Madras High Court
WP(MD)/23369/2017 of M.ALAGU PANDI Vs THE STATE OF TAMIL NADU on 13 October 2026
WP(MD) No. 23369 of 2017
BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT
DATED: 13-10-2026
CORAM
THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE N.DILIP KUMAR
WP(MD) No. 23369 of 2017
CNR:{HCMD011239312017}
M.Alagu Pandi
Forest Range Officer (retd)
S/o.Muthiah, No.46, Nagu Nagar II Street, Bethaniapuram, Madurai 625 016
..Petitioner(s)
Vs
1. The State of Tamil Nadu
Rep. By Its Secretary,
Environment and Forest Department,
Secretariat, Chennai 600 009
2. The Principal Chief Conservation of Forests, Panagal Maligai, No.1, Jeenes Road, Saidapet, Chennai-600 015.
3. The Conservator of Forests,
Dindigul Circle, Collectorate Complex,
Dindigul.
..Respondent(s)
PRAYER: Writ Petition is filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, to issue a Writ of Mandamus directing the respondents to refund a sum of Rs.1,70,500/- (Rupees One Lakh Seventy Thousand Five Hundred only) to the petitioner by disposing of the representation of the petitioner dated 27.10.2016 within a time frame as pleased by this Court.
For Petitioner(s):
Mr. S. Chandrasekaran
WP(MD) No. 23369 of 2017
For Respondent(s):
Mr. C. Jeganathan
Special Government Pleader
for R1 to R3.
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ORDER
The present writ petition is filed asking for a Mandamus directing the respondents to refund a sum of Rs.1,70,500/-, in the light of the representation made by the petitioner on 27th October 2016.
2. Here Mr. S. Chandrasekaran, learned counsel for the petitioner and Mr. C Jeganadhan, learned Special Government Pleader appearing for the respondents.
3. The facts are not in dispute. The writ petitioner joined as a ‘Forester’ in the respondent department on 25th March 1982. He was promoted as a ‘Forest Range Officer’ on 1st November 2012. He retired on attaining the age of superannuation on 31st May 2013. In the meanwhile, a charge memo came to be issued against him on 7th April 1998, and the disciplinary proceeding culminated with the imposing of an order of punishment and recovery by the District Forest Officer of Kodaikanal on 30th September 2009. In the appeal preferred by the petitioner, the said punishment order was modified by the proceedings dated 11th March 2011, thereby ordering a recovery of Rs.1,70,500/- from the writ petitioner. This order of punishment imposing recovery was put
WP(MD) No. 23369 of 2017 to challenge by this writ petitioner in WP(MD)No.13690 of 2011. For reasons best known to the petitioner, he withdrew the petition on 8th January 2014, and the writ petition was dismissed as withdrawn on the said date. Admittedly, neither any liberty was sought nor given.
4. Now in this second round of writ petition, the petitioner is making a claim that the amount recovered from the petitioner as a part of the punishment should be refunded by him.
5. Once the challenge made by the petitioner to the punishment imposed, which includes the recovery of the amount of Rs.1,70,500/- has attained a finality, there is no scope for the petitioner to re-agitate the claim in the form of a second writ petition for MANDAMUS. The writ petition is totally misconceived and it is not maintainable and the same is accordingly dismissed. 13-10-2026 Index: Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order Neutral Citation: Yes/No psm
WP(MD) No. 23369 of 2017 To
1. The State Of Tamil Nadu Rep. By Its Secretary, Environment And Forest Department, Secretariat, Chennai 600 009
2. The Principal Chief Conservation of Forests, Panagal Maligai, No.1, Jeenes Road, Saidapet, Chennai-600 015.
3. The Conservator of Forests, Dindigul Circle, Collectorate Complex, Dindigul.
WP(MD) No. 23369 of 2017 N.DILIP KUMAR, J. psm WP(MD) No. 23369 of 2017 13-10-2026