K.Jayaraman v. The State Of Tamilnadu
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED : 27.11.2025
CORAM:
THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE G.K.ILANTHIRAIYAN and W.M.P.Nos.19225, 25534 & 29531 of 2025
1. K.Jayaraman
2. G.Mohan
3. A.Subramanian
4. V.Kirubakaran
5. R.Chinnasamy ... Petitioners in W.P.
No.16926 of 2025
1. T.Varatharajan
2. M.Thirumaran
3. A.Ramasamy
4. S.Arumugam ... Petitioners in W.P.
No.22691 of 2025 Muthu @ Silvainathan ... Petitioner in W.P.
No.26221 of 2025 Vs.
1. The State of Tamil Nadu, Rep by its Secretary to Government,
2. The Principal Chief Conservator ... Respondents in W.P.16926 of 2025
1. The State of Tamil Nadu, Rep by its Additional Chief Secretary to Government,
2. The Principal Chief Conservator ... Respondents in W.P.22691 & 26221 of 2025 Prayer in W.P.No.16926 of 2025: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India for issuance of a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus, to call for the records in Letter No.24713/FR2(II)/2016-5, dated 27.09.2017 and quash the same insofar as to allow monetary benefits from the date of issue this letter and consequently directing the respondents to pay monetary benefits from date of joining as Forest Watcher from 16.05.2008 (1st petitioner) from 24.10.2008 (2nd & 3rd petitioner) from 26.10.2012 (4th petitioner) and from 16.08.2005 (5th petitioner) till the date of retirement as per Rule 27(17) of the Tamilnadu Fundamental Rules.
Prayer in W.P.No.22691 of 2025: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India for issuance of a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus, to call for the records in Letter No.19683/FR2(II)/2016-4, dated 03.03.2017 issued by the first respondent and quash the same insofar as to allow monetary benefits from the date of issue this letter and consequently direction directing the respondents to pay monetary benefits from date of joining as Forest Watcher from 18.04.2012 (1st petitioner)
from 01.11.2003 (2nd petitioner) from 05.11.2003 (3rd petitioner) and from 05.04.2012 (4th petitioner) till the date of retirement as per Rule 27(17) of the Tamilnadu Fundamental Rules.
Prayer in W.P.No.26221 of 2025: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India for issuance of a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus, to call for the records in G.O.(2D)No.66 Environment, Climate Change and Forest (FR.2(ii)) Department, dated 24.04.2022 of the first respondent and quash the same insofar as to allow monetary benefits from the date of issue this letter and consequently directing the respondents to pay monetary benefits from date of joining as Forest Watcher from 31.01.2014 till the date of retirement as per Rule 27(17) of the Tamilnadu Fundamental Rules, within time frame. In all W.Ps.
For Petitioners : Ms.K.Jenitha For Respondents : Dr.T.Seenivasan Special Government Pleader COMMON ORDER These Writ Petitions have been filed challenging the orders passed by the first respondent thereby rejecting the request made by the petitioners seeking monetary benefits from the date of their joining as Forest Watcher.
2.
Heard the learned counsel appearing on either side and perused the materials placed before this Court. 3.
The similar matter has already been dealt with by this Court in W.P.No.30209 of 2023 by an order dated 27.03.2024 and the relevant portion is extracted hereunder :- "7.
On perusal of records revealed that the petitioners are seeking monetary benefits only from the date of their joining as Forest Watcher, as per F.R.27(17) of the Tamil Nadu Fundamental Rules and G.O(2D).No.124, Environment, Climate Change and Forests (F.R2(ii)) Department dated 17.08.2022. In fact, the seniority has already been fixed and the petitioners' services were duly regularized on par with their juniors. Therefore, they are entitled for monetary benefits from the date of their joining as Forest Watcher.
8.
In view of the above, the impugned order cannot be sustained and it is liable to be quashed. Accordingly, the order dated 27.09.2017 passed by the first respondent in Letter No.24713/FR2(II)/ 2016-5, Environment and Forests (FR-2) Department, is hereby quashed. The petitioners are entitled for monetary benefits only from the date of their joining as Forest Watcher. The respondents are directed to pay monetary
benefits to the petitioners from the date of their joining as Forest Watcher viz., insofar as the first petitioner is concerned from 18.08.2005 and the second petitioner is concerned from 15.09.2003, till 27.09.2017 or till their attainment of superannuation age, within a period of twelve weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this Order."
4.
In view of the above order, the impugned orders passed by the first respondent are hereby quashed. The respondents are directed to pay monetary benefits from date of joining as Forest Watcher till the date of retirement as per Rule 27(17) of the Tamilnadu Fundamental Rules, within a period of twelve weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this Order.
5.
With the above directions, all the Writ Petitions stand allowed. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petitions are closed. There shall be no order as to costs.
27.11.2025 Index : Yes/No : Yes/No Speaking/non-speaking order rts
G.K.ILANTHIRAIYAN. J, rts To
1. The Secretary to Government, State of Tamil Nadu,
2. The Additional Chief Secretary to Government, State of Tamil Nadu,
3. The Principal Chief Conservator and W.M.P.Nos.19225, 25534 & 29531 of 2025 27.11.2025