IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 17-02-2026 CORAM THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE M.DHANDAPANI K.Sambasivam S/o. Kannan, Forest Guard, D.No.240, Ambigapuram Street, Kalaviputhur Village, Kalavi Post and Taluk, Ranipet -604 503 ..Petitioner(s)

Vs

1.Government of Tamil Nadu Rep. by its Principal Secretary to Government, Environment and Forest Department, Fort St. George, Chennai-600 009

2.The Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Head of Forest Force), Velachery Main Road, Guindy, Chennai-600 032 ..Respondent(s)

Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of Constitution of India, to issue a Writ of Mandamus, directing the respondents to consider the notional promotion to the petitioners as Forest Guard on par with juniors by including his name in the panel drawn for the year 2003 - 2004 with effect from 31.5.2004 for purpose of getting enhanced pension (petitioner service was regularized on par with juniors only now), and in the light of order passed by our Honorable High Court in WP. No.15726 of 2016 dated 28.4.2016 and order in W.P.No.1229 of 2024 with dated 23.1.2024 and order in W.P. No.47719 of 2025 dated 15.12.2025 by considering the representation dated 22.10.2025 in time limit to be stipulated by this Hon’ble Court.

For Petitioner(s): Mr.S.Mani For Respondent(s): Mr.C.Selvaraj Additional Government Pleader

ORDER

This petition has been filed seeking a direction to the respondents to consider the notional promotion to the petitioners as Forest Guard on par with juniors by including his name in the panel drawn for the year 2003 - 2004 with effect from 31.5.2004 for purpose of getting enhanced pension (petitioner's service was regularized on par with juniors only recently), and in the light of order passed by our Honorable High Court in WP. No.15726 of 2016 dated 28.4.2016 and order in W.P.No.1229 of 2024 with dated 23.1.2024 and order in W.P. No.47719 of 2025 dated 15.12.2025 by considering the representation dated 22.10.2025 within a time limit to be stipulated by this Hon’ble Court.

2.The case of the petitioner is that his juniors were appointed as Plot Watchers in the Forest Department on 01.04.1984 on a daily-rated basis. The respondents maintained a statewide seniority list for absorption into the regular post of Forest Watcher but did not follow the list. Consequently, 175 of his juniors were granted regular time-scale pay as Forest Watchers on 24.01.1995 and were further promoted as Forest Guards on 17.06.2004. On the other hand, seniors were regularised only from the year 2010 onwards. Aggrieved by this, the seniors filed various writ petitions before this Court seeking notional regularisation on par with their juniors. The Hon’ble High Court directed the respondents to grant notional regularisation with effect from 24.01.1995, on par with the juniors. Pursuant to the Court’s direction, the first respondent issued orders granting notional regularisation with effect from 24.01.1995. However, further promotion as Forest Guard was not granted notionally to the seniors on par with their juniors, despite repeated representations made by the petitioner. No orders have been passed to date. In similar circumstances, other persons similarly placed filed writ petitions, and this Court disposed of W.P. No.15726 of 2016 dated 28.04.2016, W.P. No.1229 of 2024 dated 23.01.2024, and W.P. No.47719 of 2025 dated 15.12.2025, directing the respondents to consider their representations. Hence, the present writ petition has been filed.

3. The learned counsel for the petitioner would submit that it would suffice, if a direction is issued to the first respondent to consider the petitioner’s application dated 22.10.2025, within a reasonable time to be fixed by this Court.

4.Considering the limited request made by the learned counsel for the petitioner and without expressing any opinion on the merits of the case, this Court, directs the first respondent to consider the petitioner’s application dated 22.10.2025, and to pass appropriate orders o