Chennai, Feb 5 (IANS): The Dr. Ambedkar Government Law College here was Thursday closed for seven days following protests by the students against shifting the college, the Tamil Nadu government said.

The closure is from immediate effect, a state government statement said.

On Wednesday, the college's students hit the roads following reports that the college was being bifurcated and shifted to outside the city.

However, no official statement has been issued by the government on bifurcation and shifting of the college permanently from here.

The college functions from the high court premises in the heart of the city, and is housed in a heritage building.

The public works department has said the college building has developed cracks in some places due to vibrations caused by the work for the Metro rail.

PMK founder S. Ramadoss in a statement issued Thursday demanded a clarification from the government on the issue. He said the college has been functioning in the present building since 1899 and has produced several legal luminaries and politicians.