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Madras High CourtWP/50505/2025disposed of with direction

R.Selvam v. Government Of Tamil Nadu,

2026-01-06Honourable Mr Justice M.Dhandapani6 pages

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED: 06-01-2026

CORAM

THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE M.DHANDAPANI R.Selvam S/o.Rajamanickam, Forest Guard (Retired), North Street, Adanoor Post And Village, Vikkaravandi Taluk, Villupuram District.

..Petitioner Vs

1. Government Of Tamil Nadu, Rep.by its Additional Chief Secretary to Government, Environment and Forests (FR-2) Department, Secretariat, Chennai -600009.

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 Constitution of India for issuance of a Writ of Mandamus, directing the respondents to consider the notional promotion to the petitioner as Forest Guard on par with juniors N.A.Arumugam by including their name in the panel drawn for the year 2003-2004 with effect from 31.05.2004 for purpose of getting enhanced pension (Petitioner Service was regularized on par with junior's only now), and in the light of order passed in W.P.No. 15726 of 2016 dated 28.04.2016 and order in W.P. No. 30735 of 2019 dated 30.10.2019 and Order in W.P.No.1229 of 2024 with dated __________Page 1 of 6

23.01.2024 by considering the representation dated 03.07.2025 in time to be stipulated by this Court For Petitioner:

Mr.S.Mani For Respondents:

Mr.C.Selvaraj Additional Government Pleader

ORDER

This Writ Petition has been filed seeking a direction to the respondents to consider the notional promotion to the petitioner as Forest Guard on par with his junior N.A.Arumugam by including his name in the panel drawn for the year 2003-2004 with effect from 31.05.2004 for the purpose of getting enhanced pension (petitioner's Service was regularized on par with junior's only now), and in the light of the orders passed by this Court in W.P.No. 15726 of 2016 dated 28.04.2016; W.P. No. 30735 of 2019 dated 30.10.2019 and W.P.No.1229 of 2024 dated 23.01.2024 by considering the petitioner's representation dated 03.07.2025 within a time frame as fixed by this Court.

2. Heard the learned counsels on either side. With the consent of both sides, the Writ Petition is taken up for hearing at the admission stage itself. 3.The brief facts of the case is as follows:

3.1. The case of the petitioner is that the petitioner joined the department as Plot Watchers on daily wage basis in the year 1977. Then Statewise Seniority List was drawn, in which the petitioner's name was included. __________Page 2 of 6

Subsequently, the services of the juniors of the petitioner were regularized in the cadre post of Forest Watcher in the year 1995. The petitioner's juniors were given further promotion to the post of Forest Guard in the year 2004. The service of the petitioner was regularized in the cadre post of Forest Watcher notionally with effect from 24.01.1995 pursuant to the order of this Court in W.P.No.10280 of 2024 dated 09.07.2024. Thereafter, the petitioner made a representation dated 03.07.2025 seeking consequential promotion as Forest Guard retrospectively on par with his juniors by including his name in the panel for the year 2003-2004 and to promote him as Forest Guard from 31.05.2004 on par with his juniors. However, there was no response from the respondents till date and hence, the present Writ Petition.

4. The learned counsel for the petitioner would submit that it would suffice to issue a direction to the first respondent to dispose of the petitioner's representation dated 03.07.2025.

5. The learned Additional Government Pleader appearing for the respondents agreed to dispose of the petitioner's representation dated 03.07.2025 within a reasonable time.

6. Considering the facts and circumstances of the case and the limited request made by the learned counsel for the petitioner and also in the light of the __________Page 3 of 6

orders passed by this Court in W.P.No. 15726 of 2016 dated 28.04.2016; W.P. No. 30735 of 2019 dated 30.10.2019 and W.P.No.1229 of 2024 dated 23.01.2024, I am inclined to issue a direction to the first respondent to consider and dispose of the petitioner's representation dated 03.07.2025 on merits and in accordance with law, within a period of six weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.

7. With the above direction, the Writ Petition is disposed of. There shall be no orders as to costs.

06.01.2026 Index: Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order DP To

1. The Additional Chief Secretary To Government, Government Of Tamil Nadu, Environment And Forests (FR-2) Department, Secretariat, Chennai -600009.

2. The Principal Chief Conservator Of Forests, (Head Of Forest Force), Velachery Main Road, Guindy, Chennai -600 032 __________Page 4 of 6

M.DHANDAPANI, J.

DP 06-01-2026 __________Page 5 of 6

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