CHENNAI: The Madras High Court has directed the Principal Conservator of Forests to include the name of P Rajendran, son of Periyasamy, in the State-wide seniority list of promotion as Forest Watchers, within four weeks.
Justice T Raja gave a direction to this effect while quashing a rejection order and allowing a writ petition from Rajendran, recently.
Accepting the arguments of petitioner’s counsel M Ravi and rejecting those of Forest Department counsel Inbanathan as not convincing, the judge allowed the petition.
The petitioner was appointed as a Plot Watcher on December 1, 1982.
He had put in more than 30 years of service against the requirement of 10 years’ experience.
His name also was found in the list of names recommended by the District Forest Officer.
A document furnished by the Conservator of Forests in Salem also confirmed that the petitioner was working as Plot Watcher in the Interface Forestry Range, Salem IPF Division, from December 1, 1982.
The plot watcher had completed more than 10 years service.
Hence, there was no justification in not including the petitioner’s name in the seniority list for promotion, the judge said and allowed the writ petition from Rajendran.