M. Nagarajan v. Government Of Tamil Nadu
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED: 30.10.2025
CORAM:
THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE G.K.ILANTHIRAIYAN and W.M.P.No.45349 of 2025 M.Nagarajan .....
Petitioner Vs 1.Government of Tamil Nadu, Rep. by its Additional Chief Secretary to Government, Environment and Forests (FR-2) Department, Secretariat, Chennai - 600 009.
2.The Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, (Head of Forest Force), Velachery Main Road, Guindy, Chennai - 600 032.
.....
Respondents Prayer: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying to issue a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus, calling for the entire records which culminated in issuing order passed by the 1st respondent in G.O. (2D) No. 142, Environment, Climate Change and Forest (FR.2(ii)) Department dated 23.06.2023 and quash the same in so far as denial of monetary benefit for Working period as forest watcher is concerned and directing the first respondent to pay monetary benefits form date of joining as forest watcher from 29.02.2016 till 23.06.2023 as per Tamil nadu Fundamental Rule 27 (17) and light of the order passed in W.P.No. 23478 of 2023 dated 27.03.2024 same was implemented by the 1st respondent in G.O. (2D) No 55, Environment, Climate Change and
Forests (FR 2 (ii) ) Department dated 26.03.2025. For Petitioner : Mr.S.Mani For Respondents : Dr.T.Seenivasan Special Government Pleader
ORDER
This writ petition has been filed challenging the order dated 23.06.2023 passed by the first respondent, thereby rejecting the request made by the petitioner seeking monetary benefits from the date of his initial appointment as Forest Watchers.
2.
Heard, the learned counsel appearing on either side and perused the materials placed before this Court. 3.
A similar issue has already been dealt with by this Court in W.P.No.23478 of 2023. This Court, by an order dated 27.03.2024, allowed the writ petition and held as follows : "8.
On perusal of records revealed that the petitioner is seeking monetary benefits only from the date of his 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 petitioner's service was duly regularized on par with his juniors. Therefore, he is entitled for monetary benefits from the date of his joining as Forest Watcher.
9.
In view of the above, the impugned order cannot be sustained and it is liable to be quashed. Accordingly, the order dated 16.08.2017, passed by the first respondent in Letter No.4059/FR2(II)/2017-3 and the consequential order passed by the second respondent in G.O.(2D).No.125, Environment, Climate Change and Forests (FR.2.ii) Department, dated 30.05.2023 are hereby quashed. The petitioner is entitled for monetary benefits only from the date of his joining as Forest Watcher. The respondents 1 & 2 are directed to pay monetary benefits to the petitioner from the date of his joining as Forest Watcher viz.,14.06.2013 till 15.08.2017, within a period of twelve weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this Order."
4.
In view of the order passed by this Court in W.P.No.23478 of 2023, dated 27.03.2024, the petitioner is also entitled to the same relief. Therefore, the orders passed by the first respondent cannot be sustained and are liable to be quashed.
5.
Accordingly, the order dated 23.06.2023 passed by the first respondent is hereby quashed. The petitioner is entitled for monetary
benefits from the date of his joining as Forest Watcher. The first respondent is directed to disburse the monetary benefits to the petitioner from the date of his joining as Forest Watcher, within a period of twelve weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. 6.
With the above directions, the Writ Petition stand allowed. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petition is closed. There shall be no order as to costs.
30.10.2025 (5/6) Index : Yes/No Speaking/Non Speaking order Lpp To 1.The Additional Chief Secretary to Government, Environment and Forests (FR-2) Department, Secretariat, Chennai - 600 009.
2.The Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, (Head of Forest Force), Velachery Main Road, Guindy, Chennai - 600 032.
G.K.ILANTHIRAIYAN. J, Lpp W.P.Nos.40373 of 2025 (5/6) 30.10.2025