Gauhati High Court
Page No.# 1/17 vs The Union Of India on 14 November, 2025
Author: Soumitra Saikia
Bench: Soumitra Saikia
Page No.# 1/17
GAHC010231322025
undefined
THE GAUHATI HIGH COURT
(HIGH COURT OF ASSAM, NAGALAND, MIZORAM AND ARUNACHAL PRADESH)
Case No. : WP(C)/6075/2025
ABDUL HAMID SHEIKH AND 64 ORS.
S/O LT. KAMAR UDDIN MUNSHI, R/O CHATIBORGAON, P.O.- DHALIGAON,
DIST- CHIRANG, PIN-783385, ASSAM
2: KUNJA MOHAN ROY
LT. HARAKANTA ROY
RESIDENT OF VILLAGE BAKHARAPARA PART-2
WARD NO.23
P.O.- BONGAIGAON
DISTRICT- BONGAIGAON
PIN-783380
ASSAM
3: MANORANJAN DAS
SON OF LT. CHITTA RANJAN DAS
RESIDENT OF HOUSE NO. 32
BISHNU RABHA PATH
VILLAGE- BAMUNPARA
LOKHRA
DISTRICT- GUWAHATI-1
PIN- 781034
ASSAM
4: MUKTIDHAR SARMA
SON OF LT. MAHIDHAR SARMA
RESIDENT OF VILLAGE BALEN ROY PATH
DHALIGAON
DISTRICT- PIN-783385
ASSAM. BONGAIGAON
5: KRISHNA KANT. MILI
SON OF DURGESWAR MILI
RESIDENT OF VILLAGE BARBARI MAHATMA GANDHI PATH
P.O.- HENGRABARI
Page No.# 2/17
DISTRICT- KAMRUP (M)
PIN-781036
ASSAM
6: RAMA KANTA BARMAN
SON OF LT. JEWRAM BARMAN
RESIDENT OF HOUSE NO. 68
WARD NO. 13
LOKHRA
DISTRICT-KAMRUP (M)
GUWAHATI
PIN- 781040
ASSAM
7: AZMAL HUSSAIN
SON OF LT. AZIZUR RAHMAN
RESIDENT OF HOUSE NO. 80
F.A. AHMED NAGAR
PURAN BASTI
SIXMILE
P.O.- KHANAPARA
DISTRICT- KAMRUP(M)
GUWAHATI
PIN- 781022
ASSAM
8: DIPEN KUMAR SARMA
SON OF LT. HARISH CHANDRA SARMA
RESIDENT OF HOUSE NO. 92
SANTIPUR HILL SIDE
PNGB ROAD
P.0
BHARALUMUKH
DISTRICT-KAMRUP(M)
GUWAHATI
PIN- 781009
ASSAM
9: ABDUL HAMID PARAMANIK
SON OF LT. JURAN ALI PRAMANIK
RESIDENT OF VILLAGE BARTALOWA
P.O.- DHALIGAON
DISTRICT- CHIRANG
PIN- 783385
ASSAM
10: MD. BASER ALI
SON OF LT. MAKRAM ALI
Page No.# 3/17
RESIDENT OF VILLAGE SATIBORGAON
KAJALGAON
P.O.- DHALIGAON
DISTRICT- CHIRANG
PIN- 783385
ASSAM
11: AMULYA CHARAN DAS
SON OF LT. RATNESWAR DAS
RESIDENT OF VILLAGE BAKHRAPARA
WARD NO. 21
DISTRICT- BONGAIGAON
PIN 783380 ASSAM
12: UJJALA SEN
DAUGHTER LT. JOGENDRA CHAKRABORTY
NATH RESIDENT OF WARD NO.9
NETAJI NAGAR
P.O.- BONGAIGAON
DISTRICT- BONGAIGAON
PIN- 783380
ASSAM
13: MADHAB CHANDRA TALUKDAR
SON OF LT. DINA BANDHU TALUKDAR
RESIDENT OF VILLAGE BHAKRAPARA NO.1
WARD NO. 21
P.O.- BONGAIGAON
DISTRICT- BONGAIGAON
PIN- 783380
ASSAM
14: MD. MASADAT ALI
SON OF LT. ABDUL MOTLEB
RESIDENT OF VILLAGE UJANPARA
DOLAIGAON
P.O.-BONGAIGAON
DISTRICT- BONGAIGAON
PIN- 783380
ASSAM
15: NABA KUMAR DAS
SON LT. PRAHLAD CHANDRA DAS
RESIDENT OF VILLAGE METUAKUCHI
BHAKTARKUR
P.O.-BONGAIGAON
DISTRICT- BONGAIGAON
Page No.# 4/17
PIN- 781301 ASSAM
16: DIBENDRA CHANDRA RAY
SON OF LT. MAYA RAM RAY
RESIDENT OF HOUSE NO.23
WARD NO. 23
BHAKRAPARA PART-2
P.O.- BONGAIGAON
DISTRICT- BONGAIGAON
PIN- 783380
ASSAM
17: BABUL CHANDRA MONDAL
SON OF LT. JITENDRA CHANDRA MONDAL
RESIDENT OF HOUSE NO. 37/16
NATUNPARA MISSION ROAD
P.O.- BONGAIGAON
DISTRICT- BONGAIGAON
PIN- 783380
ASSAM
18: ABDUL KARIM AHMED
RESIDENT OF WARD NO.13
GARU NANAK NAGAR
P.O.- BONGAIGAON
DISTRICT- BONGAIGAON
PIN- 783380
ASSAM
19: BALEN CHANDRA TAHABILDER
SON OF LT. SARBA NANDA TAHABILDER
RESIDENT OF WARD NO. 20
BAKHRAPARA PART-1
P.O.- BONGAIGAON
DISTRICT- BONGAIGAON
PIN-783380
ASSAM
20: ASHIT BARMAN CHOUDHURY
SON OF LT. BISWESWAR CHOUDHURY
RESIDENT OF HOUSE NO. 91/A
WARD NO. 9
NETAJI NAGAR
P.O.- BONGAIGAON
DISTRICT- BONGAIGAION
PIN- 783380
ASSAM
Page No.# 5/17
21: KAMINI BRAHMA
SON OF LT. SUNILAL BRAHMA
RESIDENT OF WARD NO. 5
MAIBONG NWGWR
P.O.- KOKRAJHAR
DISTRICT- KOKRAJHAR
PIN- 783370
ASSAM
22: NIREN CHANDRA DAS
SON OF LT. UZMA RAM DAS
RESIDENT OF NEAR CHILARAI STADIUM
P.O.- BONGAIGAION
DISTRICT- BONGAIGAION
PIN- 783380
ASSAM
23: SANKAR LAL DAS
SON OF NANI GOPAL DAS
RESIDENT OF HOUSE NO. 17
SNEHA LATA BHAWAN
VIP COLONY
BOC GATE
P.O- BONGAIGAION
DISTRICT- BONGAIGAON
PIN- 783380
ASSAM
24: SAMESH BASUMATARY
SON OF LT. MAHANSING BASUMATARY
RESIDENT OF WARD NO. 4
HOUSE NO. 1266
GWJWNPURI
1 NO. P.O.- CHAPAGURI
DISTRICT- CHIRANG
PIN- 783380
ASSAM
25: SHYAM CHANDRA SARKAR
SON OF KARTIK CH. SARKAR
RESIDENT OF SHIVAM NAGAR
NORTH BONGAIGAION
P.O.- BONGAIGAON
DISTRICT- BONGAIGAION
PIN- 783380
ASSAM
26: LUREN CHANDRA ROY
Page No.# 6/17
SON OF LT. GANYA PRASAD ROY
RESIDENT OF NEAR DEEO OFFICE
BONGAIGAION
P.O.-BONGAIGAON
DISTRICT- BONGAIGAON
PIN- 783380
ASSAM
27: KALYAN KUMAR DAS
SON OF LT. KAILASH CHANDRA DAS
RESIDENT OF WARD NO. 3
P.O.- SARUPATHAR TOWN
NEAR SDO OFFICE
DISTRICT- GOLAGHAT
PIN- 785601
ASSAM
28: NRIPENDRA CH. CHOUDHURY
SON OF LT. DINESWAR CHOUDHURY
RESIDENT OF MAJPARA
DOLAIGAON
P.O..- BONGAIGAION
DISTRICT- BONGAIGAON
PIN- 783380
ASSAM
29: KAMALA KANTA ROY
SON OF LT. RAMESH CHANDRA ROY
RESIDENT OF WARD NO. 24
BAGESWAR PARA
BAKHRAPARA PART 2
P.O.- BONGAIGAION
DISTRICT- BONGAIGAON
PIN-783380
ASSAM
30: AJIT KUMAR CHAKRAVARTY
SON OF LTD. SUBODH CHAKRAVARTY
RESIDENT OF VILLAGE JYOTINAGAR
NORTH BONGAIGAON
P.O.BONGAIGAON
DISTRICT- BONGAIGAON
PIN-783380
ASSAM
31: GOPINATH DAS
SON OF LT. DHARANI DHAR DAS
RESIDENT OF WARD NO. 14
Page No.# 7/17
BAKHRAPARA
P.O..- BONGAIGAON
11 DISTRICT- BONGAIGAON
PIN- 783380
ASSAM
32: JITENDRA NATH DAS
SON OF LT. DAMODAR DAS
RESIDENT OF WARD NO.21
NEAR HARI MANDIR
BAKHRAPARA
P.O..- BONGAIGAON
DISTRICT- BONGAIGAON
PIN- 783380
ASSAM
33: PHUKAN CHANDRA BARMAN
SON OF LT. CHANDRA KANTA BARMAN
RESIDENT OF WARD NO.20
BAKHRAPARA
P.O..- BONGAIGAON
DISTRICT- BONGAIGAON
PIN-783380
ASSAM
34: MAHINDRA NATH ROY
SON OF LT. LALIT CHANDRA ROY
RESIDENT OF WARD NO.9
P.O.- GAURIPUR
DISTRICT- DHUBRI
PIN- 783331
ASSAM
35: MOSADDEQUE ALFARUQUE
SON OF LT. ABDUL MASUD ALFARUQUE
RESIDENT OF WARD NO. 7
N.S. ROAD
NEW MARKET
P.O..- DHUBRI
DISTRICT- DHUBRI
PIN- 783301
ASSAM
36: TANGKARESH DAS
SON OF RATNESWAR DAS
RESIDENT OF HOUSE NO. 17
WARD NO. 24
P.O..- BONGAIGAON
Page No.# 8/17
DISTRICT- BONGAIGAON
PIN- 783380
ASSAM
37: MINATI KARMAKAR
DAUGHTER LT. PRAN GOPAL KARMAKAR
RESIDENT OF WARD NO.15
COLLEGE ROAD
P.O..- BONGAIGAON
DISTRICT- BONGAIGAON
PIN-783380
ASSAM
38: DIMBESWAR BARMAN
SON OF LT. BISWANATH BARMAN
RESIDENT OF DIGDARI
P.O..- KAKRAGAON
DISTRICT- BONGAIGAON
PIN- 783372
ASSAM
39: NARAYAN CH. KAKOTI
SON OF LT. DEBESWAR KAKOTI
RESIDENT OF WARD NO. 4
MILONPUR
P.O..- PATHSALA
DISTRICT- BAJALI
PIN-781325
ASSAM
40: ABDUL MATLEB ALI
SON OF DEWAN ALI MUNSHI
RESIDENT OF KHALILPUR
BIDYAPARA PT2
P.O..- DHUBRI
DISTRICT- DHUBRI
PIN- 783324
ASSAM
41: CHANCHAL KUMAR SAHA
SON OF LT. DWIJENDRA LAL SAHA
RESIDENT OF WARD NO. 25
SALBARI
P.O..- BONGAIGAON
DISTRICT- BONGAIGAON
PIN- 783380
ASSAM
Page No.# 9/17
42: ABDUL HYE SARKAR
SON OF RAMJAN ALI SARKAR
RESIDENT OF WARD NO. 14
PRAGATI NAGAR
P.O..- KHALILPUR
DISTRICT- DHUBRI
PIN- 783325
ASSAM
43: PRABIR KUMAR SHARMA
SON OF LT. MADHAB CHANDRA SARMA
RESIDENT OF WARD NO.-03
BAKHRAPARA PART-2
P.O.BONGAIGAON
DISTRICT- BONGAIGAON
PIN- 783380
ASSAM
44: RAM KRISHNA CHOUDHURY
SON OF LT. GOPINATH CHOUDHURY
RESIDENT OF MILON NAGAR
BIDYAPUR
P.O..- SIMLAGURI
DISTRICT- BARPETA
PIN- 781313
ASSAM
45: PARTHA SARATH PRAMANIK
SON OF GOPINATH PRAMANIK
RESIDENT OF WARD NO. 2
P.O..- ABHYAPURI
DISTRICT- BONGAIGAON
PIN- 783384
ASSAM
46: DHANANJOY OJAH
SON OF LT. JAGABANDHU OJAH
RESIDENT OF WARD NO. 13
P.O..- SUNDARIDIA KALAYAHATI
DISTRICT- BARPETA
PIN- 781314
ASSAM
47: RATNESWAR TALUKDAR
SON OF LT. MAHENDRA TALUKDAR
RESIDENT OF JAPARKUCHI
MAHAT NAGAR
DISTRICT- NALBARI
Page No.# 10/17
PIN- 781334
ASSAM
48: JAGDISH BARMAN
SON OF SUSHIL MOHAN BARMAN
RESIDENT OF WARD NO. 14
DOLAIGAON
P.O..- BONGAIGAON
DISTRICT- BONGAIGAON
PIN- 783380
ASSAM
49: MANORANJAN DEURI
SON OF LT. GHANADSHYAM DEURI
RESIDENT OF MOUTUPURI
P.O..- HOWLY
DISTRICT- BARPETA
PIN- 781316
ASSAM
50: BUJAN ALI
SON OF LT. ALIMSHA ALI
RESIDENT OF WARD NO. 8
BYE LANE3
JYOTINAGAR
DISTRICT- NALBARI
PIN-781335
ASSAM
51: HIRANYA KUMAR BRAHMA
SON OF LT. MOTILAL BRAHMA
RESIDENT OF SILPOTAGAON
P.O..- KAJALGAON
DISTRICT- CHIRANG
PIN- 783385
ASSAM
52: DILIP DUTTA
SON OF LT. MANIK DUTTA
RESIDENT OF TARAJAN GAYANGAON
BORACHUK JORHAT
DISTRICT-JORHAT
PIN- 785001
ASSAM
53: KALYAN KUMAR DAS
SON OF LT. KAILASH CHANDRA DAS
RESIDENT OF WARD NO. 3
Page No.# 11/17
SARUPATHAR TOWN
SARUPATHAR
GOLAGHAT
P.O. GOLAGHAT
DISTRICT- GOLAGHAT
PIN- 785601
ASSAM
54: SARBESWAR PATHAK
SON OF LT. MATI RAM PATHAK
RESIDENT OF HOUSE NO. 35
LAKHI MANDIR PATH
LUIT PATH BYLANE- 1 LALMATI GUWAHATI
DISTRICT- KAMRUP(M)
PIN- 781029
ASSAM
55: NIREN DEORI
SON OF LT. LABHESWAR DEORI
RESIDENT OF LESIAGAON KALIMONDIR PATH
PATORKUCHI
BASISTHA CHARIALI
DISTRICT-KAMRUP(M)
PIN-781029
ASSAM. GUWAHATI
56: BARUN KUMARSAHARIA
SON OF LT. PITAMBAR SAHARIA
57. RESIDENT OF WARD NO.8
SANKAR NAGAR
MANGALDAI
DARRANG
DISTRICT- DARRANG
PIN- 784125
ASSAM
57: SUNAHAR ALI
SON OF LT. SAFICUL HAQUE
RESIDENT OF WARD NO.2
HATMENT ROAD SARALKHA ROAD
SETTLEMENT ROAD
KARIMGANJ
DISTRICT- KARIMGANJ
PIN- 788712
ASSAM
58: RATI RAM BAGLARY
SON OF LT. NAOUN CHANDRA BAGLARY
Page No.# 12/17
RESIDENT OF KACHARIGAON
KATHIATOLI CHARIALI
KAMPUR
NAGAON
DISTRICT- NAGAON
PIN- 782427
ASSAM
59: DHANESHWAR DAS
SON OF LT. MOHAN CHANDRA DAS
RESIDENT OF HOUSE NO.2
TETELIA
NEAR SOMNATH MANDIR
GOTANAGAR
GUWAHATI
DISTRICT- KAMRUP(M)
PIN- 781011
ASSAM
60: MATI RAM DEKA
SON OF LT. NABIN CHANDRA DEKA
RESIDENT OF HOUSE NO. 7
NAMGARH PATH
DARAKA NAGAR
KHANAPARA
61. 17 GUWAHATI
DISTRICT- KAMRUP(M)
PIN-781022
ASSAM
61: AKAN CHANDRA NATH
SON OF LT. GHANA KANTA NATH
RESIDENT OF HOUSE NO. 10/A
FLAT NO. 301/B
BASISTHA ENCLAVE
BASISTHAPUR BYELANE NO.2
BELTOLA
GUWAHATI
DISTRICT- KAMRUP(M)
PIN-781028
62: BONTI KAKOTI
DAUGHTER OF LT. ABANI HAZARIKA
WIFE OF MR. BIDYA KAKOTI
RESIDENT OF HOUSE NO.9
BYE LANE KRISHNACHURA LOKHRA
PATH GUWAHATI
BAMUNPARA
Page No.# 13/17
DISTRICT- KAMRUP(M)
PIN- 781040
ASSAM
63: BISWAJIT DAS
SON OF LT. AUROBINDO KR. DAS
RESIDENT OF NIGHTINGLE APARTMENT B 404
NORTH HARBOURGAON
P.O. KHUTIKATIA
NAGAON
DISTRICT- NAGAON
PIN- 782002
ASSAM
64: ANANDA CHANDRA NATH
SON OF LT. PADMA KANTA NATH
RESIDENT OF BANK COLONY RAZAGAON
RAHA
NAGAON
P.O..- RAHA
DISTRICT- NAGAON
PIN- 782103
ASSAM
65: CHAKRADHAR BARMAN
SON OF LT MADHAB CHANDRA BARMAN
RESIDENT OF ABHOYPUR
AMINGAON
KAMRUP
P.O..- AMINGAON
DISTRICT- KAMRUP
PIN- 781031
ASSA
VERSUS
THE UNION OF INDIA, MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT AND 4
ORS.
REPRESENTED BY SECRETARY, SHRAM SHAKTI BHAWAN, RAFI MARG,
NEW DELHI-110001
2:THE CENTRAL PROVIDENT
THE EMPLOYEES PROVIDENT FUND ORGANISATION FUND
COMMISSIONER
MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT GOVT. OF INDIA
BHAVISHYA NIDHI BHAWAN
14
Page No.# 14/17
BHIKAJI CAMA PLACE
NEW DELHI- 110066
3:THE REGIONAL PROVIDENT FUND COMMISSIONER
MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
GOVT. OF INDIA
G.S. ROAD
BHANGAGARH
GUWAHATI - 780005
4:INDIAN OIL CORPORATION LIMITED (REFINERIES DIVISION)
EMPLOYEES PROVIDENT FUND
(EXEMPTED BY THE REGIONAL PROVIDENT FUND COMMISSIONER
NEW DELHI AND APPROVED BY THE COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX
NEW DELHI) CORE-2
SCOPE COMPLEX
7
INSTITUTIONAL AREA
LODHI ROAD
NEW DELHI- 110003
5:INDIAN OIL CORPORATION LIMITED BONGAIGAON REFINERY
DISTRICT- CHIRANG
PIN- 783385
ASSA
Advocate for the Petitioner : MR A DASGUPTA, MS B DAS,MR S CHAKRABORTY
Advocate for the Respondent : DY.S.G.I.,
BEFORE
HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE SOUMITRA SAIKIA
ORDER
14.11.2025
Heard Mr. A Dasgupta, learned senior counsel assisted by Mr. S Chakraborty,
learned counsel for the petitioner. Also heard Mr. P.K. Roy, learned Senior Counsel
assisted by Mr. S.K Chakraborty, learned counsel appearing for the respondents No.
2 & 3.
The learned senior counsel for the respondents No. 2 & 3 has entered
Page No.# 15/17
appearances and has prayed for two weeks time to complete his instructions and
file necessary affidavit.
The learned Senior counsel for the petitioners has renewed his prayer for
interim order. The learned Senior counsel for the petitioner submits that the
direction of the Apex Court in Employees Provident Fund Organization and Anr. Vs.
Sunil Kumar B and Ors, reported in (2023) 12 SCC 701 have been misinterpreted
by the respondents and accordingly the amount of pension payable to the
petitioners has been suddenly reduced giving them at present only paltry sum
towards pension. The learned senior counsel submits that pursuant to the
directions of the Apex Court, applications were invited from the writ petitioners for
exercising the option for higher pension. General Notification was issued for all to
which the petitioners responded to and have also made payments of the arrear
amount and on making the necessary calculation, the demand notice was issued by
the provident fund, copy of which is available at Annexure -I series Page-178 of
the writ petition, whereby the amount due to be deposited by the petitioner's was
issued and the said amount was duly deposited by the petitioners. Thereafter the
petitioners were granted their applicable pension at the applicable rates. Suddenly
pursuant to a purported policy decision for a clarification taken by the Employees
Provident Fund Organization issued on 18.01.2025. The earlier proposal for grant
of pension at a higher rate was altered and without putting the writ petitioners to
notice or issuance of any fresh orders expressing the decision of the provident fund
organization to issue pension at reduced rate. Under such circumstances, the writ
petition has been filed. The learned senior counsel for the petitioners has referred
to the Judgment of Madras High Court, Madurai Bench as well as an order passed
by the Co-ordinate Bench in the Calcutta High Court whereby interim order have
been granted.
The learned senior counsel for the respondents on the other hand has referred
Page No.# 16/17
to and relied on another Judgment of the Madras High Court wherein such
petitions filed by the petitioners before the Madras High Court came to be
dismissed and the action of the employees provident fund organization was upheld.
It is submitted by the learned counsel for the respondent that the Judgment of the
Madras High Court dated 03.07.2025 passed in W.P No. 15222/2025 and W.M.P No.
17174/2025 although was passed at an earlier point in time was not placed before
the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court at the time when the Judgment dated
02.09.2025 was passed by the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court in
W.P(MD) No. 29573 to 29578 of 2024. He therefore submits that there is no
infirmity in the action taken by the employees provident fund.
Having considered the submissions made by the counsel for the parties and
also upon perusal of the Judgments pressed into service, this Court is of the view
that prima facie this Court considers that the interpretation given by the Apex
Court in Sunil Kumar (Supra) is required to be followed by the parties concerned
and in view of the public notice issued by the provident fund organization pursuant
to which the options have been offered by the writ petitioner and the subsequent
demand notice issued by the provident fund organization calling upon the
petitioners to pay for the arrear amount reflected in the demand notice, which
have also been paid by the petitioners and the petitioners having been granted the
pension at a higher rate till the same was discontinued by the provident fund
authority without prior notice or any specific orders, this Court is of the view that
an interim order is called in favour of the writ petitioners. It is therefore directed
that the pension at the higher rate which was being granted to the petitioners prior
to the same being discontinued by the respondents will be continued to be paid till
further order passed by the Court.
Let the matter be therefore listed for hearing on completion of the pleadings.
Page No.# 17/17
List again after three weeks.
JUDGE
Sandipon)
Comparing Assistant
