into the Special Rules for the Tamil Nadu Legal Educational Service.
Chennai: Location where the gazette was issued.