IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS Reserved on 24/10/2025 Pronounced on 14/11/2025 C O R A M THE HONOURABLE Mr.JUSTICE K. SURENDER Writ Petition No.17084 of 2017 a n d W.M.P.No.18567 of 2017 Selvaraj ... Petitioner Vs

1. The State of Tamil Nadu rep. By its Secretariat to Government Environment and Forest Department Fort St. George Chennai 600 009.

2. The Principal Chief Conservator of Forest

15 Panagal Maaligai Saidapet Chennai 600 015.

3. The Deputy Director O/o.Aanamalai Tiger Reserve Udumalaipettai. ... Respondents Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying for the issuance of a writ of certiorarified mandamus to call for the records on the file of the respondents made in Proc.No.B2/26480/2016 dated 19/6/2017 and quash in as much as it was declared as not selected in S.No.96 and consequently, direct the respondent to declare S.No.96 as selected and promote the petitioner as a Forest Ranger and place him above his juniors.

For petitioner ... Ms.Selvi George For respondents ... Mr.P.Ananda Kumar Government Advocate - - - - -

O R D E R

This writ petition has been filed to quash the order dated 19/6/2017 passed by the second respondent in Proc.No.B2/26480/2016 and consequently, direct the second respondent to promote the petitioner as a Forest Ranger and place him above his juniors.

2. The brief facts which are necessary for the disposal of the writ petition are as follows:-

The petitioner joined the Forest Department as a Forest Watcher on

13/1/1983 and later, promoted as Forest Guard on 14/2/1996. According to the petitioner, the Government had issued G.O.Ms.No.71 Environment & Forests (FR.2) Department dated 8/6/2017, wherein, the Government has relaxed Rule 5 (ii) (3) of Special Rules for Tamil Nadu Forest Subordinate Service by reducing the service eligibility from 8 years to 6 years for promotion as Forest Ranger. The petitioner had put in six years of service, however, he falls just five days short of being six years experience. The petitioner is seeking intervention of this Court to regularise the requirement of six years which was reduced by the Government by another five days, so as to enable the petitioner to get his promotion as Forest Ranger.

3. Heard Ms.Selvi George, learned counsel for the petitioner and Mr.P.Ananda Kumar, learned Government Advocate for the respondents.

4. It is not in dispute that the writ petitioner joined as Forester, on

20/8/2010 and did not complete six years of service on the crucial date, as such his name for promotion of Forest Range Officer was not recommended. Though the Government has power to issue orders relaxing any requirement under the Special Rules for Tamil Nadu Forest Subordinate Service Rules and Tamil Nadu Government Servants (Condition of Service) Act, 2016, this Court under Article 226 of the Constitution of India cannot order any such relaxation of any Rule.

5. Since it is not in dispute that the petitioner falls five days short of six years of service on the crucial date, the second respondent has rightly declined the name of the petitioner for the promotion of Forest Range Officer. In such a view of the matter, this Court does not find any merit in the writ petition.

6. Accordingly, this writ petition is dismissed. No costs.

Consequently, connected Miscellaneous Petition is closed.

(K.SURENDER,J)

14/11/2025 mvs.

Index: Yes/No Neutral Citation: Yes/No To

1. The Secretariat to Government State of Tamil Nadu Environment and Forest Department Fort St. George Chennai 600 009.

2. The Principal Chief Conservator of Forest

15 Panagal Maaligai Saidapet Chennai 600 015.

3. The Deputy Director O/o.Aanamalai Tiger Reserve Udumalaipettai.

K.SURENDER, J mvs.

Pre-delivery order made in

14/11/2025