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W.P.No.34873 of 2025

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED : 19.12.2025

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE M.DHANDAPANI

W.P.No.34873 of 2025

And

W.M.P.Nos.39055 and 55869 of 2025

R.Senthilkumar ... Petitioner

Vs.

1 THE STATE OF TAMIL NADU

REP. BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT,

ENVIRONMENT, CLIMATE CHANGE AND FOREST DEPARTMENT,

FORT ST. GEORGE,

SECRETARIAT,

CHENNAI – 600 009.

2 THE PRINCIPAL CHIEF CONSERVATOR OF FORESTS,

HEAD OF FOREST FORCE,

GUINDY-VELACHERRY MAIN ROAD,

GUINDY,

CHENNAI – 600 032.

3 THE CONSERVATOR OF FORESTS,

DHARMAPURI FOREST CIRCLE,

DHARMAPURI – 5,

DHARMAPURI DISTRICT.

4 THE FOREST ENGINEER/ DIVISIONAL FOREST OFFICER,

FOREST ENGINEERING DIVISION,

HARUR,

DHARMAPURI DISTRICT. ... Respondents

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W.P.No.34873 of 2025

Prayer:

Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India to

issue a Writ of Mandamus directing the respondents to restore the

original seniority of the petitioner as Forest Range Officer on par with

his juniors i.e., on 13.08.2016 and include his name in the panel for

the promotion to the post of Assistant Conservator of Forests for the

year 2024-2025 and grant all other service benefits.

For Petitioner : Mr.M.R.Jothimanian

For Respondents : Mr.C.Selvaraj

Additional Government Pleader

O R D E R

This writ petition has been filed seeking issuance of Writ of

Mandamus directing the respondents to restore the original seniority of

the petitioner as Forest Range Officer on par with his juniors i.e., on

13.08.2016 and include his name in the panel for the promotion to the

post of Assistant Conservator of Forests for the year 2024-2025 and

grant all other service benefits.

2.The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner submitted

that the petitioner was appointed as Forest Guard on 16.03.1997

through Direct Recruitment by the second respondent and worked in

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W.P.No.34873 of 2025

various places and was promoted as Forester in the year 2009 and

was further promoted as Forest Range Officer vide order dated

13.08.2016. The post of Forest Range Officers is State cadre and

governed by Special Rules viz., Tamil Nadu Forest Subordinate Service

Rules. The petitioner is working as Forest Range Officer under the

control of the second respondent from 13.08.2016, however, his

original seniority was denied on par with his juniors due to

administrative delay and reasons.

3.The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner further

submitted that perusal of the counter affidavit filed by the respondents

reveal that the third respondent vide proceedings dated 29.08.2025

has recommended to include the petitioner’s name in the promotion

panel, however, the same has not yet been implemented. Hence, this

Court may, without going into the merits of the case, issue direction to

the respondents 1 and 2 to implement the recommendation of the

third respondent and to pass appropriate orders.

4.It is relevant to extract hereunder paragraph nos.8 to 10 of

the counter affidavit:

“8) It is respectfully submitted

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W.P.No.34873 of 2025

that on secreting of service register of the

petitioner shows that the consequent on

inclusion of petitioner’s name in the panel of

Forest Range Officer for the year 2015-16,

allotment order for joining has been issued to

state Forest Research Institution

Kolappakkam, Chennai by the 2^nd respondent

in its order Proc.No.35145/2015 dated 13-08-

2016. This order has been forwarded to the

petitioner by the Forest Engineer, Trichy in

Ref.No.69/2016/E dated 30-08-2016 F.N. and

received on the A.N. of 30-08-2016 and joined

as Forest Range officer on 31-08-2016 as per

the Deputy Conservator of Forests, State

Forestry Research Institution, Kolappakkam so

as to join as Forest Range Officer, Vellore

Range. Hence he has completed qualifying

service for 7 years 11 months & 14 days.

Allotment order has been received on 16-08-