High Court · 2025

W.P.No.46032 of 2025IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRASDATED : 25.11.2025CORAMTHE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE G.K.ILANTHIRAIYANW.P.No.46032 of 2025 andWMP.No.51349 of 2025S.Saraswathi ... PetitionerVs1.GOVERNMENT OF TAMILNADU, REP. BY ITS ADDITIONAL CHIEF SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT, ENVIRONMENT, CLIMATE CHANGE AND FORESTS (FR. 2II) DEPARTMENT, FORT ST GEORGE, CHENNAI 600 0092.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 praying to issue a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus to call for the records in G.O (2D) No.148 Environment, Climate Change and Forests (FR2 (II)) Department Dated 12.09.2022 and quash the same insofar as regularization of the petitioner’s service with effect from 08.03.1999 and further direction directing the respondents to consider the notional regularization to the petitioners as Forest watcher with effect from 24.01.1995 instead of 08.03.1999 for purpose of getting revised pension on par with juniors same was done in similarly placed persons in G.O.(2D) No. 177 Environment, Climate Change and Forests (Fr. 2.II) Department dated 14.11.2022 and 1/8 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.No.46032 of 2025order in W.P.no.38806 and etc. batch of 2025 dated 29.10.2025 within time limit to be stipulated by this Court For Petitioner: Mr.S.ManiFor Respondents: Mr.C.Selvaraj, Additional Government Pleader O R D E RThis Writ Petition has been filed to quash the order passed in G.O.(2D) No.148 Environment, Climate Change and Forests (FR2 (II)) Department Dated 12.09.2022 insofar as regularization of the petitioner’s service with effect from 08.03.1999 and consequently to direct the respondents to consider the notional regularization to the petitioner as Forest Watcher with effect from 24.01.1995 instead of 08.03.1999 for the purpose of getting revised pension on par with juniors, same was done in similarly placed persons in G.O.(2D) No. 177 Environment, Climate Change and Forests (Fr. 2.II) Department dated 14.11.2022 and order in W.P.no.38806 and etc. batch of 2025 dated 29.10.2025 within time limit to be stipulated by this Court.2.The issue involved in this writ petition has already been dealt 2/8 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.No.46032 of 2025with by this Court in WP.No.38806 of 2025 and this Court by order dated 29.10.2025, quashed the orders impugned in that writ petition. The relevant portion of that order is extracted hereunder: 7. As rightly pointed out by the learned counsel for the petitioners, originally, the eligibility for the cadre post of Forest Watcher was only the ability to read and write in Tamil, along with a height of 163 cms. By way of the Government Order in G.O. (Ms) No. 332, Environment and Forests (FR. VI) Department, dated 22.12.1994, the minimum general education qualification, i.e., SSLC, was fixed for the post of Forest Watcher. After the filing of the application before the Tamil Nadu Administrative Tribunal, the Government itself cancelled the said Government Order and issued G.O. (Ms) No. 64, Environment and Forests (V2) Department, dated 08.03.1999, thereby cancelling G.O. (Ms) No. 332, Environment and Forests (FR. VI) Department, dated 22.12.1994, and G.O. Ms. No. 297, Environment & Forests (FR. 2) Department, dated 28.11.1994.8. On a perusal of the Tamil Nadu Forest Subordinate Services Rules for the category of Forest Watcher, the method of recruitment is by direct recruitment and appointment from Social Forestry Workers and Plot Watchers, with the 3/8 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.No.46032 of 2025qualification being the ability to read and write in Tamil, and physical requirements of not less than 79 cm round the chest on full expiration, a height of not less than 163 cm, and a chest expansion of not less than 5 cm on full inspiration. Accordingly, all the petitioners are qualified and eligible for the post of Forest Watchers.9. As per seniority, their juniors were posted to the post of Forest Watchers pursuant to G.O. (Ms) No. 332, Environment and Forests (FR. VI) Department, dated 22.12.1994. After cancelling the said Government Order, the petitioners are also entitled to be posted to the post of Forest Watchers on par with their juniors. That apart, as per G.O (2D) No. 177, Environment, Climate Change and Forests (FR.2ii) Department, dated 14.11.2022, similarly placed persons, viz., V. Subramani and 29 others, were given notional promotion to the post of Forest Watcher from 24.01.1995.10. In view of the above, the Government Orders in G.O (2D) No. 175 Environment, Climate Change and Forests (FR.2ii) Department Dated 07.11.2022, G.O (2D) No 91 Environment, Climate Change and Forests (FR.2ii) Department Dated 30.06.2022, G.O (2D) No 27 Environment, Climate Change and Forests (FR.2ii) 4/8 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.No.46032 of 2025Department Dated 24.02.2025, G.O (2D) No 148 Environment, Climate Change and Forests (FR2 ii) Department Dated 12.09.2022 and the order passed in Ref. No LL1/ 35954 / 2024 Dated 19.03.2025 are quashed, insofar as the regularization of the petitioner’s service with effect from 24.01.1995 instead of 08.03.1999. The respondents are directed to notionally regularize the petitioners as Forest Watchers with effect from 24.01.1995, for the purpose of revised pension, on par with their juniors, as per Tamil Nadu Forest Subordinate Services Rule 5 Class-1 (4)(ii), within a period of eight weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.3.Therefore, the same order can be passed in this writ petition as well. Accordingly, the impugned order dated 12.09.2022 is quashed insofar as regularization of the petitioner’s service with effect from 08.03.1999. The respondents are directed to notionally regularize the petitioner as Forest Watchers with effect from 24.01.1995, for the purpose of revised pension, on par with juniors, as per Tamil Nadu Forest Subordinate Services Rule 5 Class-1 (4)(ii), within a period of eight weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.5/8 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.No.46032 of 20254. With the above direction, this writ petition stands allowed. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petition is closed. There shall be no order as to costs.25.11.2025 Index:Yes/NoNeutral Citation/Yes/Nolok6/8 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.No.46032 of 2025To1.GOVERNMENT OF TAMILNADU, REP. BY ITS ADDITIONAL CHIEF SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT, ENVIRONMENT, CLIMATE CHANGE AND FORESTS (FR. 2II) DEPARTMENT, FORT ST GEORGE, CHENNAI 600 0092.THE PRINCIPAL CHIEF CONSERVATOR OF FORESTS,(HEAD OF FOREST FORCE), VELACHERY MAIN ROAD, GUINDY, CHENNAI 600 0327/8 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.No.46032 of 2025G.K.ILANTHIRAIYAN, J.lokW.P.No.46032 of 202525.11.2025 8/8