High Court · 2025

W.P.Nos.40102, 40107, 40113 & 40115 of 2025IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRASDATED : 29.10.2025CORAMTHE HONOURABLE Mr. JUSTICE G.K. ILANTHIRAIYANW.P.Nos.40102, 40107, 40113 & 40115 of 2025[WP.No.40102 of 2025]P.Sivam ... Petitioner Vs.1. Government of Tamil Nadu,Rep. by its Additional Chief Secretary,Environment, Climate Change and Forest Department,Fort St. George, Chennai - 600 009.2. The Principal Chief Conservator of Forests,(Head of Forest Force),Velachery Main Road, Guindy,Chennai - 600 032. ...RespondentsPrayer:- Writ petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying for issuance of a writ of Mandamus, directing the respondents to regularize the service of the petitioner's husband service as Forest Watcher from 24.01.1995 notionally for purpose of getting family pension by taking into account their seniority and qualification on par with their junior K.Subramani, Seniority No.4988 and in the light of the orders passed in WP No.15561 of 2006 dated 10.03.2008 W.A.No.690 of 2008 dated 13.10.2009, W.P.No.23374 of 2008 dated 30.10.2009, W.A.No.607 of 1/9 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.Nos.40102, 40107, 40113 & 40115 of 20252010 dated 29.03.2010 and proceedings of the 2nd respondent dated 07.01.2011 and order in W.P.No.19020 of 2021 dated 09.09.2021 and in the light of G.O.(2D) No.122, ENVIRONMENT, CLIMATE CHANGE AND FORESTS (FR.2(II) DEPARTMENT dated 12.8.2022 and G.O.(2D) No.124, ENVIRONMENT, CLIMATE CHANGE AND FORESTS (FR.2(II) DEPARTMENT dated 17.08.2022 and order in WP No.18476 of 2023 etc batch dated 03.08.2023 and order in WP No.1884 of 2023 dated 31.01.2024.[WP.No.40107 of 2025]A.Kotteswaran ... Petitioner Vs.1. Government of Tamil Nadu,Rep. by its Additional Chief Secretary,Environment, Climate Change and Forest Department,Fort St. George, Chennai - 600 009.2. The Principal Chief Conservator of Forests,(Head of Forest Force),Velachery Main Road, Guindy,Chennai - 600 032. ...RespondentsPrayer:- Writ petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying for issuance of a writ of Mandamus, directing the respondents to regularize the service of the petitioner as Forest Watcher from 24.01.1995 notionally for purpose of getting family pension by taking into account their seniority and qualification on par with their junior K.Subramani, Seniority No.4988 and in the light of the orders passed in WP No.15561 of 2006 dated 10.3.2008 W.A.No.690 of 2008 dated 13.10.2009, 2/9 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.Nos.40102, 40107, 40113 & 40115 of 2025W.P.No.23374 of 2008 dated 30.10.2009, W.A.No.607 of 2010 dated 29.03.2010 and proceedings of the 2nd respondent dated 07.01.2011 and order in W.P.No.19020 of 2021 dated 9.9.2021 and in the light of G.O.(2D) No.122, ENVIRONMENT, CLIMATE CHANGE AND FORESTS (FR.2(II) DEPARTMENT dated 12.8.2022 and G.O.(2D) No.124, ENVIRONMENT, CLIMATE CHANGE AND FORESTS (FR.2(II) DEPARTMENT dated 17.08.2022 and order in WP No.18476 of 2023 etc batch dated 03.08.2023 and order in WP No.1884 of 2023 dated 31.01.2024.[WP.No.40113 of 2025]R.Pechiyammal ... Petitioner Vs.1. Government of Tamil Nadu,Rep. by its Additional Chief Secretary,Environment, Climate Change and Forest Department,Fort St. George, Chennai - 600 009.2. The Principal Chief Conservator of Forests,(Head of Forest Force),Velachery Main Road, Guindy,Chennai - 600 032. ...RespondentsPrayer:- Writ petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying for issuance of a writ of Mandamus, directing the respondents to regularize the service of the petitioner's husband as Forest Watcher from 24.01.1995 notionally for purpose of getting family pension by taking into account their seniority and qualification on par with their junior 3/9 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.Nos.40102, 40107, 40113 & 40115 of 2025K.Subramani, Seniority No.4988 and in the light of the orders passed in WP No.15561 of 2006 dated 10.3.2008 W.A.No.690 of 2008 dated 13.10.2009, W.P.No.23374 of 2008 dated 30.10.2009, W.A.No.607 of 2010 dated 29.03.2010 and proceedings of the 2nd respondent dated 07.01.2011 and order in W.P.No.19020 of 2021 dated 9.9.2021 and in the light of G.O.(2D) No.122, ENVIRONMENT, CLIMATE CHANGE AND FORESTS (FR.2(II) DEPARTMENT dated 12.8.2022 and G.O.(2D) No.124, ENVIRONMENT, CLIMATE CHANGE AND FORESTS (FR.2(II) DEPARTMENT dated 17.08.2022 and order in WP No.18476 of 2023 etc batch dated 03.08.2023 and order in WP No.1884 of 2023 dated 31.01.2024.[WP.No.40115 of 2025]A.Aruldoss ... Petitioner Vs.1. Government of Tamil Nadu,Rep. by its Additional Chief Secretary,Environment, Climate Change and Forest Department,Fort St. George, Chennai - 600 009.2. The Principal Chief Conservator of Forests,(Head of Forest Force),Velachery Main Road, Guindy,Chennai - 600 032. ...RespondentsPrayer:- Writ petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying for issuance of a writ of Mandamus, directing the respondents to regularize the service of the petitioner as Forest Watcher from 24.01.1995 4/9 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.Nos.40102, 40107, 40113 & 40115 of 2025notionally for purpose of getting family pension by taking into account their seniority and qualification on par with their junior K.Subramani, Seniority No.4988 and in the light of the orders passed in WP No.15561 of 2006 dated 10.3.2008 W.A.No.690 of 2008 dated 13.10.2009, W.P.No.23374 of 2008 dated 30.10.2009, W.A.No.607 of 2010 dated 29.03.2010 and proceedings of the 2nd respondent dated 07.01.2011 and order in W.P.No.19020 of 2021 dated 9.9.2021 and in the light of G.O.(2D) No.122, ENVIRONMENT, CLIMATE CHANGE AND FORESTS (FR.2(II) DEPARTMENT dated 12.8.2022 and G.O.(2D) No.124, ENVIRONMENT, CLIMATE CHANGE AND FORESTS (FR.2(II) DEPARTMENT dated 17.08.2022 and order in WP No.18476 of 2023 etc batch dated 03.08.2023 and order in WP No.1884 of 2023 dated 31.01.2024.For PetitionersIn All WPs: Mr.S.ManiFor RespondentsIn All WPs: Mr.C.Selvaraj, AGP.C O M M ON O R D E RThese writ petitions have been filed for a direction to the respondents to regularize the service of the petitioners/petitioners' husband as Forest Watcher notionally.5/9 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.Nos.40102, 40107, 40113 & 40115 of 20252.Heard, the learned counsel appearing on either side.3.In similar matters, this Court considered the similar request in W.P.Nos.21349 of 2023 and batch dated 03.08.2023 and held as follows:-"7. Admittedly, the grievance of the writ petitioner is that he is seeking regularization of service for pensionary benefits. It is the contention of the writ petitioners that similarly persons have been given such benefits as per Government Orders in G.O.Ms.No.95, Environment and Forest Department, dated 07.08.2009, G.O (2D) No. 08 Environment Climate Change And Forests (FR.2ii) Department dated 09.01.2023 and G.O. [2D] No.9, dated 08.02.2022. Based on the Orders of this Court in W.A.No.2072 of 2018, dated 11.08.2021, the Government has issued the Government Order in G.O (2D) No. 08 Environment Climate Change And Forests (FR.2ii) Department dated 09.01.2023. As per the above Government Orders, the relief has been extended to similarly placed persons. Hence, the respondents are directed to consider the case of the petitioners in the light the above Government 6/9 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.Nos.40102, 40107, 40113 & 40115 of 2025Orders, as the benefit has been extended to similarly placed person. In fact the plot watchers are frontline soldiers in forest and they are main protectors of the forest. These facts cannot be disputed by any one. Hence, while passing the Orders, the Government shall take into consideration the nature of service rendered by the petitioners and also the fact that when similarly placed persons have already been granted the relief, if the petitioners are not granted such relief, the same is nothing but discrimination and it violates Article 14 of Constitution of India. In such view of the matter, the respondent shall extend the benefits as per above Government Orders as it is extended to similarly situated persons. ......"4. In view of the above, the respondents are directed to pass appropriate orders in the light of the above order passed in W.P.Nos.21349 of 2023 and batch dated 03.08.2023 as the benefits have been extended to similarly placed persons, within a period of twelve weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.7/9 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.Nos.40102, 40107, 40113 & 40115 of 20255. With the above direction, all the writ petitions are disposed of. There shall be no order as to costs.29.10.2025Index: Yes/NoSpeaking Order: Yes/NoNeutral Citation : Yes/No(shr)To1. Government of Tamil Nadu,Rep. by its Additional Chief Secretary to Government,Environment, Climate Change and Forest Department, Fort St. George, Chennai 600 009.2. The Principal Chief Conservator of Forests,(Head of Forest Force),Velachery Main Road, Guindy,Chennai 600 032. 8/9 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.Nos.40102, 40107, 40113 & 40115 of 2025G.K. ILANTHIRAIYAN . J., (shr)W.P.Nos.40102, 40107, 40113 & 40115 of 202529.10.20259/9