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Madras High CourtWP/3841/2026dismissed

R.Senthilkumar v. The State Of Tamil Nadu,

2026-02-27Honourable Mr Justice M.Dhandapani6 pages

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED : 27.02.2026

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE M.DHANDAPANI And W.M.P.Nos.4263 and 4270 of 2026 1.R.Selthilkumar 2.P.Kalia Perumal 3.M.Shanmugavel 4.R.Murugasan ... Petitioners in W.P.3841/2026 1.P.Sangapillai 2.D.Kumar 3.P.Kesavan 4.P.Balasubramanian ... Petitioners in W.P.3854/2026 Vs.

1 The State of Tamil Nadu Rep. by its Additional Chief Secretary to Government, Environment, Climate Change and Forest Department, Fort St. George, Chennai, Tamil Nadu State - 600 009.

2 The Principal Chief Conservator of Forest and Head of Forests Force Velachery Main Road, Guindy, Chennai, Tamil Nadu State - 600 003. ... Respondents in both W.Ps. Common Prayer:

Petitions filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India to 1/6

issue a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus calling for the entire records which culminated in issuing in G.O.(2D).No.202, Environment, Climate Change and Forest (FR.2(ii)) Department dated 25.11.2025 on the file of the first respondent and quash the same with consequential direction to the respondents to notionally regularize the petitioners service by relaxing the rules after completion of ten years from the date of initial appointment as a Plot Watcher on daily wage basis on par with Junior Namely Mr.M.Karunanidhi seniority along with regular service as qualifying service for the purpose of getting pension and family pension in the light of Hon'ble Supreme Court Judgment delivered in C.A.No.6798 of 2019 dated 02.09.2019 and Hon'ble Madras High Court orders passed in W.P.No.21627 of 2021 dated 07.10.2021, W.P.(MD) No.15339 of 2024 dated 10.

07.2024, W.P.No.19605 of 2024 dated 15.07.2024 and W.P.No.18079 of 2019 dated 19.11.2024 were complied in G.O.(2D).No.127 dated on 03.06.2023, G.O.(2D).No.32 dated on 28.02.2025 and G.O.(2D).No.65 dated 21.04.2025 respectively of the first respondent as per Tamil Nadu Fundamental Rule 27(17) to confer all consequential pensionary benefits within time frame as fixed by this Hon'ble Court. For Petitioners : Mr.Sathiyan for M/s.I.Kannapatel For Respondents : Mr.C.

culminated in issuing in G.O.(2D).No.202, Environment, Climate Change and Forest (FR.2(ii)) Department, dated 25.11.2025 on the file of the first respondent and quash the same with consequential direction to the respondents to notionally regularize the petitioners service by relaxing the rules after completion of ten years from the date of initial appointment as a Plot Watcher on daily wage basis on par with junior namely M.Karunanidhi seniority along with regular service as qualifying service for the purpose of getting pension and family pension in the light of Hon'ble Supreme Court Judgment delivered in C.A.No.6798 of 2019 dated 02.09.2019 and this Court orders passed in W.P.No.21627 of 2021 dated 07.10.2021, W.P.(MD) No.15339 of 2024 dated 10.07.2024, W.P.No.19605 of 2024 dated 15.07.2024 and W.P.No.18079 of 2019 dated 19.11.

2024 were complied in G.O.(2D).No.127 dated 03.06.2023, G.O.(2D).No.32 dated 28.02.2025 and G.O.(2D).No.65 dated 21.04.2025 respectively, of the first respondent as per Tamil Nadu Fundamental Rule 27(17) to confer all consequential pensionary benefits within time frame as fixed by this Court.

2.The learned counsel appearing for the petitioners submitted that the petitioners joined the Tamil Nadu Forest Subordinate Service 3/6

in temporary capacity as Watcher on full time daily wage basis from the year 1978 and were paid from contingencies in the State Government Funds. The petitioners have rendered more than two decades of service, however, they were not brought in the regular service as Plot Watchers from the date of initial appointment, though they were qualified for appointment to the post of Forest Watcher in the regular time scale of pay. As per G.O.Ms.No.64, Environment and Forest Department, dated 08.03.1999, petitioners name were included in the State Wide Seniority List of panel for temporary Watchers, however, juniors to the petitioners filed writ petitions before this Court and all the writ petitions were allowed, pursuant to which, the first respondent issued the impugned G.O.(2D).No.202, Environment, Climate Change and Forest (FR.

2(ii)) Department, dated 25.11.2025, regularising the services of the petitioners juniors as Plot Watchers. 3.Perusal of the impugned order reveal that the impugned Government Order has been passed pursuant to the order passed in W.P.No.25638 of 2025 dated 15.07.2025. If at all the petitioners have any grievance, they have to challenge the order passed in W.P.No.25638 of 2025 dated 15.07.2025, instead, have filed these writ petitions, which is not sustainable one.

4.Hence, the writ petitions are dismissed. Liberty is granted to the petitioners to work out the remedy in the manner known to law. No costs. Consequently, the connected miscellaneous petitions are closed.

27.02.2026 pri Index: Yes/ No Speaking Order: Yes/ No NCC: Yes/ No To 1 The Additional Chief Secretary to Government, Environment, Climate Change and Forest Department, Fort St. George, Chennai, Tamil Nadu State - 600 009.

2 The Principal Chief Conservator of Forest and Head of Forests Force Velachery Main Road, Guindy, Chennai, Tamil Nadu State - 600 003.

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M.DHANDAPANI,J.

pri And W.M.P.Nos.4263 and 4270 of 2026 27.02.2026 6/6