Durai Singh P v. The Principal Secretary
BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT Dated : 08.01.2026
CORAM
THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE B.PUGALENDHI WP(MD)No.435 of 2026 P.Durai Singh ... Petitioner Vs
1. The Principal Secretary, Environment and Forest Department, Government of Tamil Nadu, Chennai - 09.
2. The Principal Accountant General (A&E), Tamil Nadu, Anna Salai, Chennai - 18.
3. The District Forest Officer, Thoothukudi Division, Thoothukudi District.
... Respondents Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying this Court to issue a Writ of Mandamus, directing the respondents, particularly, the 1st respondent to consider the petitioner's representation dated 13.03.2025, take into account the past service rendered by the petitioner as a Youth Service Corps Volunteer from 16.01.1975 to 15.01.1979 as qualifying service, by revising and grant all consequential pensionary and retirement benefits, within a time frame 1/4
fixed by this Court.
For Petitioner : Mr.T.Jeen Joseph For R1 and R3 : Mr.C.Venkatesh Kumar, Special Government Pleader For R2 : Mr.G.Karthick
ORDER
The petitioner is a retired Forester. He was appointed as a Forester on 06.08.1979 and retired from service on attaining the age of superannuation on 30.09.2007. After 18 years of his retirement, the petitioner, with a grievance that the service rendered by him as Youth Service Corps Volunteer from 16.01.1975 to 15.01.1979 was not considered and calculated for his pensionary and other retirement benefits, has submitted a representation dated 13.03.2025 and also filed this writ petition, seeking a direction to the 1st respondent to take into account the past service rendered by him as a Youth Service Corps Volunteer from 16.01.1975 to 15.01.1979 as qualifying service and to grant all consequential pensionary and retirement benefits. 2/4
2. The petitioner was appointed as Forester on 06.08.1979. Before that, he rendered Youth Service Corps Volunteer service from 16.01.1975 to 15.01.1979. However, he submitted a representation to the respondents requesting to take into account the past service rendered by him as Youth Service Corps Volunteer from 16.01.1975 to 15.01.1979, only in the month of March 2025, i.e. after 18 years of his retirement. If the petitioner wants to include the past service rendered by him, he should have submitted the representation immediately after joining the service as Forester or even during his entire service. But, the petitioner kept quiet for all these years and submitted the representation only in the month of March 2025. Therefore, this writ petition is liable to be dismissed on the ground of laches.
3. Accordingly, this writ petition is dismissed on the ground of laches. No costs.
08.01.2026 ogy Index : Yes / No.
Internet : Yes / No.
NCC : Yes / No.
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B.PUGALENDHI, J.
ogy To
1. The Principal Secretary, Environment and Forest Department, Government of Tamil Nadu, Chennai - 09.
2. The Principal Accountant General (A&E), Tamil Nadu, Anna Salai, Chennai - 18.
3. The District Forest Officer, Thoothukudi Division, Thoothukudi District.
WP(MD) No.435 of 2026 08.01.2026 4/4