Madras High Court
Unknown vs The Principal Chief Conservator Of ... on 9 June, 2025
Author: P.T. Asha
Bench: P.T. Asha
W.P.No.20142 of 2025
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
Dated : 09.06.2025
CORAM
THE HONOURABLE Ms. JUSTICE P.T. ASHA
W.P.No. 20142 of 2025
& W.M.P.No. 22714 of 2025
1.K.Damodaran
2.R.Ponnusamy
3.A.Rajednran
4.C.Annamalai
5.N.Venkatesan
6.Micheal
7.P.Ayothi
8.K.Ramalingam
9.R.Mohanam
10.C.Palani
11.S.Govindasamy
12.V.Jayapal
13.C.Muthuraman
14.A.Gunasekaran
15.S.Elumalai
16.K.Chandran
17.J.Pandian
18.P.Ellappan
19.M.Mani
20.M.Perumal
21.Samathbasha
22.K.Murugan
23.V.Kasi
24.K.Manoharan
25.C.K.Velu
26.K.Karunakaran
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W.P.No.20142 of 2025
27.G.Maharajan
28.D.Sampath
29.V.Damodharan
30.C.Jayavelu
31.C.Kuppan
32.C.Anandan
33.M.Chinnakannu
34.M.Devaraj
35.Balakrishnan
36.Govindan
37.P.Panneerselvam
38.P.Thandavarayan
39.M.Sundaramurthi
40.K.Jayabalan
41.K.Chinnaraj
42.A.Devaraj
43.M.Ponnurangam
44.P.Dhanapal
45.H.Ayothi
46.L.Annamalai
47.G.Sekar
48.M.Munusamy
49.C.Ramakrishnan
50.B.Kandan
51.S.Ganesan
52.K.Kannan
53.D.Gunasekaran
54.O.Athikesavan
55.A.Thirumalai
56.M.Mayakannan
57.G.Elumalai
58.A.Kesavan
59.R.Malaikuzhanthai
60.M.Kuppan
61.A.Chandran
62.M.Mani
63.T.Pillaiyar
64.K.Sivakumar
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W.P.No.20142 of 2025
65.G.Natarajan
66.J.Kannan
67.G.Natarajan
68.V.Natarajan
69.A.Sekar
70.L.Mani
71.P.Singaravelu
72.A.Pachaiappan
73.G.Chandrasekar
74.K.Chinnasamy
75.M.Elumalai
76.S.Parasuraman
77.A.Annamalai
78.K.Annamalai
79.V.Ranganathan
80.S.Sivanesan
81.P.S.Kannan
82.S.Sakkarapani
83.M.Ramasamy
84.M.Mani
85.N.Ganesan
86.M.Govindasamy
87.K.Mani
88.K.Sekar
89.A.Subramani
90.K.Muniappan
91.A.Sundaramurthi
92.S.Boopalan
93.P.Annamalai
94.P.Neelamegam
95.A.Elumalai
96.P.Subramani
97.M.Sekar
98.T.Singaram
99.M.Appasamy
100.N.Samykannu
101.R.Nallathambi
102.M.Thirumaran
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W.P.No.20142 of 2025
103.S.Kothandan
104.M.Muniyan
105.K.Ramakrishnan
106.S.Murthi
107.L.Indira (Legal heir), W/o.Late V.Loganathan
108.R.Jaya (Legal heir), W/o.Late V.Ramamoorthhi
109.E.Shanthi (Legal heir), W/o.Late M.Elangovan
110.K.Sathiya (Legal heir), W/o. Late M.Kesavan
111.P.Maheswari (Legal heir), W/o/Late M.Pachandi
112.D.Dhamayanthi (Legal heir), W/o.Late D.Dhanapal
113.Kalai, W/o.Late M.Mannu
114.Solai, W/o.Late G.Kasi
115.Jayarani, W/o.Late S.Arumugam
116.S. Pachiammal (Legal heir). W/o.Late K.Sekar
117.V.Kanniammal (Legal heir)W/o.Late N.Vellaikutti
118.G.Kalaiarasi (Legal heir), W/o.Late D.Gunasekaran
119.B.Parimala
120.K.Elumalai, S/o.Kuppusamy
121.E.Elumalai, S/o.Erakkutti
122.L.Kuppusamy
123.M.Kuppammal (Legal heir), S/o.Late V.Murugan
124.K.Jayavelu
125.A.Anasayenthi (Legal heir)
126.M.Venkatraman
127.T.Govindan
128.A Amavasai
129.N.Bangaru
130.R.Muniappan
131.R.Rani
132.A Rajendran
133.V.Ramalingam
134.K.Venkatraman
135.M.Pandurengan
136.D.Subramani
137.C.Ayothi
138.M.Kasiammal (Legal heir)
139.K.Pandurengan
140.E.Krishnan
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W.P.No.20142 of 2025
141.S.Rayar
142.S.Cheliyan
143.S.Gandhi
144.S.Ruhallah
145.R.Suriyamurthi
146.K.Balaraman
147.R.Seenuvasan
148.M.Subbarayan
149.P.Ramamurthi
150.G.Palani
151.N.Subramanian
152.M.Chandran
153.P.Poongavanam
154.A.Babu
155.U.Govindan
156.K.Kandipan
157.C.Rajalingam
158.P.Durai
159.C.Sundaram
160.S.Velu
161.M.Samykannu
162.V.Arikrishnan
163.T.Rajamani
164.C.Pugazhenthi
165.K.Selvaraj
166.T.Jothi
167.P.Kolanthai
168.M.Pushpanathan
169.K.Chithambaram
170.K.Kuppusamy
171.G.Rathinavel
172.V.Periyasamy
173.T.Paramasivam @ T.Ramaparamasivar
174.V.Paramasiam
175.V. Aathimoolam
176.K.Thiyagarajan
177.M.Selvarasu
178.M.Thirugnanam
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W.P.No.20142 of 2025
179.G.Venkatachalam
180.C.Nagappan
181.T.Suganthi (Legal heir)
182.A.Thanga Stalin
183.R.Ramalingam
184.S.Selvarasu
185.P.Kannan
186.R.Jayaraman
187.R.Karuppaiah
188.S.Kandasamy
189.C.Elumalai
190.K.Ramalingam
191.V.Subramanian
192.K.Balasubramanian
193.Arulanantham
194.M.Eattu
195.K.Jayaraman
196.V.Chinnasamy
197.S.Arumugam
198.S.Thandapani
199.A.Subramanian
200.N.Periyasamy
201.D. Ramalingam
202.P. Kengachalam
203.D. Panneerselvam
204.T Kandasamy
205.P. Natarajan
206.A. Pitchamuthu
207. S.Seenivasan
208. V.Kirubakaran
209.M Ganesan
210.G Ariyan
211.V. Shanmugam
212. Vediappan
213.K.Jayaraman
214.T. Venkatram
215.R. Vediappan
216.K.Raman
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W.P.No.20142 of 2025
217.K.Nallarasan
218.S.Vinayagam
219.P K. Sekar
220.V Munisamy
221.Kamala (LEGAL HEIR)
222.M. Isaq
223.S Kiliyammal (Legal heir)
224.G.Munirathnam
225.D.Manickam
226.P.Mani
227.T.M.Babu
228.M. Thandavarayan
229.K. Muthusamy
230.M.Kannan
231.T.Varatharajan
232.G.Rahothamman
233.S.Syed Hussain
234.K.Jayaraman
235.M.Thiruvengadam
236.N.S.S. Mani
237.V. DOSS
238.P.Gangadurai
239.Ko Parimala
240.M.Tharuman
241.K.Arunagiri
242.M.Palanisamy
243.K. Kasi
244.P.Subramani
245.M.Sampath
246.D.Valliammal
247.I.Mohamed Vakkeel
248.M.Elumalai
249.R.Govindan
250.P.Govindan
251.K.Kannan
252.Rajendran
253.A.Pitchaikaran
254.V A. Manoharan
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255.T.Elumalai
256.K.Mannu
257.E. Settu
258.M K Munusamy
259.N. Thavamani
260.P.Elangovan
261.U. Sanjeevi
262.M.Poongavanam
263.M.Narayanasamy
264.N.Chinnappa
265.M. Sampath
266.M. Ramadoss
267.V.Kanniappan
268.R.Kasi
269.M.Rajamanickam
270.K.Muthukrishnan
271.S.Kasinathan
272.G.Someswaran
273.M.Subramani
274.C. Jeganathan
275.M.Mani
276.N.Shanthi
277.D. Palani
278.V. Egashanthi (legal heir) ...Petitioners
Vs.
1.The Principal Chief Conservator of Forests
Headquarters of Forest Department,
Guindy - Velacherri Main road,
Near Kannigapuram Check post,
Guindy, Chennai 600 032.
2.The District Forest Officer,
Tiruvannamalai District Forest office,
122, Chinnakadai St,
Pavazhakundur,
Tiruvannamalai - 606601
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W.P.No.20142 of 2025
3.The District Forest Officer,
49, Sri Kamadhenu Nagar,
Moovendar Nagar,
Viluppuram -605602
4.The District Forest Officer,
Phase 4, Pillayar Koil Street,
Sathuvacheri,
Vellore - 632009 (Rangapuram).
5.The District Forest Officer
Dharmapuri Collectorate,
(Behind Collectorate)
Dharmapuri -636705
6.The District Forest Officer
Tirupathur District Forest Office,
Tirupathur Road,
Tirupathur – 635601. ...Respondents
Prayer: Writ Petition is filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India
to issue a Writ of Mandamus, directing the 1st respondent to pass orders to
pay the Minimum Wages to the petitioners as per order of the Division
Bench of this Honble Court in W.A Nos.2183/2012 dated 17.10.2012 and
others as also followed in W.P (MD) Nos.3881 to 3884/2013 dated
14.09.2020 along with consequential payment of Dearness Allowance after
due revision.
For Petitioners : Mr. Silambanan, Senior Counsel
for M/s.Kaavya Silambanan Associates
For Respondents : Mr. A.N.Purushotham
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W.P.No.20142 of 2025
Special Government Pleader
ORDER
The present writ petition has been filed for the following relief :
"To issue a Writ of Mandamus, directing the 1st respondent to pass orders to pay the Minimum Wages to the petitioners as per order of the Division Bench of this Honble Court in W.A Nos.2183/2012 dated 17.10.2012 and others as also followed in W.P (MD) Nos.3881 to 3884/2013 dated 14.09.2020 along with consequential payment of Dearness Allowance after due revision."
2. The petitioners herein have worked as Plot Watchers, Social Forestry Workers and Malis in the Social Forestry and Forest Extension Division and had retired from services on they attaining the age of superannuation. The learned counsel for the petitioners has brought to the notice of the Court that the Government of Tamil Nadu vide G.O.Ms.No.82 Labour and Employment (J1) Department dated 27.09.2002 has fixed the minimum wages under Schedule-II to the Minimum Wages Act, 1948, however this benefit was declined to the social forestry workers of the Forest Department in the said G.O.. Hence, the aforementioned G.O. was challenged before this Court in W.P.No.24601 of 2005 by a similarly 10/15 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis ( Uploaded on: 28/07/2025 04:01:41 pm ) W.P.No.20142 of 2025 aggrieved individuals, wherein the learned Single Judge by an order dated 08.08.2011 had directed to pay wages under the Minimum Wages Act for the period 1999 - 2006, and this was also confirmed in W.A.Nos.2183 to 2188 of 2012 & etc., batch. Hence, they seek parity for the petitioners herein by relying on the judgment of this Court in W.A.Nos.2183 to 2188 of 2012 & etc., batch.
3. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioners and the learned Special Government Pleader appearing for the respondents.
4. The issue is whether the provisions of the Minimum Wages Act would apply to the petitioners and other similarly situated persons. This issue has come up for consideration before a learned Division Bench of the Principal Bench of this Court in W.A.Nos.2183 to 2188 of 2012 and the learned Division Bench came to the conclusion that the provisions of the Minimum Wages Act would apply to the persons who are similarly situated like the petitioners herein by judgment dated 17.12.2012. The said judgment passed by the learned Division Bench was also followed by a Co-ordinate Bench of this Court in W.P.(MD) Nos.3881 to 3884 of 2013 by duly 11/15 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis ( Uploaded on: 28/07/2025 04:01:41 pm ) W.P.No.20142 of 2025 upholding the orders passed by the authority under the Minimum Wages Act and further directing the respondents therein to pay the minimum wages within eight weeks.
5. The fact that this Court has conclusively held that the provisions of the Minimum Wages Act would apply to the Plot Watchers worked in the Social Forestry and Forest Extension Division, is not in dispute and Mr.A.N.Purushotham, learned Special Government Pleader also fairly submitted that the provisions of the Payment of Minimum Wages Act would apply to the petitioners herein. This Court does not see any reason to further dwell deep in the matter on merits.
6. In the light of the judgment passed by this Court in the writ appeals in W.A.Nos.2183 to 2188 of 2012 and the order passed by the Co-ordinate Bench in W.P.(MD) Nos.3881 to 3884 of 2013, this writ petition is disposed of directing the first respondent to consider the claim of the petitioners for payment of minimum wages in terms of the representations said to have been submitted by them by duly calling for the service particulars of the petitioners from the concerned division and pass orders thereon within a 12/15 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis ( Uploaded on: 28/07/2025 04:01:41 pm ) W.P.No.20142 of 2025 period of eight weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order by duly taking into consideration the judgment passed by the learned Division Bench in W.A.Nos.2183 to 2188 of 2012 and the order passed by the Co~ordinate Bench in W.P.(MD) Nos.3881 to 3884 of 2013.
7. Accordingly, this Writ Petition is disposed of. There shall be no order as to costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petition is closed.
09.06.2025
(1/2)
Index : Yes/No
Internet : Yes/No
ds
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W.P.No.20142 of 2025
To:
1.The Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Headquarters of Forest Department, Guindy - Velacherri Main road, Near Kannigapuram Check post, Guindy, Chennai 600 032.
2.The District Forest Officer, Tiruvannamalai District Forest office, 122, Chinnakadai St, Pavazhakundur, Tiruvannamalai - 606601
3.The District Forest Officer, 49, Sri Kamadhenu Nagar, Moovendar Nagar, Viluppuram -605602
4.The District Forest Officer, Phase 4, Pillayar Koil Street, Sathuvacheri, Vellore - 632009 (Rangapuram)
5.The District Forest Officer Dharmapuri Collectorate, (Behind Collectorate) Dharmapuri -636705
6.The District Forest Officer Tirupathur District Forest Office, Tirupathur Road, Tirupathur – 635601.
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