Senior Advocate NL Rajah Appointed Legal Advisor to Tamil Nadu Governor on Pro Bono Basis

Tamil Nadu Governor Justice Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar has appointed Senior Advocate N.L. Rajah as the Legal Advisor to the Governor on a purely pro bono basis, a move that brings seasoned legal expertise to the Raj Bhavan without any financial cost to the state exchequer.

A Pro Bono Appointment at the Raj Bhavan

In a significant administrative development, the Governor's Secretariat at Lok Bhavan, Chennai, issued Office Proceedings dated September 2, 2026, formalizing the appointment of Thiru N.L. Rajah, a Senior Advocate at the Madras High Court, as the Legal Advisor to the Governor of Tamil Nadu. The order, signed by the Governor himself, takes immediate effect and marks a unique arrangement where top-tier legal counsel is offered entirely as a service to the office.

The Terms of Engagement

The notification explicitly states that the appointment "shall be purely on a pro-bono basis and shall not carry any remuneration , salary , honorarium or other financial benefits ." This means the Senior Advocate will discharge his duties without any monetary compensation, reflecting a commitment to public service and institutional integrity.

The Legal Advisor is tasked with handling matters as entrusted to him by the Governor from time to time. The scope of the role, while not detailed in the notification, is expected to encompass legal advisory functions across various issues that come before the Governor's office.

Travel Entitlements with Government Approval

The order provides that Thiru N.L. Rajah is entitled to undertake official travel within Tamil Nadu and outside the state, but only with the specific approval of the Governor and subject to the orders of the Government of Tamil Nadu. This ensures that any travel-related expenses are authorized through the proper governmental channels.

A Seasoned Legal Mind at the Helm

N.L. Rajah is a well-recognized figure in the Madras High Court, known for his expertise across constitutional and criminal law. His appointment on a pro bono basis signals a notable approach to governance, where the Governor's office seeks independent legal counsel without creating additional financial burden.

Key Observations from the Notification

The office proceedings lay out several clear directives:

"The appointment shall be purely on a pro-bono basis and shall not carry any remuneration , salary , honorarium or other financial benefits ."

"The Legal Advisor to the Governor of Tamil Nadu, shall discharge the duties on the matters entrusted to him from time to time."

"Thiru N.L.Rajah, is entitled for official travel within Tamil Nadu and outside the State with the specific approval of the Governor of Tamil Nadu, subject to the orders of Government of Tamil Nadu ."

"This order shall come into immediate effect , until further orders ."

Immediate Effect and Continuing Tenure

The appointment is effective from the date of the order and will continue until further orders are issued. This open-ended tenure provides stability and continuity in legal advisory services to the Governor's office, while allowing the administration to review the arrangement as needed.

The appointment of a Senior Advocate as a pro bono Legal Advisor is a relatively rare practice, underscoring the importance of the role and the calibre of the legal professional stepping into it. For the legal community and the public alike, this development highlights a noteworthy intersection of law, governance, and public service.