IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS RESERVED ON : 08.12.2025 PRONOUNCED ON : 12.12.2025 CORAM:

THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE T.VINOD KUMAR W.P.No.3250 of 2019 S.Mani .. Petitioner vs

1.The Principal Chief Conservator of Forest, Panagal Maaligai, No.1, Jennis Road, Saidapet, Chennai – 600 015.

2.The Chief Conservator of Forest, And Field Director, Anamalai Tiger Sanctuary, Pollachi, Coimbatore District.

3. Deputy Director, Anamalai Tiger Sanctuary, Pollachi, Coimbatore District. … Respondents Prayer: Writ Petition is filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying to issue a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus to call for the entire records which issuing the proceedings in Na.Ka.No.S2/29754/2018 dated 18.07.2018 on the file of 1^st respondent and Na.Ka.No.4385/2018/Pa1 dated 12.10.2018 on the file of the 3^rd respondent and quash the same and consequently direct the respondents to reinstate the petitioner in the regular time scale of the post of forest watcher on the basis of his seniority with all consequential service and monetary benefits within a time stipulated by this Court.

For Petitioner : Ms.M.Preetha for Mr.K.Kathiresan For Respondents : Mr.V.Veluchamy Additional Government Pleader

O R D E R

Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned Additional Government Pleader appearing for the respondents and perused the record.

2. The case of the petitioner in brief is that he was appointed as Cook and Watcher in rest house on temporary basis and have been continuously working from the year 1988 till 1998; that the respondents confirmed the services of his co-workers who were continuously working for more than 5 years; that as he has been working since 1988, he is also eligible for getting his services confirmed; that whenever he asked the respondents to regularise his services, they have provided him with work and purposefully avoided mentioning his name and signature in the records.

3. It is the further case of the petitioner that since, he has been working as Cook and Watcher in the rest house of the respondents and has sufficient proof of working continuously since 01.01.1988, he had given several representations to the respondents for regularising his services and granting promotion and back wages and as the respondents failed to consider his representations by regularising his work, he had approached 1^st and 2^nd respondents and submitted a representation dated 11.07.2018; that in the meantime, the 3^rd respondent by the impugned letter dated 12.10.2018 stated that as per the proceedings bearing Na.Ka.No.S229754/2018 dated 18.07.2018, there is no provisions in G.O. for regularisation of the services of the petitioner and thus, seeks for setting aside the aforesaid proceedings with a consequential direction to the respondents to reinstate the petitioner in the regular time scale in the post of Forest Watcher on the basis of his seniority with all consequential service and monetary benefits.

4. Counter affidavit on behalf of respondents is filed.

5. The respondents by the counter affidavit while denying the writ averments contended that the petitioner worked as “helper to the rest house Cook” and also for some time as 'Cook' on daily wage basis during the period from 01.01.1988 to 01.01.1998 through petty contract basis; that the petitioner for most of the time was engaged as a casual labour through petty contract scheme to carry out various works such as to assist cook in the rest house as well as Cook in the rest house etc.,; that as per the instructions of the Conservator of Forests, Coimbatore Circle, Temporary Rest House Watchers and Plantation Watchers who had completed 10 years of service were asked to assemble at the office of District Forest Officer, Coimbatore Division, Coimbatore for verification of Educational and Community certificates and physical measurements to prepare the circle level seniority list for temporary employees; that the petitioner attended the verification process on 23.11.1992