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Madras High CourtWP/18551/2026disposed of

G.Nagarajan v. The State Of Tamil Nadu

2026-06-03Honourable Ms. Justice P.T. Asha5 pages

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED: 03-06-2026

CORAM

THE HON'BLE MS. JUSTICE P.T. ASHA G.Nagarajan Superintendent (Retd), Office of the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Head of Forest Force, Guindy - Velacherry Main Road, Guindy, Chennai - 600 032.

..Petitioner(s) Vs

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

2. The Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Head of Forest Force, Guindy - Velacherry Main Road, Guindy, Chennai - 600 032.

3. The Principal Secretary to Government, Human Resources Management Department and Member, Departmental Promotion Committee, Government of Tamil Nadu, St. George Fort, Secretariat, Chennai - 600 009.

..Respondent(s) Prayer: This writ petition is filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India for issuance of a writ of mandamus directing the first respondent to consider

petitioner's notional promotion to the post of Personal Assistant in the panel for the year 2019-2020 based on his appeal dated 26.02.2023 and his consequential representations dated 07.04.2023, 04.05.2023 and 12.05.2023 with all service benefits.

For Petitioner(s) :

Mr.R.Jothimanian For Respondent(s) :

Mr.V.Sivalingam, Government Advocate

ORDER

This writ petition has been filed to direct the first respondent to consider petitioner's notional promotion to the post of Personal Assistant in the panel for the year 2019-2020 based on his appeal dated 26.02.2023 and his consequential representations dated 07.04.2023, 04.05.2023 and 12.05.2023 with all service benefits.

2. It is the case of the petitioner that he was appointed as Junior Assistant on 14.02.1986 by the second respondent and after attaining his age of superannuation, he was retired from service on 29.02.2020. Since the petitioner is eligible to be promoted as Personal Assistant as per the proceedings dated 02.07.2019, his name was also included in the panel for the year 2019 - 2020 as per his seniority. Accordingly, proposals were sent from all the candidates to the second respondent. Pending the said proceedings, he was retired from service on 29.02.2020. As per Government letter dated 15.07.2019, it had approved the estimate of vacancy for the post of Personal Assistant in Tamil Nadu General

Service for the year 2019 - 2020 as 4 vacancy and fixed the crucial date as 01.09.2018.

3. Subsequently, a GO.(2D)No.03 dated 02.02.2021 has been issued by the first respondent stating that the panel period (02.04.2019 to 01.04.2020) has been completed and restricted the panel to actual vacancies as two without any reasons. Hence, the petitioner made a representations dated 19.04.2021 and 01.07.2021 seeking to consider his claim based on seniority as per Government letter dated 15.07.2019. The said claim has been rejected vide proceedings of the second respondent dated 04.05.2022, on the ground that the panel period has already been completed. Aggrieved over the same, the petitioner preferred an appeal on 26.02.2023 before the first respondent, which is still pending. Hence the present writ petition.

4. Heard the learned counsel appearing on either side and perused the materials available on record.

5. Considering the relief now sought for by the learned counsel for the petitioner, this Court, without going into the merits of the case, directs the first respondent to consider the petitioner's appeal dated 26.02.2023 and consequential representations dated 07.04.2023, 04.05.2023 and 12.05.2023, on merits and in accordance with law and to pass appropriate orders, within a

period of eight weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.

6. Accordingly, the writ petition is disposed of. No costs. 03-06-2026 Index: Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order rap To

1. The Additional Chief Secretary to Government, Environmental, Climate Change and Forest Department, St. George Fort, Secretariat, Chennai - 600 009.

2. The Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Head of Forest Force, Guindy - Velacherry Main Road, Guindy, Chennai - 600 032.

3. The Principal Secretary to Government Human Resources Management Department and Member, Departmental Promotion Committee, Government of Tamil Nadu, St. George Fort, Secretariat, Chennai - 600 009.

P.T.ASHA, J.

rap 03-06-2026