Prof Sarasu Esther Thomas to perform duties of NLSIU Registrar

Days after Prof OV Nandimath resigned from the post, Prof Sarasu Esther Thomas has been appointed to perform the duties of Registrar of the National Law School of India University (NLSIU) Bangalore.

An office order signed by NLSIU Vice-Chancellor Prof Sudhir Krishnaswamy intimates that Prof Thomas will perform the functions and duties of the Registrar with effect from October 1. She will hold the post until either the completion of one year or until a new Registrar is appointed through the formal process.

Pursuant to Prof Nandimath’s resignation, the Executive Council of NLSIU had asked Prof Krishnaswamy to initiate the process for the appointment of a new Registrar. The EC also asked the VC to appoint someone to perform the duties of Registrar in the meantime.

The office order issued by the VC states,

“I thank Prof OV Nandimath for his nearly 7 years of service, and his exceptional support over the last 5 days, and look forward to his guidance and counsel in the years ahead.

I wish Prof. Sarasu Esther Thomas all the best and look forward to working with her to bring fresh energy and ideas to the NLSIU community.”

Prof Thomas holds BA.LL.B, LL.M, and PhD degrees from NLSIU Bangalore. She has been a faculty member at the University since 1997. She was appointed as Assistant Professor in 1999 and as Associate Professor in 2012.

Her areas of specialization include Human Rights Law and Family Law. She coordinates the Centre for Women and the Law and the Human Rights Lawyering Project, and is the Chief Editor of the National Law School Journal.

Outgoing Registrar Prof Nandimath had found himself in the eye of the storm, when NLSIU students began protesting the undue delay in the appointment of Prof Sudhir Krishnaswamy as Vice-Chancellor.

However, the protests were called off after Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi and Justice SA Bobdeoffered some clarity as to the appointment of the new Vice-Chancellor of the University. Prof Krishnaswamy subsequently took charge as Vice-Chancellor on September 25.

The Student Bar Association (SBA) had earlier alleged that the Registrar was responsible for the delay of Prof Krishnaswamy’s appointment.

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