N MATHAN Vs. CONSERVATOR OF FORESTS COIMBATORE

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The Original Application in O.A.No.8419 of 1998 before the Tamil Nadu Administrative Tribunal is the present writ petition.

(2.) The petitioner was employed as Forest Watcher in Baram Beat, O.Valley Village in Nilgiris District. While so a charge memo dated 26.02.1994 under Rule 17(b) of the Tamil Nadu Civil Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules was issued. It was alleged that there was illegal felling of trees and that the same was found by the petitioner during his checks on 02.03.1990 and 03.03.1990. However, he did not proceed against those persons. The petitioner demanded Rs.1,000/- for removing those trees. Later, he received Rs.300/- through a Forest Guard Mr.Bala Singh on 09.03.1990. As he did not receive the demanded amount, he submitted a report as if the illegal felling took place on 13.03.1990 at some other place and a case was registered by him on 16.03.1990.

(3.) Two charges were made in the charge memo. In the first charge, it was stated that due to the illegal felling of trees, there was a loss of Rs.6,000/- to the Government. In the second charge, which was alleged that he demanded Rs.1,000/- for removing the trees which were cut illegally and ultimately he received Rs.300/- from Mr.Bala Singh, Forest Guard on 09.03.1990. Since he did not receive the demanded amount, he registered a case on 16.03.1990 as if he found the illegal felling of trees on 13.03.1990 at a different place.