G.Velimuthu v. The Principal Secretary To Government
BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED : 18.11.2025 CORAM :
THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE K.KUMARESH BABU W.P.(MD).No.27032 of 2024 and W.M.P.(MD).Nos.22927 & 22928 of 2024 1.G.VELIMUTHU
2. S.P.BALASUBRAMANIYAN
3. SARAVANAN
4. MADASAMY
5. RAMAJEYAM ... Petitioners vs
1. The Principal Secretary to Government Environment Climate Change and Forests Department Secretariat Fort St.George Chennai 600 009
2. The Principal Chief Conservator of Forest Guindy Velacherry Main Road Chennai 600 032
3. The Conservator of Forest KMTR Circle Perumalpuram Tirunelveli 627 007
4. The District Forest Officer 1/6
5. The Deputy Director Kalakadu Division
6. The Forest Ranger Tirunelveli Range
7. The Forest Ranger Sivagiri Range Tenkasi District
8. The Forest Ranger Courtallam Range Tenkasi District ... Respondents Prayer : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of Constitution of India, praying this Court to issue of Writ of Mandamus directing the respondents to include the names of the petitioners in the state wise seniority list as on 01.01.2019 in the post of Anti-Poaching Watchers based on their date of joining and regularize their the service by considering their representation dated 23.10.2024 and 30.10.2024 and to pass such further or other orders as this Honble Court may deem fit and proper in the circumstances of the case and thus render justice.
For Petitioner : Mr.K.Vinoharan For Respondents : Mr.F.Deepak Special Government Pleader 2/6
ORDER
This writ petition is filed seeking a direction to the respondents to include the names of the petitioners in the state wise seniority list as on 01.01.2019 in the post of Anti-Poaching Watchers based on their date of joining and regularize their the service by considering their representation dated 23.10.2024 and 30.10.2024.
2. The learned Counsel for the petitioners would submit that the writ petitioners herein have been appointed as Anti-Poaching Watchers in the Forest Department before 01.12.2018 and they have approached this Court seeking direction to the respondents to consider their representations for including them in the seniority list maintained by the department and in their representations they asserted that the persons, who were appointed after they entered into service have been included in the seniority list. The said representation of the respective petitioners are yet to be considered by the respondents.
3. A perusal of the seniority list would indicate that the last of the person who had been included in the list have been appointed on 01.12.2018. From the particulars submitted by the petitioners, it is prima facie seen that they all have been appointed before 01.12.2018. 3/6
4. In such view of the matter, there shall be a direction to the 2nd respondent to consider the claims of the petitioners and if they satisfied that they have all been appointed prior to 01.12.2018, he is directed to include them in the appropriate place in the seniority list as per their date of appointment. The said exercise shall be carried out within a period of twelve weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. However, the petitioners are at liberty to seek for regularization as and when their names was enlisted in the seniority list.
5. This writ petition is disposed of with the above said directions. No costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petitions are closed. 18.11.2025 2/2 Index : Yes/No Speaking/Non-Speaking order gvn 4/6
To
1. The Principal Secretary to Government Environment Climate Change and Forests Department Secretariat Fort St.George Chennai 600 009
2. The Principal Chief Conservator of Forest Guindy Velacherry Main Road Chennai 600 032
3. The Conservator of Forest KMTR Circle Perumalpuram Tirunelveli 627 007
4. The District Forest Officer
5. The Deputy Director Kalakadu Division
6. The Forest Ranger Tirunelveli Range
7. The Forest Ranger Sivagiri Range Tenkasi District
8. The Forest Ranger Courtallam Range Tenkasi District 5/6
K.KUMARESH BABU.J.
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