High Court · 2025

W.P.No.12139 of 2025 etc.IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRASDATED : 29.10.2025CORAMTHE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE G.K.ILANTHIRAIYANW.P.Nos.6122, 6127, 6128, 6131, 6135, 6137, 6142 6095, 6099,6110, 6102, 6107, 6118, 6121, 6565, 6567, 6572, 6575, 6577, 6583, 6584 12203, 12210,12217, 12992, 12993, 14716 and 14720 of 2025and WMP.Nos.6732, 6734, 6735, 6741, 6744, 6748, 6784 6709, 6724, 6713, 6721, 6726, 6731, 7226, 7227, 7232, 7235, 7241, 7242, 13770, 13769, 13779, 14495, 16611 & 16613 of 2025[WP.No.6122 of 2025]M.Srinivasan .... PetitionerVs.1.Government Of Tamil Nadu Rep. By Its Additional Chief Secretary to Government,Environment,Climate Change and Forest Department, Fort St George, Chennai 600009.2.The Principal Chief Conservator Of Forests(Head Of Forest Force) Velachery Main Road, Guindy, Chennai 600032. .... RespondentsPrayer:- Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of Constitution of India for the issuance of Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus, calling for the entire records which culminated in issuing the Proc. No. AB2 / 23266 / 2023, dated 09.07.2024 on the file of the 2nd respondent and quash the same in so far as denial of monetary benefits for working period as forest guard is Page 1 of 7 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.No.12139 of 2025 etc.concerned and further directing to the respondents to pay the monetary benefits from date of joining as forest guard from 01.12.2014 till 09.07.2024 as per Tamil Nadu Fundamental Rule 27 (17) and light of the order passed by this Court in W.P.No.23478 of 2024 dated 27.03.2024.In all W.PsFor Petitioner:Mr.S.ManiIn W.P.Nos 6095, 6099, 6110, 6102, 6107, 6118, 6121, 6565, 6567, 6572, 6575, 6577, 6583, 6584, 12992, 12993, 14716 and 14720 of 2025For Respondent:Dr.T.Seenivasan, Special Government PleaderIn W.P.Nos. 6122, 6127, 6128, 6131, 6135, 6137 & 6142 of 2025For Respondent:Mr.V.Veluchamy, AGPIn W.P.Nos. 12203, 12210 & 12217 of 2025For Respondent:Mr.C.Selvaraj, AGPC O M M ON O R D E R W.P.Nos.6122, 6127, 6128, 6131, 6135, 6137, 6142 , 6099, 6110, 6102, 6107, 6118, 6121, 6565, 6567, 6572, 6577, 6583, 6584, 12203, 12210, 12217, 12993, 14716 and 14720 of 2025 have been filed challenging the orders passed by the respondents dated 09.07.2024, 08.09.2023, 08.04.2024, 01.09.2022, 03.12.2023, 12.11.2022, Page 2 of 7 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.No.12139 of 2025 etc.30.08.2023, 03.03.2017, 12.09.2022, 16.08.2017, 21.01.2019, 02.03.2018, 27.09.2017, 17.05.2017, 16.08.2017, 16.03.2017, 23.10.2013, 01.01.2021, 27.09.2018, 16.03.2017, 07.07.2022, 16.08.2017, 16.03.2017, 03.03.2017, 06.03.2017 & 16.08.2017 respectively, thereby rejecting the request made by the petitioners’ seeking monetary benefits from the date of their joining as Forest Watcher/Forest Guard and to consequently direct the respondents to pay the monetary benefits to the petitioners from the date of their joining as Forest Watcher/Forest Guard, as per Tamil Nadu Fundamental Rule 27 (17) and in the light of the order passed by this Court in W.P. No 23478 of 2024 dated 27.03.2024.2. WP.Nos.6095, 6575 & 12992 of 2025 have been filed to direct the respondents to pay the monetary benefits to the petitioners from the date of their joining as Forest Watcher/Forest Guard, as per Tamil Nadu Fundamental Rule 27 (17) and in the light of the order passed by this Court in W.P.No 23478 of 2024 dated 27.03.2024.3.Heard the learned counsel appearing on either side and perused the materials available on record.Page 3 of 7 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.No.12139 of 2025 etc.4.In similar matter, this Court considered the similar request in W.P.Nos.23478 of 2023 dated 27.03.2023 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 Page 4 of 7 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.No.12139 of 2025 etc.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.10.With the above directions, the Writ Petition stands allowed. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petition is closed. There shall be no order as to costs.”5. In view of the above, the impugned orders cannot be sustained and are liable to be set aside. Accordingly, the impugned orders passed by the respondents dated 09.07.2024, 08.09.2023, 08.04.2024, 01.09.2022, 03.12.2023, 12.11.2022, 30.08.2023, 03.03.2017, 12.09.2022, 16.08.2017, 21.01.2019, 02.03.2018, 27.09.2017, 17.05.2017, 16.08.2017, 16.03.2017, 23.10.2013, 01.01.2021, 27.09.2018, 16.03.2017, 07.07.2022, 16.08.2017, 16.03.2017, 03.03.2017, 06.03.2017 & 16.08.2017, are hereby set aside. The petitioners are entitled for monetary benefits only from the date of their joining as Forest Page 5 of 7 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.No.12139 of 2025 etc.Watcher/Forest Guard. The respondents are directed to pay monetary benefits to the petitioners for the period as prayed for by them within a period of twelve weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this Order.6.With the above directions, these Writ Petitions are allowed. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petitions are closed. There shall be no order as to costs. 29.10.2025shrIndex:Yes/NoSpeaking/Non-speaking orderInternet:YesNeutral Citation:Yes/NoNote:- Registry is directed to incorporateCause title for all the cases andissue order copy.To1.Government Of Tamil Nadu Rep. By Its Additional Chief Secretary to Government,Environment,Climate Change and Forest Department, Fort St George, Chennai 600009.2.The Principal Chief Conservator Of Forests(Head Of Forest Force) Velachery Main Road, Guindy, Chennai 600032.Page 6 of 7 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.No.12139 of 2025 etc.G.K.ILANTHIRAIYAN, J.shrW.P.Nos.6122, 6127, 6128, 6131, 6135, 6137 , 6142 6095, 6099,6110, 6102, 6107, 6118, 6121, 6565, 6567, 6572, 6575, 6577, 6583, 6584 12203, 12210,12217, 12992, 1299314716 and 14720 of 2025and WMP.Nos.6732, 6734, 6735, 6741, 6744, 6748, 6784 6709, 6724, 6713, 6721, 6726, 6731, 7226, 7227, 7232, 7235, 7241, 7242, 13770, 13769, 13779, 14495, 16611 & 16613 of 202529.10.2025(1/2)Page 7 of 7