The Tamil Nadu government has appointed a fresh panel of five Advocates-on-Record (AoRs) to represent the State before the Supreme Court of India, following the resignation of the existing panel appointed during the tenure of the previous government. The appointments come in the wake of the recent change in regime in the State and were made on the recommendation of the Advocate General of Tamil Nadu, Vijay Narayan.
The appointments were notified on June 2, 2026, issued by the Home (Courts-IV) Department. The order records that the government had accepted the resignations of AoRs Sabarish Subramanian, Misha Rohatgi, G. Indira, Purnima Krishna and T. Harish Kumar, who had been serving as Tamil Nadu Government Advocates-on-Record before the Supreme Court.
The Advocate General informed the government that it was essential to appoint a new set of Advocates-on-Record to continue representing the State’s cases before the apex court and recommended a fresh panel for consideration.
Accepting the recommendation, the government appointed the following lawyers as Tamil Nadu Government Advocates-on-Record before the Supreme Court:
- Rupali Francesca Samuel
- B. Karunakaran
- Vrinda Bhandari
- Jayasree Narasimhan
- Kanika Kalaiyarasan
The newly appointed Advocates-on-Record will represent the State of Tamil Nadu before the Supreme Court in New Delhi. Under the terms of their appointment, they will be entitled to fees in accordance with existing government orders and will receive a monthly retainer fee of ₹30,000.
The Advocates-on-Record have been barred from advising or appearing against the State of Tamil Nadu without prior government permission, defending accused persons in criminal cases of the State, or advising private parties in matters in which they are likely to appear on behalf of the State government.
The order further states that the newly appointed Advocates-on-Record shall be bound by any standing orders issued by the government concerning their appointment from time to time. They have been requested to assume charge immediately and report compliance to the government.