Madras High Court
A.Elangovan vs Government Of Tamil Nadu on 3 November, 2025
Author: G.K.Ilanthiraiyan
Bench: G.K.Ilanthiraiyan
W.P.No.11913 of 2025 etc
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED : 03.11.2025
CORAM:
THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE G.K.ILANTHIRAIYAN
W.P.Nos.11913, 11919, 11926, 11928, 11930,
39365, 39373, 39376, 39378, 39380 & 39384 of 2025
and W.M.P.Nos.13482 & 13488 of 2025
W.P.No.11913 of 2025 :-
A.Elangovan ... Petitioner
Vs.
1.Government of Tamil Nadu,
Rep. By its Additional Chief Secretary
to Government,
Environment, Climate Change and
Forest(FR.2) Department,
Secretariat, Fort St. George,
Chennai-600 009.
2.The Principal Chief Conservator of Forests,
(Head of Forest Force),
Velachery Main Road, Guindy,
Chennai-600 032. ... Respondents
Prayer : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of Constitution of India
praying for the issuance of a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus, calling for
the entire records which culminated in issuing the second respondent in
Ref.No.LLC/6025/2024 dated 22.07.2024 and quash the same and
directing the respondents to regularize the service of the petitioner in the
cadre of Forest Watcher on par with juniors K.Subramani, Seniority
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No.4988 and R.Mani, Seniority No.4920 with effect from 08.03.1999 and
in the light of the order passed by this High 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 second respondent 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 first respondent in G.O.(2D) No.124
Environment, Climate Change and Forests (FR.2(ii)) Department dated
17.08.2022, within a time limit that may be fixed by this Court.
In all W.Ps.
For Petitioner : Mr.S.Mani
In W.P.Nos. 11913, 11919, 11926, 11928 & 11930 of 2025
For Respondents : Dr.T.Seenivasan
Special Government Pleader
In W.P.Nos.39365, 39373, 39376, 39378, 39380 & 39384 of 2025
For Respondents : Mr.C.Selvaraj
Additional Government Pleader
COMMON ORDER
The Writ Petitions in W.P.Nos.11913, 11919, 39376 &
39380 of 2025 have been filed challenging the orders passed by the
respondents dated 22.07.2024, 06.02.2023, 17.02.2023 & 27.03.2024
respectively, thereby rejecting the request made by the petitioners and
consequently to direct the respondents to regularize the
petitioner's/petitioner's husband's service in the cadre of Forest Watcher
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for the purpose of getting minimum pension by giving relaxation in
respect of height as the same was allowed for similarly placed persons
like the petitioner, in the light of the order passed by this Court in
W.P.Nos.21349 & etc., batch of 2023 dated 03.08.2023 within a time
limit that may be fixed by this Court.
2. The Writ Petitions in W.P.Nos.11926, 11928, 11930, 39365,
37373, 39378 & 39384 of 2025 have been filed for direction directing the
respondents to regularize the petitioner's/petitioner's husband's service in
the cadre of Forest Watcher for the purpose of getting minimum pension
by giving relaxation in respect of height as the same was allowed for
similarly placed persons like the petitioner, in the light of the order
passed by this Court in W.P.Nos.21349 & etc., batch of 2023 dated
03.08.2023, within a time limit that may be fixed by this Court.
3. Heard the learned counsel appearing on either side and
perused the materials available on record.
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4. In similar matters, this Court considered the similar request
in W.P.Nos.21349 of 2023 and etc., batch dated 03.08.2023 and held as
follows:-
“7. Admittedly, the grievance of the writ petitioner
is that he is seeking regularization of service for
pensionary benefits. It is the contention of the writ
petitioners that similarly persons have been given such
benefits as per Government Orders in G.O.Ms.No.95,
Environment and Forest Department, dated 07.08.2009,
G.O (2D) No. 08 Environment Climate Change And
Forests (FR.2ii) Department dated 09.01.2023 and G.O.
[2D] No.9, dated 08.02.2022. Based on the Orders of
this Court in W.A.No.2072 of 2018, dated 11.08.2021,
the Government has issued the Government Order in
G.O (2D) No. 08 Environment Climate Change And
Forests (FR.2ii) Department dated 09.01.2023. As per
the above Government Orders, the relief has been
extended to similarly placed persons. Hence, the
respondents are directed to consider the case of the
petitioners in the light the above Government Orders, as
the benefit has been extended to similarly placed person.
In fact the plot watchers are frontline soldiers in forest
and they are main protectors of the forest. These facts
cannot be disputed by any one. Hence, while passing the
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Orders, the Government shall take into consideration the
nature of service rendered by the petitioners and also the
fact that when similarly placed persons have already
been granted the relief, if the petitioners are not granted
such relief, the same is nothing but discrimination and it
violates Article 14 of Constitution of India. In such view
of the matter, the respondent shall extend the benefits as
per above Government Orders as it is extended to
similarly situated persons. ......”
5. In view of the above judgment, the impugned orders cannot
be sustained and are liable to be set aside. Accordingly, the impugned
orders passed by the respondents dated 22.07.2024, 06.02.2023,
17.02.2023 & 27.03.2024, are hereby set aside. Further, the respondents
are directed to consider the representation submitted by petitioners in all
the Writ Petitions, in the light of the above order passed in
W.P.Nos.21349 of 2023 etc., batch dated 03.08.2023, as the benefits have
been extended to similarly placed persons and pass orders on merits and
in accordance with law, within a period of twelve weeks from the date of
receipt of a copy of this order.
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6. With the above directions, all the Writ Petitions stand
disposed of. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petitions are closed.
There shall be no order as to costs.
03.11.2025
(½)
Index : Yes/No
Neutral citation : Yes/No
Speaking/non-speaking order
Note:- Registry is directed to incorporate
Cause title for all the cases and
issue order copy.
rts
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To
1.The Additional Chief Secretary,
Government of Tamil Nadu,
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.
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G.K.ILANTHIRAIYAN. J,
rts
W.P.Nos.11913, 11919, 11926, 11928, 11930,
39365, 39373, 39376, 39378, 39380 & 39384 of 2025
and W.M.P.Nos.13482 & 13488 of 2025
03.11.2025
(½)
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