T SUNDARAM Vs. CONSERVATOR OF FORESTS DHARMAPURI CIRCLE

JUDGEMENT

(1.) COMMON Order On abolition of the Tribunal, the Original Applications in O.A.Nos.4100 of 2003 and 240 of 2004 filed before the Tamil Nadu Administrative Tribunal stood transferred to this Court and renumbered as W.P.Nos.16703 and 17503 of 2007.

(2.) THE petitioner in W.P.No.16703 of 2007 and the petitioner in W.P.No.17503 of 2007 were employed as Foresters in Mettur Soil Conservation Scheme during the period 2000-2002. THE petitioner in W.P.No.16703 of 2007 belongs to Ajjanahalli Section of Pennagaram Range of the Scheme, while the other petitioner was working as Forester in Dhonnakuttahalli. THE Soil Conservation Officer, the second respondent herein was the overall in charge of the said Scheme. As far as Pennagaram Range is concerned, there was a Ranger by name Murugesan, who is the executing authority. THEse two petitioners are working as Foresters under him. THE Seedlings were planted pursuant to the Tamil Nadu Afforestation Scheme Works in Mettur Soil Conservation Scheme Range.

(3.) ACCORDINGLY, the Monitoring Committees under the leadership of one Manickam, District Forest Officer, IFF Division, Dharmapuri, assisted by one Ranger and 3 Foresters inspected the works carried out in Dhonnakuttahalli Village. They found that there was a shortage of seedlings planted in that area and thereby, there was a loss of Rs.56,347/- to the Government. Based on the said report of Manickam Committee, the second respondent issued a show cause notice dated 20.05.2002 to Mr.Murugesan/Ranger asking him to show cause as to why a sum of Rs.56,347/- should not be recovered from him.