P. Nagaraja Perumal v. The Principal Chief Conservator Of Forest

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED: 11.09.2025 CORAM :

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE R. SURESH KUMAR AND THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE HEMANT CHANDANGOUDAR P. Nagaraja Perumal ..

Appellant Vs.

1. The Principal Chief Conservator of Forest Guindy - Valachery Main Road Guindy, Chennai - 600 032.

2. The District Forest Officer Coimbatore - 641 043.

3. The Forest Ranger Sirumugai Range, Coimbatore District.

..

Respondents Prayer: Appeal filed under Section 5 of the Limitation Act, against the order passed in W.P.No.22865 of 2025 dated 25.06.2025. For the Appellant :

Mr.G.Chandrasekar For the Respondents :

Mr.P.Anandakumar Government Advocate

JUDGMENT

(Judgment of the Court was made by R.SURESH KUMAR, J.) This intra-Court appeal has been directed against the order passed by the Writ Court dated 25.06.2025 made in W.P.No.22865 of 2025.

2. The appellant is working as a Forest Guard. He had been working in Uliyoor Beat, Sirumugai Range, from where he has been transferred by the Transfer Order dated 30.05.2025 to the Coimbatore Patrol Wing, which order was under challenge in the writ petition and the writ petition, having been considered, was dismissed by the Writ Court through the impugned order.

3. Heard Mr.G.Chandrasekar, learned counsel for the appellant and Mr.P.Anandakumar, learned Government Advocate for the respondents.

4. It is submitted by Mr.P.Anandakumar, learned Government Advocate for the respondents that, purely for administrative reasons, the transfer has been effected and since there has been no malafide attributed against the respondents and also since there has been no question with regard to the jurisdiction and power of the Officer concerned, that is the third respondent who effected the Transfer Order, the Transfer Order cannot be questioned at any plausible reason, which was in fact considered by the learned Judge while dismissing the writ petition.

5. However, Mr.G.Chandrasekar, learned counsel appearing for the petitioner would submit that, he has given a representation on 09.06.2025 to retain him in the present position itself due to family circumstances and therefore, if it is considered by the respondents, he will be satisfied.

6. We have considered the said rival submissions made by both sides and have perused the materials placed before this Court.

7. As has been rightly held by the learned Judge through the impugned order, transfer is internal, which normally cannot be questioned or such a challenge would not be entertained by the Law Courts unless and until grounds of malafide or want of jurisdiction or violation of Statutes are made available.

8. Here, in this case, none of the three grounds are available and therefore, the appellant cannot successfully challenge the transfer order. Therefore, the order passed by the Writ Court is to be approved and accordingly, it is approved. Resultantly, the writ appeal fails and hence, is dismissed.

9. But, at the same time, since the appellant has given a representation on 09.06.2025 to the respondents, especially the second respondent, by citing family circumstances, where he is having three children and the children are admitted in the schools in that locality, therefore, at the middle of the year, if he is disturbed, the entire family would be in prejudice and therefore, he seeks the said representation dated 09.06.2025 to be considered.

10. In that view of the matter, while dismissing the writ appeal, we give a direction to the second respondent to consider the representation dated 09.06.2025 and pass orders thereon, on merits and in accordance with law, taking note of the family circumstances of the appellant.

11. With these directions, the writ appeal stands dismissed. There shall be no order as to costs. Consequently, C.M.P.No.21779 of 2025 is closed.

(R.S.K., J.) (H.C., J) 11.09.2025 Speaking Order/Non-Speaking Order Index:Yes/No Internet:Yes/No (drm)

To:

1. The Principal Chief Conservator of Forest Guindy - Valachery Main Road Guindy, Chennai - 600 032.

2. The District Forest Officer Coimbatore - 641 043.

3. The Forest Ranger Sirumugai Range, Coimbatore District.

R. SURESH KUMAR, J.

AND HEMANT CHANDANGOUDAR, J.

(drm) 11.09.2025