STATE OF TAMIL NADU Vs. KALIYAPPAN

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The Writ Appeals are directed against a Common Order dated 15.04.2014 made in W.P.No.10654 of 2014 and W.P.No.9764/2014 respectively by a learned Single Judge.

(2.) The Writ Petitions have been filed by the petitioners therein seeking to issue a Writ of Mandamus, directing the respondents to regularise their services by appointing them in the post of Anti Poaching Watchers in the Special Time Scale of Pay by extending the benefit of G.O.Ms.No.76, Environment and Forest (FR-2) Department, dated 7.6.2010 in the light of a decision of the Division Bench of this Court in W.A.No.887/2010 dated 29.4.2011 and consequently, appoint them as Forest Watchers in the existing vacancies with all attendant benefits.

(3.) According to the writ petitioners, they are all working as Anti Poaching Watchers for several years in the Forest Department. They played an important role in the implementation of various wildlife and other schemes as well as preserving the forest and wildlife with great difficulty. There are two categories of people, one namely, Plot Watchers, who are employed for the purpose of plantation works and developing nurseries in the forest whereas the other category, namely, Anti Poaching Watchers who are employed for protection of wild life. Neither the post of Anti Poaching Watchers nor the post of Plot Watchers is governed by any service rules. While so, various cadres in the Tamil Nadu Forest Department are governed by the Tamil Nadu Forest Subordinate Service Rules. All such plot watchers and Anti Poaching Watchers were initially appointed on daily wages and subsequently, they sought to regularise their services to bring them into the regular service as Forest Watchers.