R.Senthilkumar v. The State Of Tamil Nadu
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED : 19.12.2025
CORAM
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE M.DHANDAPANI And W.M.P.Nos.39055 and 55869 of 2025 R.Senthilkumar ... Petitioner Vs.
1 THE STATE OF TAMIL NADU REP. BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT, ENVIRONMENT, CLIMATE CHANGE AND FOREST DEPARTMENT, FORT ST. GEORGE, 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 CONSERVATOR OF FORESTS, DHARMAPURI FOREST CIRCLE, DHARMAPURI - 5, DHARMAPURI DISTRICT.
4 THE FOREST ENGINEER/ DIVISIONAL FOREST OFFICER, FOREST ENGINEERING DIVISION, HARUR, DHARMAPURI DISTRICT.
... Respondents 1/8
Prayer:
Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India to issue a Writ of Mandamus directing the respondents to restore the original seniority of the petitioner as Forest Range Officer on par with his juniors i.e., on 13.08.2016 and include his name in the panel for the promotion to the post of Assistant Conservator of Forests for the year 2024-2025 and grant all other service benefits. For Petitioner : Mr.M.R.Jothimanian For Respondents : Mr.C.Selvaraj Additional Government Pleader
O R D E R
This writ petition has been filed seeking issuance of Writ of Mandamus directing the respondents to restore the original seniority of the petitioner as Forest Range Officer on par with his juniors i.e., on 13.08.2016 and include his name in the panel for the promotion to the post of Assistant Conservator of Forests for the year 2024-2025 and grant all other service benefits.
2.The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner submitted that the petitioner was appointed as Forest Guard on 16.03.1997 through Direct Recruitment by the second respondent and worked in 2/8
various places and was promoted as Forester in the year 2009 and was further promoted as Forest Range Officer vide order dated 13.08.2016. The post of Forest Range Officers is State cadre and governed by Special Rules viz., Tamil Nadu Forest Subordinate Service Rules. The petitioner is working as Forest Range Officer under the control of the second respondent from 13.08.2016, however, his original seniority was denied on par with his juniors due to administrative delay and reasons.
3.The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner further submitted that perusal of the counter affidavit filed by the respondents reveal that the third respondent vide proceedings dated 29.08.2025 has recommended to include the petitioner's name in the promotion panel, however, the same has not yet been implemented. Hence, this Court may, without going into the merits of the case, issue direction to the respondents 1 and 2 to implement the recommendation of the third respondent and to pass appropriate orders. 4.It is relevant to extract hereunder paragraph nos.8 to 10 of the counter affidavit:
"8) It is respectfully submitted 3/8
that on secreting of service register of the petitioner shows that the consequent on inclusion of petitioner's name in the panel of Forest Range Officer for the year 2015-16, allotment order for joining has been issued to state Forest Research Institution Kolappakkam, Chennai by the 2nd respondent in its order Proc.No.35145/2015 dated 13-082016. This order has been forwarded to the petitioner by the Forest Engineer, Trichy in Ref.No.69/2016/E dated 30-08-2016 F.N. and received on the A.N. of 30-08-2016 and joined as Forest Range officer on 31-08-2016 as per the Deputy Conservator of Forests, State Forestry Research Institution, Kolappakkam so as to join as Forest Range Officer, Vellore Range. Hence he has completed qualifying service for 7 years 11 months & 14 days. Allotment order has been received on 16-082016 and the petitioner has been relieved from the post of Forester on the A.N. of 30-08-2016 and joined on 31-08-2016 F.N. as Forest Range Officer.
9) It is respectfully submitted that in the averments made in the writ petition against para 7 the delay of 16 days is due to administrative reason of relieving from the 4/8
lower post of Forester only and not on the fault of the petitioner. At the time of joining as Forest Range Officer no disciplinary proceedings are pending against him.
10) It is respectfully submitted that the petitioner submitted a representation to the second respondent through 3rd respondent to consider his name for inclusion of his name in the panel of Assistant Conservator of Forests for the panel year 2024-25 the crucial date of 15-08-2024 as his name was not included due to shortage of 16 days for qualifying service. The petitioner has also stated in his representation as his juniors Viz Sl.No.57 Thiru.V.P.Subramanian and Sl.No.59 Thiru.K.Periyannan, Sl.No.61 Thiru.T.Krishnan and Sl.No.62 Thiru.N.Venkatesan have been included in the panel for promotion as Assistant Conservator of Forests whereas the petitioner Sl.No.48 has not been included for the promotion panel. The third Respondent has also recommended vide Ref.No.10035/2025/G4 dated 29-08-2025 on the basis petitioner's representation as his Juniors name included in the panel."
5/8
5.Perusal of the counter affidavit reveals that the third respondent vide proceedings dated 29.08.2025 has recommended to include the petitioner's name in the promotion panel. Hence, this Court directs the respondents 1 and 2 to implement the recommendation made by the third respondent and restore the seniority of the petitioner on par with his juniors, within a period of four weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. 6.The writ petition is disposed of. No costs. Consequently, the connected miscellaneous petitions are closed. 19.12.2025 pri Index: Yes/ No Speaking Order: Yes/ No NCC: Yes/ No 6/8
To 1 THE PRINCIPAL SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT, ENVIRONMENT, CLIMATE CHANGE AND FOREST DEPARTMENT, FORT ST. GEORGE, 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 CONSERVATOR OF FORESTS, DHARMAPURI FOREST CIRCLE, DHARMAPURI - 5, DHARMAPURI DISTRICT.
4 THE FOREST ENGINEER/ DIVISIONAL FOREST OFFICER, FOREST ENGINEERING DIVISION, HARUR, DHARMAPURI DISTRICT.
7/8
M.DHANDAPANI,J.
pri And W.M.P.Nos.39055 and 55869 of 2025 19.12.2025 8/8