S.Ramesh Kumar v. The Principal Secretary To Government
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED: 26-03-2026
CORAM
THE HON'BLE MS. JUSTICE P.T. ASHA S.Ramesh Kumar Special Station Officer (SSO 6499) Fire and Rescue Services Station, Coimbatore North, Coimbatore District ..Petitioner(s) Vs
1. The Principal Secretary to Government Home, Prohibition and Excise Department, Secretariat, Chennai-600 009
2. The Director Tamil Nadu Fire and Rescue Services Department, Rukmini Lakshmipathi Road, Egmore, Chennai-600 008
3. The Joint Director, Fire and Rescue Services Department, Western Zone, Coimbatore.
4. The District officer Fire and Rescue Services Department, Coimbatore District Coimbatore.
..Respondent(s)
Prayer:- Writ petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying for issuance of a writ of Mandamus to direct the 2nd respondent by correcting and fixing the petitioners seniority as Leading Fireman with retrospective effect from 01.07.2015 and consequently grant him retrospective promotion as station officer, from the date his immediate juniors were promoted with all attendant monetary and service benefits based on the petitioners representation dated 29.08.2025 and judgment rendered in W.A. No.448 of 2020 with in Limit stipulated by this Court.
For Petitioner(s):
Mr.R.Subburaj For Respondent(s):
Mr.P.Balathandayutham Special Government Pleader
ORDER
The petitioner has filed the writ petition seeking the issuance of a writ of mandamus, directing the 2nd respondent to correct and fix the petitioner's seniority as Leading Fireman with retrospective effect from 01.07.2015 and consequently grant him retrospective promotion as Station Officer, from the date on which his immediate juniors were promoted with all attendant monetary and service benefits based on his representation dated 29.08.2025 and the judgment rendered in W.A.No.448 of 2020 within a time frame to be fixed by this Court.
2. The petitioner had joined the Tamil Nadu Fire and Rescue Services Department as a Fireman on 09.09.1996 and is presently working as a Special Station Officer at Coimbatore. The post of Leading Fireman is the feeder category for promotion to the post of Station Officer, and the petitioner has been fully eligible for promotion since 2015. Due to defects in the seniority list of Leading Fireman, the matter was taken to litigation, which culminated in the judgment of the Division Bench of this Court in W.A.No. 448 of 2020 dated 17.07.2023, directing the authorities to revisit and rectify the seniority list for the years 2009-2010 to 2018-2019.
3. Pursuant to the said judgment, the respondents had issued a Memo dated 30.09.2023 calling for 'C' list copies from the zonal heads. However, while issuing the promotion list for the post of Station Officer, the respondents failed to incorporate the petitioner's retrospective seniority as Leading Fireman from 01.07.2015 and ignored his claim, even though his juniors were promoted. The petitioner had submitted a detailed objection dated 09.10.2025, pointing out his right to retrospective promotion as Leading Fireman from 01.07.2015 and consequent promotion as Station Officer. Since the request of the petitioner has not been considered, the petitioner has filed the present writ petition.
4. Heard the learned counsels on either side and perused the materials available on record.
4. Considering the facts and circumstances of the case, a mandamus is issued to the 2nd respondent to consider and pass orders on the petitioner's representation dated 29.08.2025 in the light of the judgment passed in W.A.No.448 of 2020 on merits and in accordance with law, within a period of six weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. Accordingly, this writ petition is disposed of . No costs. 26-03-2026 Index: Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order SRN
To
1. The Principal Secretary to Government Home, Prohibition and Excise Department, Secretariat, Chennai-600 009
2. The Director Tamil Nadu Fire and Rescue Services Department, Rukmini Lakshmipathi Road, Egmore, Chennai-600 008
3. The Joint Director, Fire and Rescue Services Department, Western Zone, Coimbatore.
4. The District officer Fire and Rescue Services Department, Coimbatore District Coimbatore.
P.T.ASHA J.
SRN 26-03-2026