IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED : 27.11.2025

CORAM:

THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE G.K.ILANTHIRAIYAN

and W.M.P.Nos.19225, 25534 & 29531 of 2025

1. K.Jayaraman

2. G.Mohan

3. A.Subramanian

4. V.Kirubakaran

5. R.Chinnasamy ... Petitioners in W.P.

No.16926 of 2025

1. T.Varatharajan 2. M.Thirumaran

3. A.Ramasamy

4. S.Arumugam ... Petitioners in W.P.

No.22691 of 2025

Muthu @ Silvainathan ... Petitioner in W.P.

No.26221 of 2025

Vs.

1. The State of Tamil Nadu,

Rep by its Secretary to Government,

Environment, Climate Change and

Forest Department,

Fort St. George, Chennai – 9.

2. The Principal Chief Conservator

of Forest & Head of Forest Force,

Joint Forest Management,

Velachery Main Road,

Guindy, Chennai – 32. ... Respondents in

W.P.16926 of 2025

1. The State of Tamil Nadu, Rep by its Additional Chief Secretary to Government, Environment, Climate Change and Forest Department, Fort St. George, Chennai – 9.

2. The Principal Chief Conservator of Forest & Head of Forest Force, Joint Forest Management, Velachery Main Road, Guindy, Chennai – 32. ... Respondents in W.P.22691 & 26221 of 2025 Prayer in W.P.No.16926 of 2025: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India for issuance of a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus, to call for the records in Letter No.24713/FR2(II)/2016-5, dated 27.09.2017 and quash the same insofar as to allow monetary benefits from the date of issue this letter and consequently directing the respondents to pay monetary benefits from date of joining as Forest Watcher from 16.05.2008 (1^st petitioner) from 24.10.2008 (2^nd & 3^rd petitioner) from 26.10.2012 (4^th petitioner) and from 16.08.2005 (5^th petitioner) till the date of retirement as per Rule 27(17) of the Tamilnadu Fundamental Rules.

Prayer in W.P.No.22691 of 2025: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India for issuance of a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus, to call for the records in Letter No.19683/FR2(II)/2016-4, dated 03.03.2017 issued by the first respondent and quash the same insofar as to allow monetary benefits from the date of issue this letter and consequently direction directing the respondents to pay monetary benefits from date of joining as Forest Watcher from 18.04.2012 (1st petitioner)

from 01.11.2003 (2^nd petitioner) from 05.11.2003 (3^rd petitioner) and from 05.04.2012 (4^th petitioner) till the date of retirement as per Rule 27(17) of the Tamilnadu Fundamental Rules.

Prayer in W.P.No.26221 of 2025: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India for issuance of a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus, to call for the records in G.O.(2D)No.66 Environment, Climate Change and Forest (FR.2(ii)) Department, dated 24.04.2022 of the first respondent and quash the same insofar as to allow monetary benefits from the date of issue this letter and consequently directing the respondents to pay monetary benefits from date of joining as Forest Watcher from 31.01.2014 till the date of retirement as per Rule 27(17) of the Tamilnadu Fundamental Rules, within time frame.

In all W.Ps.

For Petitioners : Ms.K.Jenitha For Respondents : Dr.T.Seenivasan Special Government Pleader

COMMON ORDER

These Writ Petitions have been filed challenging the orders passed by the first respondent thereby rejecting the request made by the petitioners seeking monetary benefits from the date of their joining as Forest Watcher.

2. Heard the learned counsel appearing on either side and perused the materials placed before this Court.

3. The similar matter has already been dealt with by this Court in W.P.No.30209 of 2023 by an order dated 27.03.2024 and the relevant portion is extracted hereunder :-

“7. On perusal of records revealed that the petitioners are seeking monetary benefits only from the date of their 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 petitioners' services were