Kerala High Court

Mohamed Nawaz. A.A vs Union Of India (Uoi), Represented ... on 12 April, 2023

                  IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM
                                  PRESENT
                THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE ZIYAD RAHMAN A.A.
         Wednesday, the 12th day of April 2023 / 22nd Chaithra, 1945
                            WP(C) NO. 6731 OF 2023
PETITIONERS:

  1. MOHAMED NAWAZ. A.A, AGED 73 YEARS 4/77, TEMPLE ROAD, TRIKKAKKARA -
     PPO NO: KR/KCH/00114925, PIN - 682021
  2. BALACHANDRAN NAIR. K.G, AGED 71 YEARS T3, YASORAM TRIVENI APARTMENTS
     TOC H ROAD, VYTTILA - PPO NO: KR/KCH/00115026, PIN - 682019
  3. SASIKUMARAN NAIR. C.K, AGED 74 YEARS SREE VIHAR,CHANDRATHIL ROAD,
     EDAPPALLY(P.O), KOCHI - PPO NO: KR/KCH/00114927, PIN - 682024
  4. THRESSIA P.V., AGED 67 YEARS W/O. ANTO. K.P, KIDANGEN
     HOUSE,NEELEESWARAM (P.O), KALADY - . PPO NO: KR/KCH/00115054, PIN -
     683574
  5. VENKATESWARAN .R, AGED 72 YEARS PLOT NO: 17, GAYATRI
     AVENUE,VADAVALLI (P.O), COIMBATORE . PPO NO: CB/CBE/00125387, PIN -
     641041
  6. SASIDHARAN PILLAI. P.B, AGED 69 YEARS 32/900A, KARTHIKA, ROOPIKA -
     19 KALAVATH ROAD, PALARIVATTOM, KOCHI - PPO NO: KR/KCH/00114949, PIN
     - 682025
  7. GEORGE THOMAS, AGED 76 YEARS NEDUMTHALLIL HOUSE, H.B-20, K.K.P.
     NAGAR, U.C. COLLEGE(P.O), ALUVA - PPO NO: KR/KCH/00115474, PIN -
     683102
  8. ABDUL SAHAB. P.N, AGED 70 YEARS 28/1343/D, PADOM STOP, KP VALLON
     ROAD, KADAVANTHRA, KOCHI - PPO NO: KR/KCH/00114922, PIN - 682020
  9. NARAYANAN NAIR. D, AGED 75 YEARS ANUSMITHA, KODIMITTAM, WEST
     KADUNGALLOOR (P.O),ALUVA - . PPO NO: KR/KCH/00113613, PIN - 683110
 10. HAROLD. B.J, AGED 68 YEARS BUNGALOW PARAMBIL,XX/2057A, BEHIND EARNAT
     TEMPLE,PALLURUTHY - . PPO NO: KR/KCH/00115540, PIN - 682006
 11. K. JAYASREE SRIKUMAR AGED 61 YEARS AGED 61 YEARS KANINGHAT HOUSE,
     AVANOOR ROAD, VARADIUM, AVANOOR (P.O),THRISSUR - . PPO NO:
     KR/KCH/00115558, PIN - 680541
 12. ANTONY. A.D, AGED 70 YEARS ARICKATT HOUSE, ANATHADAM, ALOOR (P.O),
     THRISSUR - PPO NO: KR/KCH/00117404, PIN - 680683
 13. BABYKUTTAN. C.A, AGED 70 YEARS THOPPIL HOUSE, DESAM (P.O), ALUVA - .
     PPO NO: KR/KCH/00114999, PIN - 683102
 14. VENUGOPAL. C, AGED 68 YEARS HOUSE NO: 49/222 B, PALAPPARAMBU
     ROAD,PUNNAKKAL, ELAMAKKARA (P.O) - PPO NO: KR/KCH/00114812 , PIN -
     682026
 15. SWAMIKUTTAN. P.K, AGED 71 YEARS SWARARAG, SRA-31, SANTHI NAGAR,
     MAROTTICHODU, EDAPPALLY, KOCHI - . PPO NO: KR/KCH/00114839, PIN -
     682024
 16. KURUP. D.V, AGED 70 YEARS 37/1190, L.B.S. ROAD,CHUTTUPADUKARA,
     EDAPPALLY - PPO NO: KR/KCH/00115551, PIN - 682024
 17. SUBHASH CHANDRAN. K, AGED 71 YEARS POOVISERIL, ALUMPEEDIKA,OACHIRA .
     PPO NO: KR/KLM/00113433, PIN - 690547
 18. SANTHOSHKUMAR. O.N, AGED 68 YEARS OCHALATH HOUSE, EROOR NORTH,
     THRIPONITHURA . PPO NO: KR/KCH/0011552., PIN - 682306
 19. SADASIVAM. V.V, AGED 73 YEARS SUPRABHA, ADAYATH LANE, ELAMAKKARA - .
    PPO NO: KR/KCH/00115953, PIN - 682026
20. SREEKUMAR. V.K, AGED 70 YEARS 48/585A, POORAM,KEERTHINAGAR,
    ELAMAKKARA (P.O), KOCHI - PPO NO: KR/KCH/00115001, PIN - 682026
21. GANESHAN. H, AGED 68 YEARS THOTTATHIL HOUSE, THOTTAKKATTUKARA, ALUVA
    - PPO NO: KR/KCH/00115050, PIN - 683108
22. SREEKUMAR. M.S, AGED 71 YEARS SKYLINE RIVERSCAPE APARTMENTS,
    THOTTUMUGHOM (P.O), ALUVA - . PPO NO: KR/KCH/0011492, PIN - 683105
23. SUSHEELA RAMACHANDRAN AGED 65 YEARS W/O. RAMACHANDRAN N GOVINDAM',
    TAGORE NAGAR, PONNETH TEMPLE ROAD, KADAVANTHRA - PPO NO:
    KR/KCH/00115559 , PIN - 682020
24. WILSON. C.P, AGED 69 YEARS CHUNGATH HOUSE, VASANTH NAGAR,P
    ATTURAICKAL, THIRUVAMBADY (P.O), THRISSUR - . PPO NO:
    KR/KCH/00115561, PIN - 680022
25. SASI. K, AGED 73 YEARS 132, SARADANIVAS, K.P. ROAD, NEAR AKSHAYA
    HOTEL, RAMAVARMAPURAM, NAGERCOIL, KANNIYAKUMARI, TAMIL NADU - PPO
    NO: KR/KCH/00115560, PIN - 629001
26. GOPINATH. K, AGED 76 YEARS D - 5, PERIYAR PALACE, KOTTARA KKADAVU
    ROAD, ALUVA - . PPO NO: KR/KCH/00115009, PIN - 683101
27. SIVARAMAN. T, AGED 78 YEARS NO: 2, AANNDAL PALANIAPPA NAGAR,
    MAHALINGAPURAM (P.O), POLLACHI - PPO NO: CB/CBE/00125388, PIN -
    642002
28. VIJAYA MOHAN. P AGED 76 YEARS VATTAPPALLIL HOUSE, WARD- 23, VAIKAM,
    KOTTAYAM . PPO NO: KR/KTM/00045383, PIN - 686141
29. PUSHKARAN. V.N, AGED 73 YEARS VARIKKATTU, DESAM EAST, ALUVA - . PPO
    NO: KR/KCH/00122189, PIN - 683102
30. JOHN P THOMAS, AGED 75 YEARS PERINGAMALAYIL, JAYBEE NIVAS MULAKULAM
    NORTH (P.O), PIRAVOM - . PPO NO: KR/KCH/00114920, PIN - 686664
31. BENTY. V.P, AGED 81 YEARS VAKAYIL HOUSE, NEAR GOVT. HOSPITAL
    KOONAMMAVU - ERNAKULAM. PPO NO: KR/KCH/00113635, PIN - 683518
32. ROSY JOSEPH AGED 67 YEARS W/O. JOSEPH. K.J, KORAMANGALATH,
    VARAPUZHA(P.O), OLANADU. . PPO NO: KR/KCH/00114181, PIN - 683517
33. VARGHESE. V.V, AGED 70 YEARS VITHAYATHIL HOUSE,ALANGAD (P.O),
    ERNAKULAM - . PPO NO: KR/KCH/00114552, PIN - 683511
34. ABDUL RAHIMAN. T.S, AGED 72 YEARS METHARU PARAMBIL,BINANIPURAM
    (P.O), ERNAKULAM . PPO NO: KR/KCH/00114565, PIN - 683502
35. KADER KUNJU. M.V, AGED 77 YEARS THURITHIPPURADU, MUTHIRAKKALA,
    MUPPATHADAM (P.O). PPO NO: KR/KCH/00114940, PIN - 683110
36. JOSEPH MATHAI, AGED 73 YEARS KALLOOR HOUSE,KADEPILLY ROAD, U.C.
    COLLEGE P.O., ALUVA - . PPO NO: KR/KCH/00113695, PIN - 683102
37. HAMEED. K.S, AGED 76 YEARS HAMEED. K.S, AGED 76 YEARS
    ATHRAPPILLIL,WEST KADUGALLOOR, ALUVA . PPO NO: KR/KCH/00114182 , PIN
    - 683110
38. MADHUSUDANAN. B, AGED 73 YEARS POLLAYIL, MOPPATHADAM(P.O), ALUVA - .
    PPO NO: KR/KCH/00115115, PIN - 683110
39. SREEKUMARAN NAIR. N, AGED 77 YEARS SANTHI NILAYAM,
    KAVUMPADI,KOTHAMANGALAM, ERNAKULAM,PINDIMANA P.O., PIN - . PPO NO:
    KR/KCH/00114190, PIN - 686692
40. GEORGE. C.O, AGED 67 YEARS CHIRAMMAL HOUSE,
    MADAPLATHURUTH,MOOTHAKUNNAM(P.O), ERNAKULAM - . PPO NO:
     KR/KCH/00114255, PIN - 683516
41. SALIM.P.K, AGED 68 YEARS PAMBINEZHATH HOUSE, MUDICKAL, PERUMBAVOOR -
    . PPO NO: KR/KCH/00114322, PIN - 683547
42. ANTONY. T.J, AGED 77 YEARS THOTTAKATHU HOUSE, EDAYAR, BINANIPURAM -
    . PPO NO: KR/KCH/00114318, PIN - 683502
43. ABDUL RAHIMAN. T.M, AGED 71 YEARS VEMBALA HOUSE,
    KAYANTIKKARA,MUPATHADOM(P.O), ALUVA - . PPO NO: KR/KCH/00114184, PIN
    - 683110
44. ABOBACKER. P.M, AGED 77 YEARS MUTHIRAKKALA, CHENNAMPILLIL,
    BINANIPURAM, EDAYAR,ERNAKULAM - PPO NO: KR/KCH/114617., PIN - 683502
45. OUSEPH. E.U, AGED 71 YEARS EDACKERIL HOUSE,KAVALESWARAM
    ROAD,THIRUVANKULAM(P.O), PIN - . PPO NO: KR/KCH/00114568, PIN -
    682305
46. BABU. P.P, AGED 67 YEARS PARVATHIPURAM, PARAVOOTHARA,MANNAM(P.O), N.
    PARAVOOR, ERNAKULAM - . PPO NO: KR/KCH/00114324, PIN - 683520
47. NASEERA K. S., AGED 59 YEARS W/O. MOHAMMED. K.A, KARUVELLYPARAMBIL
    HOUSE, HANZAMANZIL, PANAYIKULAM PPO NO: KR/KCH/00114570, PIN -
    683502
48. SIVAN. T.N, AGED 76 YEARS VADASSERY PARAMBIL, THEKKEVEEDU,
    MUPPATHADAM(P.O), ALUVA - . PPO NO: KR/KCH/00115059, PIN - 683110
49. POULOSE. K.P, AGED 73 YEARS KANDATHIL HOUSE,CANAL ROAD, SUBASA LINE,
    U.C. COLLEGE(P.O), ALUVA - . PPO NO: KR/KCH/00114333, PIN - 683102
50. XAVIER. P.J, AGED 80 YEARS PAZHOOPADATH HOUSE,CHIRAYAM,
    PANAYIKULAM(P.O). PPO NO: KR/KCH/113696, PIN - 683502
51. SURENDRAN. T.A, AGED 75 YEARS SUSMITHA, WEST KADUGALLOOR,ALUVA . PPO
    NO: KR/KCH/00117289, PIN - 683110
52. KUNJU MOHAMMED. M.E, AGED 76 YEARS MUTHIRAKKALA HOUSE', ERAMAM,
    MUPPATHADAM(P.O), ALUVA - . PPO NO: KR/KCH/00114337, PIN - 683110
53. KARIM. M.A, AGED 75 YEARS KARINTHALAPARAMB,EDAYAR, BINANIPURAM PPO
    NO: KR/KCH/00113742, PIN - 683502
54. GEORGE. T, AGED 76 YEARS KALLUPALATHINGAL,MUPPATHADAM(P.O), ALUVA -
    . PPO NO: KR/KCH/00114152., PIN - 683110
55. BABU. P.R, AGED 73 YEARS PLACKATTU HOUSE,KONGORPPILLY(P.O), ALUVA -
    PPO NO: KR/KCH/00117448, PIN - 683525
56. RADHAKRISHNAN. T.P, AGED 71 YEARS THITTOYIL HOUSE, EDAYAR,
    BINANIPURAM(P.O), ALUVA - . PPO NO: KR/KCH/00115563, PIN - 683502
57. GOPINATH. V.C, AGED 72 YEARS VADAKKE CHOLAYIL,CHERUTHURUTHI (P.O),
    THRISSUR. - PPO NO: KR/KCH/00114998, PIN - 679531
58. USMANKUTTY. M.K, AGED 74 YEARS METHARUPARAMBIL HOUSE,
    BINANIPURAM(P.O),PIN - . PPO NO: KR/KCH/00114330, PIN - 683502
59. RICHARD GUNTHER, AGED 74 YEARS ROSSY COTTAGE,SOUTH KALAMASSERY,
    ERNAKULAM. PPO NO: KR/KCH/00115944., PIN - 683104
60. PAILY. A.J, AGED 75 YEARS ANTHIKKATU HOUSE, ELOOR SOUTH,
    UDYOGAMANDAL . PPO NO: KR/KCH/00114191, PIN - 683501
61. SUKUMARAN NAIR. P, AGED 75 YEARS PARAKKATU
    HOUSE,MUPPATHADAM(P.O),ALUVA - .PPO NO: KR/KCH/00114334, PIN -
    683110
62. KALADHARA BABU. K, AGED 75 YEARS PANKAJ NIVAS, WEST KADUNGALLOOR,PIN
    - . PPO NO: KR/KCH/00114331, PIN - 683110
63. VENUGOPAL. P.S, AGED 73 YEARS VELLAPPARA PUTHEN VEEDU,THEKKETHERA,
     PAZHAYANNUR, THRISSUR, PIN PPO NO: KR/KCH/00115007., PIN - 680587
64. GOVINDAN. C, AGED 76 YEARS ANUGRAHA,KOTTAM,MONDALUR(P.O), KANNUR
    .PPO NO: KR/KNR/00066164, PIN - 670622
65. SURENDRANATHA PANICKER. K, AGED 77 YEARS SAGARIKA', NEW 38/726, ST.
    GEORGE L.P.S ROAD,EDAPPALLY, KOCHI -. PPO NO: KR/KCH/00114321, PIN -
    682024
66. ANNY E. A., AGED 63 YEARS W/O. JOHNY. T.C, THAIKKATTIL
    HOUSE,ENAKAKKAL(P.O), TRISSUR - PPO NO: KR/KCH/00117354, PIN -
    680510
67. RAVEENDRAN. V.M, AGED 77 YEARS NIKUNJAM, ELIPETTACHIRA KOOTHUPARAMBA
    (P.O), PPO NO: KR/KNR/00066099, PIN - 670643
68. MANI PRAKASAN. V.S, AGED 76 YEARS VAIKKATHSSERY HOUSE,AYYAMPILLY -
    PPO NO: KR/KCH/00113688, PIN - 682501
69. MUHAMMED KUNJU. P.M, AGED 73 YEARS PADINJAREPARAMBIL HOUSE,
    (CHIRANJE PARAMBIL),MUDIKKAL (P.O), ERNAKULAM, PPO NO:
    KR/KCH/00114569, PIN - 683547
70. SASIDHARAN. K.K, AGED 68 YEARS KEETUPARAMBIL,UDAYANAPURAM (P.O),
    VAIKOM - . PPO NO: KR/KTM/00044662, PIN - 686143
71. SREEDHARAN NAMPOOTHIRI. K.N, AGED 70 YEARS SREESYLAM, KOZHIPPILLY
    MANA,EDAYAR, BINANIPURAM(P.O),ERNAKULAM - .PPO NO: KR/KCH/00114320,
    PIN - 683502
72. RAMAKRISHNAN. P.K, AGED 76 YEARS DHANYA NIVAS',EAST KADUNGALLORE,
    U.C. COLLEGE (P.O), ALUVA. PPO NO: KR/KCH/00113686, PIN - 683110
73. KUNJUMOHAMMED. K.K, AGED 75 YEARS KUTTIMAKKAL HOUSE, ELOOR NORTH,
    UDYOGAMANDAL, ERNAKULAM. PPO NO: KR/KCH/00114267., PIN - 683501
74. ABDUL RAHIMAN KUTTY. P.K, AGED 73 YEARS PATTARU MADOM, CHITRA LANE,
    PALACE ROAD, ALUVA . PPO NO: KR/KCH/0044256, PIN - 683101
75. ABDULKARIM. P.M, AGED 75 YEARS PALAKKAPARAMBU,(W) VELIYATHU NADU
    P.O. PPO NO: KR/KCH/00114151, PIN - 683511
76. VIJAYAKUMAR. P, AGED 75 YEARS NIRMALYAM, CANAL ROAD,EAST
    KADUNGALLOOR,U.C COLLEGE (P.O),ALUVA - .PPO NO: KR/KCH/00115003, PIN
    - 683102
77. THANKAPPAN. V.S, AGED 73 YEARS VENGAKALAYIL HOUSE,NJEEZHOOR (P.O),
    KADUTHURUTHIKOTTAYAM. PPO NO: KR/KTM/00114926, PIN - 686612
78. VARGHESE. N.A, AGED 75 YEARS NADEPPARAMBIL HOUSE,
    38/2328,MAMANGALAM, KANNAYATHU ROAD - 53,PALARIVATTOM, KOCHI . PPO
    NO: KR/KCH/00114928, PIN - 682025
79. MURALEEDHARAN. K.K, AGED 71 YEARS KOCHERIL HOUSE, VALLUVALLY,
    KOONAMMAVU (P.O), ERNAKULAM . PPO NO: KR/KCH/113640, PIN - 683518
80. RADHAKRISHNAN.N.S. AGED 71 YEARS 45/1069A, PES NO: 78, GANDHI
    JAYANTHI ROAD,NORTH EXTN, THAMMANAM P.O.,ERNAKULAM P.P.O NO.
    KR/KCH/00114185, PIN - 683032
81. VARGHESE K JACOB AGED 68 YEARS HOUSE NO.8, KALLIVALAPPILLUIZ GARDEN,
    KD PLOT P.O P.P.O NO. KR/KCH/00115354, PIN - 683104
82. P. C. JACOB AGED 71 YEARS PAINADATH HOUSE NEERICODE -VIA ALWAYE
    P.P.O NO. KR/KCH/00116159, PIN - 683511
83. MADHUKUMAR .K, AGED 65 YEARS SREEPADMAM, 5/176A,ULLALA, THALAYAZHAM
    (P.O),VAIKOM - . PPO NO: KR/KCH/00115555, PIN - 686607
84. MOHANKUMAR. P.N, AGED 65 YEARS DEVI VIHAR, ELAMAKKARA (P.O), KOCHI
    PPO NO: KR/KCH/00115402, PIN - 682026
  85. BALAGOPAL. V.N, AGED 64 YEARS VELEYATH HOUSE,SOUTH
     ADUVASSERY,CHENGAMANAD - . PPO NO: KR/KCH/00115004, PIN - 683578
 86. XAVIER. A.J, AGED 66 YEARS AMBALATHINGAL HOUSE, PACHALAM (P.O),
     KOCHI - . PPO NO: KR/KCH/0011433, PIN - 682012
 87. NANDAKUMAR. C.K, AGED 64 YEARS CHATHUPPELLIL 'USHUS',MAIKAVU,
     VAPPALASSERY (P.O),ANGAMALY - . PPO NO: KR/KCH/00115065, PIN -
     683572
 88. JOLLY VARGHESE, AGED 64 YEARS MELATH HOUSE, HOUSE NO: 20, MARVAR
     JUCTION, MYTHRI LANE,ALUVA - . PPO NO: KR/KCH/00115550, PIN - 683101
 89. RAJENDRAN. C, AGED 64 YEARS A2, PRATHIBHA APTS, EAST
     KADUNGALLUR,ALUVA - PPO NO: KR/KCH/00114253, PIN - 683102
 90. REGHURAJAN. K, AGED 64 YEARS ARCHANA, U.C. COLLEGE(P.O), EDAYAR
     ROAD, ALUVA - . PPO NO: KR/KCH/00114257, PIN - 683102
 91. UNNI. M.S, AGED 66 YEARS PUTTANVEEDE, BINANIPURAM, EDAYAR - PPO NO:
     KR/KCH/00114997, PIN - 683502
 92. PRADEEPKUMAR. E.N, AGED 66 YEARS MANAYIL HOUSE, THODUPUZHA, IDUKKI -
     . PPO NO: KR/KTM/00044664, PIN - 685584

RESPONDENTS:

  1. UNION OF INDIA (UOI), REPRESENTED BY THE SECRETARY TO GOVT. OF
     INDIA, MINISTRY OF LABOUR & DEPARTMENT OF EMPLOYMENT, NEW DELHI ,
     PIN - 110001
  2. REGIONAL PROVIDENT FUND COMMISSIONER, SUB REGIONAL OFFICE, EMPLOYEES
     PROVIDENT FUND ORGANISATION (EPFO), BHAVISHANIDHI BHAVAN, KALOOR,
     ERNAKULAM ., PIN - 682017
  3. REGIONAL PROVIDENT FUND COMMISSIONER-1 (PENSION), EPFO HEAD OFFICE,
     MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT, GOVERNMENT OF INDIA, BHAVISHYA
     NITHI BHAVAN, 14- BHIKAJI CAMA PALACE, NEW DELHI - 110066 BHAVISHYA
     NITHI BHAVAN, 14- BHIKAJI CAMA PALACE, NEW DELHI , PIN - 110066
  4. BINANI ZINC LTD, (EDAYAR ZINC) REPRESENTED BY AUTHORISED SIGNITORY,
     BINANIPURAM, EDAYAR, ERNAKULAM, PIN - 686662

     Writ petition (civil) praying inter alia that in the circumstances
stated in the affidavit filed along with the WP(C) the High Court be
pleased to stay ext.p11 and similar communications and issue a direction
to the second respondent to disburse monthly higher pension from february
2023 (due for the month of february), 2023 onwards regularly every month,
pending disposal of the writ petition.
     This petition again coming on for orders upon perusing the petition
and the affidavit filed in support of WP(C) and this court's order dated
23.03.2023 and upon hearing the arguments of M/S. P.N.MOHANAN, C.P.SABARI,
AMRUTHA SURESH & GILROY ROZARIO, Advocates for the petitioners, SHRI.
THOMAS MATHEW NELLIMOOTTIL, Advocate for R2 & R3, the court passed the
following:
                  ZIYAD RAHMAN A.A., J.
            ----------------------------
 W.P.(C) Nos.8979/2023, 16018/2020, 11737/2021,
    4958/2023, 5300/2023, 5442/2023, 5460/2023,
    5473/2023, 5503/2023, 5510/2023, 5513/2023,
    5790/2023, 5876/2023, 5987/2023, 6178/2023,
   6206/2023, 6260/2023, 6284/2023, 6292/2023,
    6499/2023, 6502/2023, 6681/2023, 6703/2023,
    6710/2023, 6723/2023, 6725/2023, 6731/2023,
    6740/2023, 6779/2023, 6811/2023, 6905/2023,
     6941/2023, 6990/2023, 7015/2023,7043/2023,
    7073/2023, 7105/2023, 7141/2023, 7261/2023,
    7547/2023, 7578/2023, 7614/2023, 7838/2023,
    7990/2023, 8412/2023, 8727/2023, 8777/2023,
    8990/2023, 9061/2023, 9177/2023, 9241/2023,
    9351/2023, 9358/2023, 9494/2023, 9614/2023,
  9659/2023, 9979/2023, 10175/2023, 10186/2023,
10219/2023, 10535/2023, 10650/2023, 10711/2023,
              11442/2023 & 11554/2023.
              ------------------------
       Dated this the 12th day of April, 2023


                           O R D E R

In all these cases, the issue involved is

pertaining to the legal entitlement of the

petitioners for higher pension, as per the

provisions of the Employees Provident Funds and

Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952. These writ

petitions are already admitted.

2. As per the decision rendered by the

Honourable Supreme Court in EPF Organisation v.

Sunil Kumar [2022(7) KHC 12 (SC)], certain

directions were issued in this regard with respect

to the options to be submitted by the employees

concerned, to be eligible for the benefits of

higher pension under the Employees Pension Scheme,

1995. In para 44 (iv) of the said decision, the

following observations were issued by the

Honourable Supreme Court.

" 44 (iv) The members of the scheme, who did not exercise option, as contemplated in the proviso to paragraph 11(3) of the pension scheme (as it was before the 2014 Amendment) would be entitled to exercise option under paragraph 11(4) of the post amendment scheme. Their right to exercise option before 1st September 2014 stands crystallized in the judgment of this Court in the case of R.C. Gupta (supra). The scheme as it stood before 1st September 2014 did not provide for any cut-off date and thus those members shall be entitled to exercise option in terms of paragraph 11(4) of the scheme, as it stands at present. Their exercise of option shall be in the nature of joint options covering pre-amended paragraph 11(3) as also the amended paragraph 11(4) of the pension scheme."

3. The Honorable Supreme Court permitted the

employees who could not submit the options in the

light of para 11(3) of the pre-amendment scheme,

to submit fresh options within a period of four

months. Though the said period expired on

3.03.2023, the same was further extended for two

months i.e. up to 3.05.2023. The petitioners in

these cases are employees intending to submit

their options in the light of directions of the

Honourable Supreme Court.

4. The EPF organization made available to the

employees the facility to submit the options

through online mode by providing necessary links

for the same on their website. Ext P9 in

WP(C)8979/2023 is the option form the employee has

to fill up while submitting the option.

      5.    The          grievance              highlighted             by        the

petitioners           is    that         one        of    the   details      to   be

furnished in the said option form is the copy of

the permission under para 26(6) of the Employees

Provident Fund Scheme, 1952. According to the

petitioners, even though they were permitted to

pay the contribution based on the salary,

exceeding the ceiling limit prescribed (Rs 5,000/-

and Rs 6,500/-), as contemplated under para 26(6)

of the Scheme 1952, no formal option has been

submitted. According to them, submission of such

an option was never necessitated or insisted upon,

and instead, higher contributions were being

accepted all along by the EPFO. Therefore, they

are unable to fill up the said column in the

online option form, and the said form is

formulated in such a fashion that, unless the

details of the option under para 26 (6) of the

Scheme, 1952 are incorporated, they cannot

successfully submit the online options. If they

are not submitting their options on or before the

cut-off date, i.e. 3.05.2023, they will be

deprived of the benefits of the Scheme to which

they are legally entitled. In such circumstances,

the petitioners seek an interim order permitting

them to submit options without insisting on the

details/copies of the options submitted by them

under para 26(6) of the Scheme 1952.

6. The prayer for interim relief is stoutly

opposed by the respective Standing Counsels for

the EPFO. According to them, the option under para

26(6) is one of the crucial requirements for

availing the benefits, and therefore, it is

absolutely necessary for processing the options

submitted by the employees.

7. The learned counsels for the petitioners

would point out that higher contributions were

being accepted by the EPFO all along, even without

formal options from the employees and without any

insistence for submission of options as referred

to above. The petitioners relied on various

circulars issued by the EPFO to substantiate the

said contentions.

8. In circular bearing No:

Pension/Misc.2005/65836 dated 22.011.2006, it was

mentioned in para 4 (4) that, if the option was

not exercised at the time of salary crossing the

statutory limit or on 16.3.1996 as the case may be

and the contributions were deposited on salary

exceeding the limit after receiving instructions

from the Office before the date of issue of

circular dated 22.06.2004, the department has the

vicarious liability(restricted to specific cases

only)of honouring such a commitment and hence the

pensionable salary shall be on the actual salary,

i.e. on the salary (exceeding the statutory limit)

on which contribution paid. However, it is true

that, in para 4 (5) of the said Circular, it was

clarified that, in cases where no options were

given, or no commitment was made by the concerned

office, but the contribution on higher pay was

deposited by the establishment/employee on their

own, excess contributions will be considered as

erroneous contributions, and the pensionary salary

will be restricted to statutory ceiling existing

from time to time. But the fact remains that the

said Circular clearly indicates that certain

offices of the EPFO used to give instructions for

accepting the higher contributions, even without

options being actually submitted, and permitting

payment of higher contribution.

9. Besides the same, in Circular No Pen-

1/12/33/96/Amendment/Vol.IV/16762 dated 22.01.2019

(Ext P3 in WP(C) 8979/2023), it is mentioned as

follows: "However, if an employer and employee have contributed under the EPF Scheme, 1952 on wages higher than the statutory wage

limit, without joint option of employee & employer, and the EPF

Account of the concerned employee has been updated by the EPFO on

the basis of such contribution received, then by action of

employee, employer and EPFO, it can be inferred that joint option

of the employee and employee has been exercised and accepted by

EPFO........."

10. Of course, the said Circular has been

withdrawn as per Circular dated 7.02.2019, in the

light of the observations made by a Division Bench

judgment of this Court in WP(C)13120 of 2015.

However, the said Circular dated 22.01.2019

clearly conveys the manner in which the EPFO

treated the issue as regards the necessity of

submitting options under para 26(6) of the Scheme

1952, and it indicates that the submission of

options was never made mandatory.

11. In addition to the above, the petitioners

have also raised a contention that, in the

judgment passed by the Division Bench of this

Court, in Sasikumar P. and others v. Union of

India and others [ILR 2019 (1) Kerala 614], it was

clarified that, the employees shall be entitled to

exercise the option stipulated by paragraph 26 of

the EPF Scheme without being restricted in doing

so by the insistence on a date. Therefore, even if

the submission of an option is mandatory, it is

still open for the employees to submit the same

without any cut-off date. It was further contended

that, even though the said judgment was set aside

by the Honourable Supreme Court in Sunil Kumar's

case (supra), it would not affect the direction of

the Division Bench judgment of this court in

Sasikumar's case (supra), as there is no contrary

finding in the decision of the Honourable Supreme

Court, with regard to the option under para 26(6)

of the Scheme 1952. In my view, this is also a

matter to be considered at the time of the final

hearing.

12. Thus, when all the above aspects are

considered, it can be seen that, right from the

inception, higher contributions were being

accepted by the EPFO, even without submitting

options under para 26(6) of the Scheme 1952. It is

also evident that in some cases, instructions were

issued from some of the offices of EPFO to accept

the same, and in some cases, accounts of

respective employees were also updated in tune

with such higher contributions.

13. Further, the petitioners also have a

contention that, going by the language used in

para 26(6) of the Scheme, 1952, it could be

interpreted as an enabling provision, which

provides the power to the EPFO to accept higher

contributions in certain circumstances and the

same cannot be treated as a provision which makes

the submission of option mandatory. The exercise

of such options and their acceptance by the EPFO

can be inferred from the conduct of the employees,

employers and the EPFO, as mentioned in Circular

dated 22.01.2019. After considering the provisions

in this regard, I am of the view that this is also

a relevant aspect to be considered in detail.

14. Thus, when considering all the above

aspects, the only view that can possibly be taken

is that the petitioners have succeeded in

establishing a prima facie case, warranting an

interim order in the matter. It is to be noted

that the balance of convenience also favours the

petitioners. Evidently, the Honourable Supreme

Court fixed the cut-off date as 3.05.2023 for

submitting the options. Now on account of the

insistence from the EPFO to furnish the details of

the option under para 26(6)of the Scheme, 1952,

and also in view of the peculiar nature of the

online facility provided for such submissions,

they are now prevented from submitting the said

options. There cannot be any dispute that if they

were not permitted to submit their options before

the cut-off date, they would be deprived of their

opportunity to claim the benefits of the judgment

of the Honourable Supreme Court forever.

 WP(C) No. 8979/2023 & Con.cases         12

Therefore,          the      petitioners       deserve      an   interim

order       for       that        reason,i.e.       the     balance    of

convenience, as well.

15. The learned Standing Counsel for the EPFO

also raised a contention that some of the writ

petitions are submitted by the employees of the

exempted establishments, and they cannot be

granted the benefits. However, in para 38 of the

judgment in Sunil Kumar's case (supra), this

aspect was considered, and it was found that

employees of the exempted establishments should

not be deprived of the benefit of remaining in the

pension scheme while drawing salary beyond the

ceiling limit. Therefore the said contention of

the EPFO is also not prima facie sustainable.