IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE S.SIRI JAGAN FRIDAY, THE 24TH JUNE 2011 / 3RD ASHADHA 1933 WP(C).No. 30145 of 2007(L) ----------------------- PETITIONER(S): ----------------------- 1. K.JAYARAJAN, FOREST GUARD, NILAMBUR NORTH DIVISION, EASTERN CIRCLE, OLAVAKODE. 2. P.BALAKRISHNAN, FOREST GUARD, NILAMBUR SOUTH DIVISION, EASTERN CIRCLE, OLAVAKODE. 3. D.VARGHESE, FOREST GUARD, NILAMBUR NORTH DIVISION, EASTERN CIRCLE, OLAVAKODE. 4. M.HARIDAS, FOREST GUARD, NILAMBUR NORTH DIVISION, EASTERN CIRCLE, OLAVAKODE. 5. K.GIREESAN, FOREST GUARD, NILAMBUR NORTH DIVISION, EASTERN CIRCLE, OLAVAKODE. BY ADVS. SRI.M.K.DAMODARAN, SENIOR ADVOCATE SRI.P.K.VIJAYAMOHANAN SMT.RESMI G. NAIR SRI.GILBERT GEORGE CORREYA SRI.NISHIL.P.S. SRI.P.S.PRADEEP SRI.SHOJAN JACOB RESPONDENT(S): ------------------------- 1. THE SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT, FOREST AND WILD LIFE DEPARTMENT, GOVERNMENT OF KERALA, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. 2. THE CHIEF CONSERVATOR OF FOREST (ADMINISTRATION), FOREST HEADQUARTERS, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. ...2/- WP(C).No. 30145 of 2007(L) -2- 3. THE CONSERVATOR OF FORESTS, EASTERN CIRCLE, OLAVAKKODE, PALAKKAD. 4. MR. V.K.MUHASSIN, FOREST GUARD, FLYING SQUAD RANGE NILAMBUR, NILAMBUR P.O., MALAPPURAM DISTRICT. 5. B.S.SULEESHKUMAR, FOREST GUARD, THELLIKKAL SECTION, ORUKOMPAN RANGE, PARAMPIKULAM RANGE, PARAMPIKULAM P.O., PALAKKAD DISTRICT. R1 TO R3 BY GOVT. PLEADER SMT. SMITHA SUKUMAR THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING BEEN FINALLY HEARD ON 24/06/2011, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: Mn ...3/- WP(C).No. 30145 of 2007(L) APPENDIX PETITIONER'S EXHIBITS: EXT.P1 : COPY OF THE PROCEEDINGS NO. E1.4404/94 DATED 15.7.1997 OF THE 3RD RESPONDENT. EXT.P2 : COPY OF SERVICE ORDER NO. 39/1997 DATED 8.5.1997 OF THE 3RD RESPONDENT. EXT.P3 : COPY OF SERVICE ORDER NO. 44/97 DATED 4.8.1997 OF THE DIVISIONAL FOREST OFFICER, PALAKKAD. EXT.P4 : COPY OF PROCEEDINGS NO. E.100/05 DATED 1.9.2006 OF THE 3RD RESPONDENT. EXT.P5 : COPY OF THE OBJECTION DATED 16.9.2006 FILED BY THE 3RD PETITIONER BEFORE THE 3RD RESPONDENT TO EXT. P4 DRAFT SENIORITY LIST. EXT.P6 : COPY OF THE OBJECTION DATED 15.9.2006 FILED BY THE 5TH PETITIONER BEFORE THE 3RD RESPONDENT TO EXT. P4 DRAFT SENIORITY LIST. EXT.P7 : COPY OF THE ORDER NO. E-100/2005 DATED 7.9.2007 ISSUED BY THE 3RD RESPONDENT TO THE 3RD PETITIONER. EXT.P8 : COPY OF THE ORDER NO. E-100/2005 DATED 7.9.2007 ISSUED BY THE 3RD RESPONDENT TO THE 5TH PETITIONER. EXT.P9 : COPY OF THE JUDGMENT DATED 23.2.2001 IN WRIT APPEAL NO. 3198/2000. EXT.P10 : COPY OF COMMUNICATION NO. 13001/F3/F&WLD DATED 2.6.2007 OF THE FIRST RESPONDENT ISSUED TO THE 2ND RESPONDENT. EXT.P11 : COPY OF THE JUDGMENT DATED 10.11.2010 IN WP(C) NO. 26430/2009 RESPONDENT'S EXHIBITS: EXT.R1(a) : COPY OF THE ORDER NO. E5-24212/2001 DATED 03.06.2004. (Contd...) WP(C).No. 30145 of 2007(L) EXT.R1(b) : COPY OF THE JUDGMENT IN OP.20115/2000. EXT.R1(c) : COPY OF LETTER NO. E1.100/2005 DATED 17.12.2007. EXT.R1(d) : COPY OF GOVERNMENT LETTER NO. 13001/F3/2006/F&WLD DATED 02.06.2007. //TRUE COPY// P.S. TO JUDGE Mn S. Siri Jagan, J. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= W.P(C) No. 30145 of 2007 =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Dated this, the 24th day of June, 2011. J U D G M E N T The issue raised by the petitioners in this writ petition is as to whether the direction of the Government in Ext. P10 order to prepare seniority lists of Forests Guards of the Eastern Circle District-wise, is correct or not. A learned Single Judge of this Court, while considering a similar question in respect of the Central Circle, in W.P(C) No. 26430/2009, came to the conclusion that district-wise preparation of seniority list is against the Special Rules and the learned Judge quashed an order similar to Ext. P10 directing preparation of seniority list in accordance with the Special Rules applicable, since the Special Rules do not authorize preparation of District-wise seniority list. Therefore, following Ext. P11 judgment, I am inclined to quash Ext. P10 order. Accordingly, I quash Ext. P10 order. Respondents 1 to 3 are directed to recast the seniority list of Forest Guards in Eastern Circle as well in accordance with the Special Rules. This shall be done as expeditiously as possible at any rate within 6 months from the date of receipt of a copy of this judgment . Sd/- S. Siri Jagan, Judge. Tds/