• Head of the Branch.

• Supervision and control of the respective staff working under them

• Processes files relating to providing legal advice and assistance to other branches of DGS, including processing of draft Cabinet Notes/Bills (DCN/Bill) of DGS/MoPSW as well as those received from other Ministries.
• Processes matters relating to the Merchant Shipping Act, Coastal Shipping Act, and the Merchant Shipping Rules and Coastal Shipping Rules framed under the relevant Acts, including matters concerning the National Shipping Board, Maritime National Law University (MNLU), internship cases, and the Legal Information Management and Briefing System (LIMBS).
• Updates Acts and Rules on the Sagarmathan Portal and monitors court case updates made by the concerned Nodal Officers. Issues letters/emails to Nodal Officers for timely updation of all data relating to court cases on the Sagarmathan and LIMBS Portals.
• Processes RTI matters and public grievances, prepares RTI replies, and provides inputs/material for Monthly D.O. reports, RTI statements, and other miscellaneous information sought by internal branches of DGS.
• Monitors and maintains court case details in coordination with allied and subordinate offices through the LIMBS Portal and the Sagarmathan Portal.
• Processes Hindi-related work, including preparation of Hindi Quarterly Reports, and attends to all other miscellaneous matters pertaining to the MML Branch.

• To provide legal advice on referral matters

Attached to and supervised by the MML Branch, offering legal support by:

• Advising on legislative interpretation under the Merchant Shipping Act and related laws.
• Vetting rules and other subordinate legislation.
• Supporting regulatory implementation through legal inputs.

Attached to and supervised by the MML Branch, offering legal support by:

• Advising on legislative interpretation under the Merchant Shipping Act and related laws.
• Vetting rules and other subordinate legislation.
• Supporting regulatory implementation through legal inputs.

Attached to and supervised by the MML Branch, offering legal support by:

• Advising on legislative interpretation under the Merchant Shipping Act and related laws.
• Vetting rules and other subordinate legislation.
• Supporting regulatory implementation through legal inputs.

Attached to and supervised by the MML Branch, offering legal support by:

• Advising on legislative interpretation under the Merchant Shipping Act and related laws.
• Vetting rules and other subordinate legislation.
• Supporting regulatory implementation through legal inputs.

Attached to and supervised by the MML Branch, offering legal support by:

• Advising on legislative interpretation under the Merchant Shipping Act and related laws.
• Vetting rules and other subordinate legislation.
• Supporting regulatory implementation through legal inputs.

Provide legal opinion and advisory assistance in all legal matters of the Directorate.

Assigned to Nautical Wing for:

• Provide legal assistance in Rule making.
• Handling legal matters.
• Preparing legal policy papers and research work.

Assigned to Nautical Wing for:

• Provide legal assistance in Rule making.
• Handling related legal matters.
• Legal policy papers and research work.

Attached to DGS Crew Branch:

• Rules making under MSA 2025.
• Handling court cases.
• Crew Manual and SOPs.

Attached to Nautical Wing and Maritime Security Branch:

• Handling legal matters.
• Drafting rules under the Merchant Shipping Act, 2025.

Provides legal assistance to:

• MML Branch
• MTO Branch

Attached to Coastal Branch:

• Provides legal assistance to Coastal Branch.

Attached to MML and Personnel Branch:

• Provides legal assistance to MML and Personnel Branch.

• General multi-tasking staff duties.