IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED : 27.11.2025

CORAM:

THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE G.K.ILANTHIRAIYAN

and

W.M.P.No.51629 of 2025

B. Andrews ...Petitioner

-Vs-

1.The State of Tamil Nadu

Rep., by its Additional Chief Secretary to Government, Environment, Climate Change and Forest Department,

Fort St. George,

Chennai,

Tamil Nadu State - 600 009.

2.The Principal Chief Conservator of Forest &

Head of Forests Force Velachery Main Road,

Guindy, Chennai,

Tamil Nadu State - 600 032. ... Respondents

Prayer : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of Constitution of India praying for the issuance of a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus, to calling for the entire records which culminated in issuing in G.O.(2D).No.66 Environment, Climate Change and Forest (FR.2ii) Department dated 19.07.2024 on the file of the 1^st respondent and quash the same with consequential direction to regularize the service of the petitioner in the cadre of Forest Watcher on par with junior on 24.01.1995 in the light of the order passed by this Court in W.P.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 2010 dated 29.03.2010 and proceedings of the 2^nd respondent in Ref.No.LL1/61824/2008 dated 07.01.2011 and Order in W.P.No.19020 of 2021 dated 09.09.2021 and extent the benefit of the order passed by the 1^st respondent in G.O.(2D) No.89, Environment, Climate Change and Forests (FR.2(ii) Department Dated 24.06.2022 and order in W.P.No.6920 of 2024 dated 15.03.2024 with all consequential benefits within time frame For Petitioner : Mr.Kanna Patel.I For Respondents : Mr.C.Selvaraj Additional Government Pleader

ORDER

This writ petition has been filed calling for the entire records which culminated in issuing in G.O.(2D).No.66 Environment, Climate Change and Forest (FR.2ii) Department dated 19.07.2024 on the file of the 1^st respondent and quash the same with consequential direction to regularize the service of the petitioner in the cadre of Forest Watcher on par with junior on 24.01.1995 in the light of the order passed by this Court in W.P.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 2010 dated 29.03.2010 and proceedings of the 2^nd respondent in Ref.No.LL1/61824/2008 dated 07.01.2011 and Order in W.P.No.19020 of 2021 dated 09.09.2021 and extent the benefit of the order passed by the 1^st respondent in G.O.(2D) No.89, Environment, Climate Change and Forests (FR.2(ii) Department Dated 24.06.2022 and order in W.P.No.6920 of 2024 dated 15.03.2024.

2. Heard the learned counsel on either side and perused the materials available on record.

3. The case of the petitioner is that the petitioner had joined the service of the Forest Department on 01.01.1986 on daily wage basis. The name of the petitioner and his juniors were included in the State wide Seniority list drawn by the Department, by taking note of the date of joining the service on daily wage basis for bringing them into regular time scale of pay as Forest Watcher. However, without following the said seniority list in its letter and spirit, the service of many persons who are juniors to the petitioner have been regularized and they were given time scale of pay in the cadre post of Forest Watcher. His juniors were regularized from the daily wage basis to Forest Watcher on 08.03.1999, whereas even though the petitioner is senior to them, his service was regularized only on 07.08.2009. The service of the petitioner was regularized after a period of more than two decades of service. Though the petitioner is qualified with SSLC and was given regular time of appointment as Forest Watcher in the year 1994, the petitioner could not join the regular post of Forest Watcher, in view of the interim order granted by the Tamil Nadu Administrative Tribunal. In order to wriggle out of the situation, the Government passed an order in G.O.Ms.No.64, Environment and Forest Department dated 08.03.1999,