HISTORY OF THE COLLEGE On the 31st, January, 1975 the Government of His Highness the Maharaja of Travancore sanctioned “the Organisation of a Law Class in connection with His Highness College at Thiruvananthapuram (o enable candidates from Travancore to present themselves for the Law Examination of the University of Madras and to encourage others to pursue the study of Law systematically”, The order sanctioning the scheme directed that it shall be worked on the same lines as the Glass attached to the Preside College at Madras. Mr. W. E, Ormsby, Barrister-at-law, then a Judge of Sadur Court of Travancore was appointed Professor of Law in His Hig! oI the Maharaja’s College on a salary of Rs. 200 a month. He opened the class on 9th February of the same year. In 1877, His Highness College was affiliated to the University of Madras in the Faculty of Law. In 1891 an Assistant Professor of Law was appointed on a salary of Rs. 100 per mensem, the Professor and his Assistant each working two hours a week, Dr. Ormsby retired in 1892 - his place as Professor of Law was taken up by Mr, W. 'T. A. Cosby, Barrister-at-law, Judge of the Hi Court of Travancore. The class was thus continued till 1894 when in conformity with important alterations in the bye-laws of the Madras University regarding the B.L, Degree Examination, the institution was re-organised on an entirele different footing. The Law Class which till then was working as a part of His Highness College and the Professors whereof were treated as members of that College was raised to the status ofan independent Coll under the | designation of “His Highness Maharaja's Law College, ‘Thirwvananthapuram”. Mr. Cosby was appointed Principal and the stalf ‘was strengthened by the appointment of one Senior and two Jitnior Professor, cach: working two hours a week. A Lecturer in Medical Jurisprudenes working an hour a week was added to the staff in February '897, A complete set of rules was also sanctioned by Government for the control end regulation of work in the college. ‘The rules prescribed the qualification required for the members of the teaching stT. Mr. F.J.R.V. Hunt, Barristec-at-law, Judge of the High Court of Travancore, Succeeded by’Mr. Goslyy in 1900'as Principal of the Uollge and in accordance with his suggestions the Government in 1900 sanctioned Certain important alterations in the scheme for the College as ‘settled in 1894 and with a view to meet the altered conditions the Government again re-organised the College. In addition to the Principal the Government sanctioned the appointment of two permanent Professors on a salary of Rs. 350 per mensem raising to Rs. 500 by annual increments of 25 and two elective Professors on a salary of Rs. 150. ‘The classes which were till then held in Hig Highness the Mabaraja’s College were removed to the School of Arts buildngThis change seriously alerted che nanctal the College. ‘Whe Law College was ti: thea moze than self-supporting, Under the new scheme though there was considvrable increas unber uf students attending the several classes of the College the fee collected was insufficient to cover working expenses. After covsultation with the Principal and Professors of the College, the Government decided to raise the scale of fees to Rs, 126 per for the B.L. Class, Rs. 108fur F. 1. Glass and Rs, 95 for Pleaceiship Cilasses. ‘The rates continued upto 1931. . The Permanent Professors were déafted into the genzral service of the State. Anew schon: wes brougat into opersiion fom January 1905. Under the new scheme the Golirg: Stall consisted of a’Principal on Rs. 200, two Senior Lecturers on Rs. 150 cach, two Junior Lecturers on Rs. 125 eagh anda Lecturer in Medical Jurisprudence on Rs, 50 per mensem and the Anstitation again became seif-supporting. They were all part-time and their remunerations wore only allowances. one the coaversion of two Junio: tenable In 1908, ths Govermucnt sane Lectureships, two Elective Lecturerships oa the same sal for two years and subject (0 re-appointment. {a 1911, A Cocaraiseion Grom the University of Madras inspected Law Coll Tnaceordance with the suggestion contained in ir Repo-t, Government sanctioned the strength ning of th: self by the appointment’ of two adlidoral Thetiv: Lecturers” with offect from July 1919, from servies. Mr. H. 8. Chatfield By the end of 1914 Mr. flunt ve igh Court M.A., Bactister-at-law who succecdsd -him-as Judge in’ the was appointed Principal of Law Qolleg: trom January, 1915. In 1919, the Luw College Staff were re-organised and the salary of Principat “was raised to Re. 259 that of the Sinior Lecturers to Rs. 200 each and of Eleotiv: Lecturors to Rs, 178 cach. At the same time the designations “Scnior L clive Lecturers”? turers” aud 3” were converted into “Senior Professors” and “Juniox Professors” to cope with the work that was catailed theraby, Mi. E. J. fohu, B.A. Boe wes appoint Principal of the Gi in 1926 on the retirement of Mr. Chatfield. In 1920 a Commision fiom it: University of Madras inspected th Jaw Coleg: Ta accordance with th: cecommendations contained in the Report, Goveznment sanctioned the conversion of the College from a parttime institution, working in mornings and evenings into a full-time institutions working between 193, m. and 4 p.m. with a feo: interval of one hour betwoen J and 2 p.m. with effec: frum the beginniag of the ackdemic year 1931-32. Th- staff’ was reorganised by th: appointment of a falletinw: Principal on Rs, 75 1-59-90; two full-time | Professors on Rs, 400.50/2-700 wich ¢ dive 2 Eecturers on Rs. 200 cach and a Lecturer in Medical’ Jurisprudence ou Rs, 50, ‘Che Elective LeciuresOn the retirement of Sri K, Narayanan in May, 1953, Sri V. N. Subramonia fyer, M.A., M.L. was appointed Principal, On the 7th May, 1970 Sri M. George, B.A., M.L. took charge as Principal vice Sri VN. Subramonia lyer transferred to Ernakulam. ‘The pleased to mike the ‘Fhiruvananthapuram Law College permanent institution with effect from 1-4-1961. A full-time post-geaduate course for M.L, Degree in Clonstitutional Law and International Law was started from the academic year 1962-63. In June, 1967, Shri R. Sankaradasan Thampi took over as Principal, on his transfer from Ernakulam. On his retirement Sri M. Krishnan Nait took charge from April, 1979 and left on $1-8-1931 to take appointment as Chairman’ of the Official Language (Legislative) Gommission, Professor K. Sreekantan took over charge as Principal o 5-9-1981 and retired on 29-6-1985, Professor Vijayabalan took charge as Principal on 1-7-1985, Professor K. Subramonia Pillai took charge as Principal in 1990 and Tetired on 30-4-1903._ Professor R. Vijayakrishnn took charge as Principal on 1-5-1995 and retired in 1997 and Professor M.M. Madhavan Potty took charge as the Principal and r-tired in 2003. Prof. K.S. Ajayakumar took charge as the Principal in 2005 June and continues, “INDIA TODAY” in June, 2007 ranked the college as the 23rd best law college in India.