WP No. 26983 of 2026 __________ Page1 of 9 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 15-07-2026 CORAM THE HON'BLE MS. JUSTICE P.T. ASHA WP No. 26983 of 2026 AND WP NO. 26986 OF 2026, WP NO. 26988 OF 2026 1. R.Gopal 2. C.Ravichandran ..Petitioner(s) Vs 1. Government Of Tamil Nadu Rep By Its Additional Chief Secretary, 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 32 ..Respondent(s) WP No. 26986 of 2026 V.Elumalai ..Petitioner(s) Vs 1. Government Of Tamil Nadu Rep By Its Additional Chief Secretary, 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 32 ..Respondent(s) WP No. 26988 of 2026 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis WP No. 26983 of 2026 __________ Page2 of 9 M.Chitra ..Petitioner(s) Vs 1. Government Of Tamil Nadu Rep By Its Additional Chief Secretary, 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 32 ..Respondent(s) Prayer: Writ petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying for issuance of a writ of Mandamus directing respondents to regularise the service of petitioner as forest watcher from 24.01.1995 notionally for purpose of getting pension by taking into account their seniority and qualification on par with the Junior M.Karunanidhi and in the light of the orders passed in WP.No. 15561 of 2006 dated 10.03.2008, W.A.No. 690 of 2008 dated 13.10.2009 WP.No. 23374 of 2008 dated 30.10.2009 WA.No.607 of 2010 dated 29.03.2010 and proceedings of the 2nd respondent dated 07.01.2011 and order in WP.No. 19020 of 2021 dated 09.09.2021 and in the light of G.O. (2D) No. 122 Environment, Climate Change and Forest (FR . 2(ii) department dated 12.08.2022 and G.O. (2D) No. 124 Environment, Climate Change and Forest (FR . 2(ii) department dated 17.08.2022 and order in WP.No. 18476 of 2023 etc. batch dated 03.08.2023 and order in WP.No. 18796 and etc, batch of 2024 dated 9.7.2024 and G.O.(2D)No.65 Environment, Climate change and Forests (FR.2(ii) Department dated 21.4.2025 and order in W.P.No.40056 of 2025 dated 25.10.2025. WP No. 26986 of 2026 Prayer: Writ petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying for issuance of a writ of Mandamus directing respondents to regularise the https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis WP No. 26983 of 2026 __________ Page3 of 9 service of petitioner as forest watcher from 24.01.1995 notionally for purpose of getting pension by taking into account their seniority and qualification on par with the Junior M.Karunanidhi and in the light of the orders passed in WP.No. 15561 of 2006 dated 10.03.2008, W.A.No. 690 of 2008 dated 13.10.2009 WP.No. 23374 of 2008 dated 30.10.2009 WA.No.607 of 2010 dated 29.03.2010 and proceedings of the 2nd respondent dated 07.01.2011 and order in WP.No. 19020 of 2021 dated 09.09.2021 and in the light of G.O. (2D) No. 122 Environment, Climate Change and Forest (FR . 2(ii) department dated 12.08.2022 and G.O. (2D) No. 124 Environment, Climate Change and Forest (FR . 2(ii) department dated 17.08.2022 and order in WP.No. 18476 of 2023 etc. batch dated 03.08.2023 and order in WP.No. 18796 and etc, batch of 2024 dated 9.7.2024 and G.O.(2D)No.65 Environment, Climate change and Forests (FR.2(ii) Department dated 21.4.2025 and order in W.P.No.40056 of 2025 dated 25.10.2025. WP No. 26988 of 2026 Prayer: Writ petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying for issuance of a writ of Mandamus directing respondents to regularise the service of petitioner as forest watcher from 24.01.1995 notionally for purpose of getting pension by taking into account their seniority and qualification on par with the Junior M.Karunanidhi and in the light of the orders passed in WP.No. 15561 of 2006 dated 10.03.2008, W.A.No. 690 of 2008 dated 13.10.2009 WP.No. 23374 of 2008 dated 30.10.2009 WA.No.607 of 2010 dated 29.03.2010 and proceedings of the 2nd respondent dated 07.01.2011 and order in WP.No. 19020 of 2021 dated 09.09.2021 and in the light of G.O. (2D) No. 122 Environment, Climate Change and Forest (FR . 2(ii) department dated 12.08.2022 and G.O. (2D) No. 124 Environment, Climate Change and Forest (FR . 2(ii) department dated 17.08.2022 and order in WP.No. 18476 of 2023 etc. batch dated 03.08.2023 and order in WP.No. 18796 and etc, batch of 2024 dated 9.7.2024 and G.O.(2D)No.65 Environment, Climate change and Forests https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis WP No. 26983 of 2026 __________ Page4 of 9 (FR.2(ii) Department dated 21.4.2025 and order in W.P.No.40102 etc batch of 2025 dated 29.10.2025. For Petitioner(s): Mr.S.Mani (In all WPs.) For Respondent(s): Mr.V.Sivalingam, GA for R.1 and R.2 (In all WPs.) COMMON ORDER WP.No.26983 of 2026 has been filed for the following reliefs:- “directing respondents to regularise the service of petitioner as forest watcher from 24.01.1995 notionally for purpose of getting pension by taking into account their seniority and qualification on par with the Junior M.Karunanidhi and in the light of the orders passed in WP.No. 15561 of 2006 dated 10.03.2008, W.A.No. 690 of 2008 dated 13.10.2009 WP.No. 23374 of 2008 dated 30.10.2009 WA.No.607 of 2010 dated 29.03.2010 and proceedings of the 2nd respondent dated 07.01.2011 and order in WP.No. 19020 of 2021 dated 09.09.2021 and in the light of G.O. (2D) No. 122 Environment, Climate Change and Forest (FR . 2(ii) department dated 12.08.2022 and G.O. (2D) No. 124 Environment, Climate Change and Forest (FR . 2(ii) department dated 17.08.2022 and order in WP.No. 18476 of 2023 etc. batch dated 03.08.2023 and order in WP.No. 18796 and etc, batch of 2024 dated 9.7.2024 and G.O. (2D)No.65 Environment, Climate change and Forests (FR.2(ii) Department dated 21.4.2025 and order in W.P.No.40056 of 2025 dated 25.10.2025.” https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis WP No. 26983 of 2026 __________ Page5 of 9 2. WP.No.26986 of 2026 has been filed for the following reliefs:- “directing respondents to regularise the service of petitioner as forest watcher from 24.01.1995 notionally for purpose of getting pension by taking into account their seniority and qualification on par with the Junior M.Karunanidhi and in the light of the orders passed in WP.No. 15561 of 2006 dated 10.03.2008, W.A.No. 690 of 2008 dated 13.10.2009 WP.No. 23374 of 2008 dated 30.10.2009 WA.No.607 of 2010 dated 29.03.2010 and proceedings of the 2nd respondent dated 07.01.2011 and order in WP.No. 19020 of 2021 dated 09.09.2021 and in the light of G.O. (2D) No. 122 Environment, Climate Change and Forest (FR . 2(ii) department dated 12.08.2022 and G.O. (2D) No. 124 Environment, Climate Change and Forest (FR . 2(ii) department dated 17.08.2022 and order in WP.No. 18476 of 2023 etc. batch dated 03.08.2023 and order in WP.No. 18796 and etc, batch of 2024 dated 9.7.2024 and G.O. (2D)No.65 Environment, Climate change and Forests (FR.2(ii) Department dated 21.4.2025 and order in W.P.No.40056 of 2025 dated 25.10.2025.” 3. WP.No.26988 of 2026 has been filed for the following reliefs:- “directing respondents to regularise the service of petitioner as forest watcher from 24.01.1995 notionally for purpose of getting pension by taking into account their seniority and qualification on par with the Junior M.Karunanidhi and in the light of the orders passed in WP.No. 15561 of 2006 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis WP No. 26983 of 2026 __________ Page6 of 9 dated 10.03.2008, W.A.No. 690 of 2008 dated 13.10.2009 WP.No. 23374 of 2008 dated 30.10.2009 WA.No.607 of 2010 dated 29.03.2010 and proceedings of the 2nd respondent dated 07.01.2011 and order in WP.No. 19020 of 2021 dated 09.09.2021 and in the light of G.O. (2D) No. 122 Environment, Climate Change and Forest (FR . 2(ii) department dated 12.08.2022 and G.O. (2D) No. 124 Environment, Climate Change and Forest (FR . 2(ii) department dated 17.08.2022 and order in WP.No. 18476 of 2023 etc. batch dated 03.08.2023 and order in WP.No. 18796 and etc, batch of 2024 dated 9.7.2024 and G.O. (2D)No.65 Environment, Climate change and Forests (FR.2(ii) Department dated 21.4.2025 and order in W.P.No.40102 etc batch of 2025 dated 29.10.2025.” 4. Heard the learned counsel on either side and perused the materials available on record. 5. 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 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis WP No. 26983 of 2026 __________ Page7 of 9 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 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. ......” https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis WP No. 26983 of 2026 __________ Page8 of 9 6. In view of the above, the respondents are directed to pass appropriate orders on the petitioners’ representations, in the light of the above order passed in WP.Nos.21349 of 2023 and batch dated 03.08.2023 as the same benefits have been extended to similarly placed persons, within a period of 8 weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. 7. With the above directions, these Writ Petitions are disposed of. No costs. 15-07-2026 Index: Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order Neutral Citation: Yes/No SHR To 1. Government Of Tamil Nadu Rep By Its Additional Chief Secretary, 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 32 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis WP No. 26983 of 2026 __________ Page9 of 9 P.T.ASHA J. SHR WP No. 26983 of 2026 AND WP NO. 26986 OF 2026,WP NO. 26988 OF 2026 15-07-2026 (1/2) https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis