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S.Kesavan, Vs the Principal Chief — Writ and Judicial Review | Madras HC (2026)

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Madras HC
2026
S.Kesavan, Vs the Principal ChiefS.Kesavan, v. the Principal Chief

Dismissed¶27

S.Kesavan, v. the Principal Chief

Madras HC23 Jul 2026WP/21488/2013

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Madras High Court common order dated 23-07-2026 by Justice T. Vinod Kumar dismissing WP Nos. 21486 and 21488 of 2013 for non-prosecution with no costs. Petitioners: foresters P.Rajamanickam (Andhiyur Range, Erode) and S.Kesavan (Nilgiris), represented by M.S. Ravi; respondent: Principal Chief Conservator of Forest/Head of Forest Force, Chennai-15 (Y. Kavitha, Govt Advocate). Subject: Article 226 challenge to Proceedings No.B2/29036/2012 dated 19.10.2012 concerning holding over of selection in promotion, with claimed relief of retrospective promotion from immediate junior's promotion date. Dismissed after repeated petitioner absence on 12.03.2023, 09.04.2026, 11.06.2026 and 23.07.2026; no substantive adjudication of the promotion/holding-over claims.

What did the court decide?

The absence of representation on behalf of the petitioner on successive hearing dates, and again when the matter was listed 'for orders' on 23.07.2026, shows that the petitioner is not interested to pursue the matter.

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Dismissed

Issue for consideration

Whether the respondent's Proceedings No.B2/29036/2012 dated 19.10.2012 holding over the petitioners' selections should be quashed to that limited extent, with a consequential direction to promote the petitioners retrospectively from the date of promotion of their immediate juniors with consequential benefits (as sought by both petitioners). NOTE: this issue was never adjudicated, as the petitions were dismissed for non-prosecution. +1 more

Ratio / Principle

The absence of representation on behalf of the petitioner on successive hearing dates, and again when the matter was listed 'for orders' on 23.07.2026, shows that the petitioner is not interested to pursue the matter.

Key takeaways

In view of the above, these writ petitions are dismissed for non-prosecution, without costs.ratio¶27

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Madras High Court (T. Vinod Kumar, J.), Common Order dated 23.07.2026 in WP Nos. 21486 and 21488 of 2013 - P.Rajamanickam, Forester, and S.Kesavan, Forester v. The Principal Chief Conservator Of Forest/ Head Of Forest Force, Chennai-15. The writ petitions (under Article 226 of the Constitution of India) had sought quashal of the respondent's Proceedings No.B2/29036/2012 dated 19.10.2012 to the limited extent of holding over the petitioners' selections (Sl.No.134 and Sl.No.61) and consequential retrospective promotion from the date of promotion of the immediate juniors with consequential benefits. Despite listings on 12.03.2023, 09.04.2026 and 11.06.2026, and again on 23.07.2026 when the matter was placed under the caption 'for orders', there was no representation for the petitioners. HELD: the writ petitions are dismissed for non-prosecution, without costs. The substantive claims regarding the holding-over of selection and retrospective promotion were not adjudicated.

A

WP Nos. 21486 and 21488 of 2013

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED: 23-07-2026

CORAM

THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE T. VINOD KUMAR WP Nos. 21486 and 21488 of 2013

P.Rajamanickam, S/o.Periyannan, Forester, Andhiyur Range, Sengullam Section, District Forest Officer, Erode.

..Petitioner in W.P.No.21486 of 2013

S.Kesavan, S/o.Subramani, Forester, Nilgiri Worth Division, Uthagamandalam, Nilgiris District.

..Petitioner in W.P.No.21488 of 2013

Vs

The Principal Chief Conservator Of Forest/ Head Of Forest Force, Chennai-15. ..Respondent in both W.P’s

Prayer in W.P.No.21486 of 2013 : This petition is filed under Article 226 of the constitution of India to call for the records on the file of the respondent herein in Proceedings No.B2/ 29036/ 2012 dated 19.10.2012 and quash the same to the limited extent of holding over the selection of the petitioner (Sl.No.134) and issue consequential direction to the respondent to promote the petitioner with retrospective effect from the date of promotion of his immediate Junior with consequential benefits.

Prayer in W.P.No.21488 of 2013 : This petition is filed under Article 226 of the constitution of India to call for the records on the file of the respondent herein in Proceedings No.B2/ 29036/ 2012 dated 19.10.2012 and quash the

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WP Nos. 21486 and 21488 of 2013

same to the limited extent of holding over the selection of the petitioner (Sl.No.61) and issue consequential direction to the respondent to promote the petitioner with retrospective effect from the date of promotion of his immediate Junior with consequential benefits.

( In both the Writ petitions)

For Petitioner(s): M/S.M.Ravi For Respondent(s): Y.Kavitha, Govt Advocate

COMMON ORDER

Despite the matter being listed on 12.03.2023, 09.04.2026 and

11.06.2026, there was no representation for the petitioner.

Even today (23.07.2026), when the matter is listed under the caption

'for orders', there is no representation on behalf of the petitioner, which only

goes to show that the petitioner is not interested to pursue the matter.

In view of the above, these writ petitions are dismissed for

non-prosecution. No costs.

23-07-2026

Index: Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order Neutral Citation: Yes/No

smn

__________ Page2 of 4

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WP Nos. 21486 and 21488 of 2013

To.

The Principal Chief Conservator Of Forest/ Head Of Forest Force, Chennai-15.

__________ Page3 of 4

https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

WP Nos. 21486 and 21488 of 2013

T.VINOD KUMAR, J.

smn

WP Nos. 21486 and 21488 of 2013

23-07-2026

__________ Page4 of 4

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Issues for consideration

2 issues framed by the court

AI extract

1.
Whether the respondent's Proceedings No.B2/29036/2012 dated 19.10.2012 holding over the petitioners' selections should be quashed to that limited extent, with a consequential direction to promote the petitioners retrospectively from the date of promotion of their immediate juniors with consequential benefits (as sought by both petitioners). NOTE: this issue was never adjudicated, as the petitions were dismissed for non-prosecution.¶12
2.
Whether, in the absence of any representation for the petitioner at successive hearings and on the date fixed for orders, the writ petitions should be dismissed for non-prosecution.medium confidence¶25
The court held
The absence of representation on behalf of the petitioner on successive hearing dates, and again when the matter was listed 'for orders' on 23.07.2026, shows that the petitioner is not interested to pursue the matter.ratio¶25

Statutes considered

1 provisions across 1 enactments

AI extract

Constitution of IndiaArticle 226¶12

Procedural history

How this case reached the court

AI extract

Order under challenge
Respondent's Proceedings No.B2/29036/2012 dated 19.10.2012, challenged to the limited extent of holding over the petitioners' selections, with consequential direction sought to promote the petitioners retrospectively from the date of promotion of their immediate juniors.¶12
Principal Chief Conservator Of Forest/ Head Of Forest Force, Chennai-15 (records on the file of the respondent) · 2012-10-19
Prior proceeding
Both writ petitions filed in 2013 under Article 226 seeking quashal of Proceedings No.B2/29036/2012 dated 19.10.2012 to the limited extent of holding over the selection (Sl.No.134 and Sl.No.61 respectively) and retrospective promotion from the date of promotion of the immediate junior with consequential benefits.¶12
Prior proceeding
Matter listed for hearing on 12.03.2023, 09.04.2026 and 11.06.2026.¶21
Prior proceeding
There was no representation for the petitioner at those listings.¶22
Prior proceeding
On 23.07.2026 the matter was again listed under the caption 'for orders' and once more there was no representation on behalf of the petitioner.¶24

Parties & counsel

AI extract

petitioner
P.Rajamanickam¶6
M.S. Ravi (M/S.M.Ravi)
petitioner
S.Kesavan¶8
M.S. Ravi (M/S.M.Ravi)
respondent
The Principal Chief Conservator Of Forest/ Head Of Forest Force, Chennai-15¶11
Y. Kavitha

Coram

AI extract

T. Vinod Kumarauthor¶5

Case details

As recorded by the court registry

Court: Madras HC
Decided on: 23 Jul 2026 · July
Registered: 1 Aug 2013
Case no.: WP/21488/2013
CNR: HCMA010236962013
Topic: Writ and Judicial Review
Bench: T. Vinod Kumar
Disposal: DISMISSED FOR NON-PROSECUTION
Case type: WP

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Cite this judgement

S.Kesavan, v. the Principal Chief, WP/21488/2013 (MAD), decided on 23 July 2026.

The Madras High Court publishes no neutral citation for this judgement — cite it by case number and date of decision.

Statutes1

Constitution of IndiaArticle 226

View all statutes

Procedural history5

Respondent's Proceedings No.B2/29036/2012 dated 19.10.2012, challenged to the limited extent of holding over the petitioners' selections, with consequential direction sought to promote the petitioners retrospectively from the date of promotion of their immediate juniors.Principal Chief Conservator Of Forest/ Head Of Forest Force, Chennai-15 (records on the file of the respondent) · 2012-10-19
Both writ petitions filed in 2013 under Article 226 seeking quashal of Proceedings No.B2/29036/2012 dated 19.10.2012 to the limited extent of holding over the selection (Sl.No.134 and Sl.No.61 respectively) and retrospective promotion from the date of promotion of the immediate junior with consequential benefits.
Matter listed for hearing on 12.03.2023, 09.04.2026 and 11.06.2026.

View full history

Bench / Coram

T. Vinod Kumar

Parties & counsel