Dean, School of Legal Studies
Prof. (Dr) T.R. Subramanya is an eminent academic, legal scholar, and institutional leader currently serving as the Dean of the School of Legal Studies at CMR University, Bengaluru since April 2018. With an extensive academic and administrative career, he remains deeply committed to the advancement of legal education in India.
Under his leadership, the School of Legal Studies has established eight dedicated research centres that actively contribute to scholarly research and public discourse in contemporary legal issues. He also spearheaded the launch and development of the CMR University Journal for Contemporary Legal Affairs, which has been recognised for its scholarly rigour and is listed in UGC CARE List 1.
Prof. Subramanya is a member of the Advisory Board of Symbiosis International University and serves as a distinguished visiting professor at several National Law Schools and institutions of eminence across the country. His previous appointments include Coordinator and Research Fellow at the Centre for Regulatory Studies, Governance and Public Policy (CRSGPP) at The West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences (WBNUJS), Kolkata, where he initiated several academic programmes and launched the Centre’s peer-reviewed online journal.
He served as Vice-Chancellor of Karnataka State Law University, Hubballi (2013–2015), during which he established three law journals and led the university’s NAAC accreditation. Prior to this, he held several key positions at Bangalore University, including Vice-Chancellor (In-Charge), Dean and Chairman of the Faculty of Law, Registrar (Evaluation), and Registrar (In-Charge, Administration). In his role as Registrar (Evaluation), he implemented critical reforms in examination and assessment, including the digital transformation of the evaluation system.
An accomplished scholar of international law, Prof. Subramanya served as Professor of International Law at WBNUJS and was a Legal Counsellor to the Kingdom of Bahrain for over seven years. In this capacity, he gained deep insights into the legal frameworks of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and the practical application of international law within domestic legal systems.
Prof. Subramanya holds multiple advanced degrees, including an M.A. (History) and LL.B., both with First Class, and secured the first rank in his LL.M. from the University of Mysore. He later completed his M.Phil. and Ph.D. in International Law from the School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi in 1993.
He has guided ten doctoral candidates and has authored and edited several works in the field of international law and human rights. His early publications include The Rights and Status of the Individual in International Law (1984) and Human Rights in International Law (1986). His most recent book, Hazardous Substances in India and the World: Legislations, Frameworks and Management, published by Routledge, UK in 2021, was released internationally in May and in India in August of the same year.
His contributions to legal education and scholarship have earned him several accolades, including the Dr. Rajkumar State Award (2009) presented by the Dr. Rajkumar International Foundation, Bengaluru.
Prof. Subramanya is a Life Member of the Indian Society of International Law (New Delhi), the Indian Law Institute (New Delhi), and the Karnataka Section of the International Commission of Jurists. He is also a Member of the Capital Foundation Society, New Delhi.
Through his academic vision, administrative leadership, and international engagement, Prof. Subramanya continues to shape the future of legal education in India and beyond.
