Kerala High Court

Sreenivasan P 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. 6292 OF 2023
PETITIONERS:

  1. SREENIVASAN P AGED 69 YEARS 'INDEEVARAM' NEAR CHATHAN KAITHODU P.O.
     MANNUR KOZHIKODE PPO NO.KR/KKD 67808, PIN - 673328
  2. ABDU K.K. AGED 69 YEARS KUNDUKULANGARA HOUSE P.O KOLATHARA KOZHIKODE
     PPO NO.KR/KKD/67425, PIN - 673655
  3. ABDU M.V. AGED 69 YEARS MULLAVEETTIL HOUSE CHALATI ROAD P.O.
     NALLALAM KOZHIKODE PPO NO.KR/KKD/67801, PIN - 673027
  4. ABDU P. AGED 71 YEARS PUTHIYOTH HOUSE P.O. VAZHAYOOR EAST (VIA)
     RAMANATTUKARA MALAPPURAM PPO NO.KR/KKD/67241, PIN - 673633
  5. ABDULLA P. AGED 70 YEARS PARAMBALATH HOUSE KANNATTIKULAM P.O
     KOLATHARA KATCHERI PARAMBU KOZHIKODE PPO NO.KR/KKD/67741, PIN -
     673655
  6. ABDULLAKUTTY K. AGED 70 YEARS KADAKKOTTIRI HOUSE P.O. RAMANATTUKARA
     KOZHIKODE PPO NO.KR/KKD/67493, PIN - 673633
  7. ABDURAHIMAN K. AGED 67 YEARS KODAKKATTAKATHU HOUSE P.O. NALLALAM
     KOZHIKODE PPO NO.KR/KKD/68679, PIN - 673027
  8. ACHUTHAN K. AGED 70 YEARS PUTHALATH HOUSE PUTTEKKAD P.O. FEROKE
     KOZHIKODE PPO NO.KR/KKD/67998, PIN - 673631
  9. AHAMMEDKUTTY P.A. AGED 73 YEARS P.A. HOUSE PUTHUKKODE (VIA)
     RAMANATTUKARA KOZHIKODE PPO NO.KR/KKD/67081, PIN - 673633
 10. AHMEDKUTTY P. AGED 70 YEARS VALIYAPARAMBIL HOUSE P.O. KARADPARAMBA
     (VIA) FAROOK COLLEGE KOZHIKODE PPO NO.KR/KKD/67752, PIN - 673632
 11. ALIKODYA D. AGED 69 YEARS PALAYIL HOUSE P.O. MANNUR (VIA) KADALUNDI
     KOZHIKODE PPO NO.KR/KKD/68088, PIN - 673328
 12. ARAVINDAKSHAN T. AGED 71 YEARS THOTTANKUNI HOUSE UDAYAPURI P.O.
     KOLATHARA , CHUNGAM KOZHIKODE PPO NO.KR/KKD/67020, PIN - 673655
 13. ARJUNAN K. AGED 71 YEARS PURAKKAT HOUSE NEAR SAI MADOM P.O. FEROKE
     KOZHIKODE PPO NO.KR/KKD/67246, PIN - 673631
 14. AVRANKUTTY P. AGED 69 YEARS NALUKANDAM HOUSE P.O. KOLATHARA
     KOZHIKODE PPO NO.KR/KKD/68700, PIN - 673655
 15. BABU K. AGED 68 YEARS PUTHUKULANGARATHAZHE P.O.MAVILIKKADAVU
     KARUVISSERI KOZHIKODE PPO NO.KR/KKD/68649, PIN - 673010
 16. BABU T.P. AGED 68 YEARS THOTATHUMPOYIL HOUSE AYYAPPANKANDI PARAMBA
     P.O. KOLATHARA KIZHIKODE PPO NO.KR/KKD/68560, PIN - 673655
 17. BALAKRISHNAN P. AGED 71 YEARS PAYANINGAL KUNICHIMMEL HOUSE P.O.
     KUMARANALLUR MUKKOM KOZHIKODE PPO NO.KR/KKD/67118, PIN - 673602
 18. BALAKRISHNAN V AGED 72 YEARS 'PALLAVI' VEENAKKAT HOUSE, CHENAPARAMBA
     P.O. FEROKE KOZJIKODE PPO NO.KR/KKD/67227, PIN - 673631
 19. BALAN K. AGED 69 YEARS ERAMKULAM HOUSE P.0.BEYPORE KOZHIKODE PPO
     NO.KR/KKD/67803, PIN - 673015
 20. BAVA V.V. AGED 69 YEARS V.V. HOUSE AYYAPPANKANDY PARAMBA P,O,
     KOLATHARA KOZHIKODE PPO NO.KR/KKD/67925, PIN - 673655
 21. BHASKARAN A.M. AGED 68 YEARS NATUVILASSERY HOUSE P.O.. MANIYOOR
     VADAKARA KOZHIKODE PPO NO.KR/KKD/68865, PIN - 673523
 22. CHANDRAN C.V. AGED 71 YEARS CHEMBAKASSERY HOUSE OMPATHINGAL P.O.
    MATTATHUR THRISSUR PPO NO.KR/KKD/109444, PIN - 680684
23. DEVADATHAN K.S. AGED 67 YEARS 'SREENIVAS' THAMPURAN ROAD NADUVATTOM,
    BEYPORE NORTH P.O. KOOZHIKODE PPO NO.KR/KKD/68626, PIN - 673015
24. DEVANANDAN A AGED 70 YEARS EDATHIL HOUSE THOTTUMPADAM NILAM P.O.
    OLAVANNA KOZHIKODE PPO NO.KR/KKD/67632, PIN - 673019
25. GOPALAKRIHNAN P.M. AGED 70 YEARS 'SREEVALSALAM' P.O. VALLIKKUNNU
    NORTH KADALUNDI NAGARAM MALAPPURAM PPO NO.KR/KKD/67636, PIN - 673314
26. GOPINATHAN K AGED 71 YEARS KUNDIL HOUSE 'GOPIKA' P.O. KADALUNDI
    KOZHIKODE PPO NO.KR/KKD/67740, PIN - 673302
27. HAMSAKOYA C. AGED 70 YEARS CHANDRAMTHODI CHEMB VEEDU HOUSE NEAR IOC
    P.O. FEROKE KOZHIKODE PPO NO.KR/KKD/67458, PIN - 673631
28. HAMZA K.P. AGED 68 YEARS KATTAYATTUPARAMBU HOUSE AYYAPPANKANDY
    PARAMBU RAHMAN BAZAAR P.O. KOLATHARA KOZHIKODD PPO NO.KR/KKD/68695,
    PIN - 673655
29. HAMZA K. AGED 73 YEARS KODALADA HOUSE KODANGD P.O. KONDOTTY
    MALAPPURAM PPO NO.KR/KKD/67141, PIN - 673638
30. HASSAN KOYA E. AGED 69 YEARS ELEYADATH HOUSE KOYAPARAMBA CHERUVANNUR
    P.O. KOLATHARA KOZHIKODE PPO NO.KR/KKD/68083, PIN - 673655
31. HUSSAIN V.T. AGED 72 YEARS VADAKKE THADATHIL VALIYAVALAPP P.O.
    NALLALAM KOZHIKODE PPO NO.KR/KKD/67145, PIN - 673027
32. IMBICHIKOYA P. AGED 68 YEARS PALORA HOUSE RAHMAN BAZAAR P.O.
    KOLATHARA KOZHIKODE PPO NO.KR/KKD/68667, PIN - 673655
33. ISMAIL K.K.C. AGED 71 YEARS 'ANEESA MANZIL' NEAR YATHEEM KHANA P.O.
    KARUVANTHURUTHY KOZHIKODE PPO NO.KR/KKD/66928, PIN - 673643
34. KESAVAN NAIR K.P. AGED 61 YEARS KARNIKARAM CMC 14 P.O. CHERTHALAI
    ALAPUZHA PPO NO.KR/KKD/110465, PIN - 688524
35. KUTTIALI V. AGED 68 YEARS V.K. HOUSE P.O. KOLATHARA CHERUVANNUR
    KOZHIKODE PPO NO.KR/KKD/68838, PIN - 673655
36. LOHITHAKSHAN C. AGED 67 YEARS CHOLAKUZHI HOUSE P.O. KARADPARAMBA
    (VIA) FAROOK COLLEGE KOZHIKODE PPO NO.KR/KKD/68420, PIN - 673632
37. MOHANADASAN M.E. AGED 67 YEARS PILAKKAT HOUSE P.O. KOTOOLI KOZHIKODE
    PPO NO.KR/KKD/67754, PIN - 673016
38. MOHANAN A.P. AGED 71 YEARS THUVAPARAMBU KANNATTIKULAM P.O.
    KOLATHARA, CHERUVANNUR KOZHIKODE PPO NO.KR/KKD/67120, PIN - 673655
39. MUBARACK ALI P. AGED 71 YEARS PULIYALI HOUSE NALAMKANDAM THIRUVANNUR
    COTTON MILL ROAD KOZHIKODE PPO NO.KR/KKD/67750, PIN - 673029
40. MUHAMMED N. AGED 70 YEARS MUKKISSERI HOUSE P.O. CHELEMBRA MALAPPURAM
    DIST PPO NO.KR/KKD/67637, PIN - 673634
41. MUHAMMED K. AGED 70 YEARS KARUTHEDATH KODAKKALLU PARAMBIL P.O.
    FAROOK COLLEGE KOZHIKODE PPO NO.KR/KKD/67441, PIN - 673632
42. NARAYANAN T. AGED 73 YEARS KUTTAMBALATH HOUSE AMBADI NALLUR, P.O.
    FEROKE KOZHIKODE PPO NO.KR/KKD/67140, PIN - 673631
43. NARAYANAN M. AGED 69 YEARS MANGANTHARA HOUSE NEAR SARADA MANDIRAM
    P.O. KOLATHARA KOZHIKODE PPO NO.KR/KKD/68291, PIN - 673655
44. NARAYANAN T.V. AGED 68 YEARS "ANASWARA" POOZHIYIL ROAD P.O. WEST
    HILL KOZHIKODE PPO NO.KR/KKD/68396, PIN - 673005
45. PADMINI M AGED 73 YEARS MALAYI HOUSE P.O. KOLATHARA KOZHIKODE PPO
    NO.KR/KKD/67111, PIN - 673655
46. PEETHAMBARAN K. AGED 70 YEARS PUTHILLAM THAZHAM PARAMBA P.O.
     OLAVANNA KOZHIKODE PPO NO.KR/KKD/67282, PIN - 673025
47. PEETHAMBARAN K. AGED 72 YEARS KUTTIYIL HOUSE P.O. NALLALAM KOZHIKODE
    PPO NO.KR/KKD/67139, PIN - 673027
48. PRAKASAN K.P. AGED 68 YEARS KUTHIRATEPARAMBIL HOUSE P.O NALLALAM
    KOZHIKODE PPO NO. KRKKD 68693, PIN - 673027
49. RAGHAVAN NAIR K. AGED 74 YEARS 'YANJIKAM' P.O. MODAKKALLUR, ATHOLI
    KOZHIKODE PPO NO.KR/KKD/67138, PIN - 673321
50. RAJAGOPALAN N.P. AGED 67 YEARS 'GEETHAS' P.O. NADUVANNUR KOZHIKODE
    PPO NO.KR/KKD/67993, PIN - 673614
51. RAJAN M.K. AGED 68 YEARS KETTIL HOUSE P.O. FAROOK COLLEGE KOZHIKODE
    PPO NO.KR/KKD 68399, PIN - 673632
52. RAMAKRISHNAN T. AGED 69 YEARS THARAYIL HOUSE P.O. ARAKKINAR
    KOZHIKODE PPO NO.KR/KKD 68293, PIN - 673028
53. RATNAM K. AGED 71 YEARS 'AMBADY' ERAMULLADAN NILAM MELCHIRA ROAD
    P.O. ARAKKINAR KOZHIKODE PPO NO.KR/KKD/67483, PIN - 673028
54. RAVEENDRAN V, AGED 71 YEARS POOTHOLATHIL HOUSE WEST NALLOR P.O.
    FEROKE KOZHIKODE PPO NO.KR/KKD 67424, PIN - 673631
55. RAVI M. AGED 71 YEARS MALAYATHODI HOUSE RAHMAN BAZAAR P.O. KOLATHARA
    KOZHIKODE PPO NO.KR/KKD 67433, PIN - 673655
56. SADANANDAN K. AGED 68 YEARS KARUTHEDATH HOUSE KAINIPPADAM P.O.
    MANNUR KOZHIKODE PPO NO.KR/KKD 68656, PIN - 673328
57. SAIDALI C. AGED 70 YEARS CHARUPADIKKAL HOUSE NALUKANDAM PARAMBA P.O.
    KOLATHARA KOZHIKODE PPO NO.KR/KKD 67743, PIN - 673655
58. SAIDALAVI K. AGED 70 YEARS SAJAS HOUSE CHEROOK PARAMBA CHERUVANNUR
    P.O. FEROKE KOZHIKODE PPO NO.KR/KKD 67997, PIN - 673631
59. SAINABI T. AGED 69 YEARS THONDIYIL HOUSE THACHILATU PARAMBA P.O.
    NALLALAM KOZHIKODE PPO NO.KR/KKD 67996, PIN - 673027
60. SAMI A AGED 70 YEARS ALUVINGAL HOUSE KARUNTHELPARAMBA
    SARADAMANDIRAM. P.O. KOLATHARA KOZHIKODE PPO NO.KR/KKD 67751, PIN -
    673655
61. SAMIKUTTY K. AGED 72 YEARS DEEPTHI HOUSE KARIPPARA VALLIKUNNU NORTH
    KADALUNDI NAGARAM MALAPPURAM PPO NO.KR/KKD 67036, PIN - 673314
62. SASIDHARAN K.K. AGED 69 YEARS MURIYAMBATHU PARAMBIL P.O. KOLATHARA
    KOZHIKODE PPO NO.KR/KKD 68282, PIN - 673655
63. SATHEESHKUMAR T AGED 67 YEARS THOTTAMKUNI HOUSE "SOUPARNIKA" RAHMAN
    BAZAAR P.O. KOLATHARA KOZHIKODE PPO NO.KR/KKD 68669, PIN - 673655
64. SEETHI P. AGED 67 YEARS ZAIRA MANZIL AREEKKAD P.O. NALLALAM
    KOZHIKODE PPO NO.KR/KKD 68625, PIN - 673027
65. SEKHARAN P. AGED 71 YEARS PARAKKANDI HOUSE P.O. VAZHAYOOR EAST (VIA)
    RAMANATTUKARA MALAPPURAM PPO NO.KR/KKD 67640, PIN - 673633
66. SHARMA V.K. AGED 70 YEARS ANJALI P.O. FAROOK COLLEGE KOZHIKODE PPO
    NO.KR/KKD 67639, PIN - 673632
67. SHERIEF P AGED 69 YEARS PORAYIL HOUSE P.O. CHEVAYUR K0ZHIKODE PPO
    NO.KR/KKD 68178, PIN - 673017
68. SIVADASAN K. AGED 73 YEARS KAVILEDATHU PARAMBA THIRUVANNUR NADA
    KOZHIKODE PPO NO.KR/KKD 67226, PIN - 673029
69. SIVADASAN N. AGED 71 YEARS KOKKANTHODI HOUSE P.O. PERUMUGHAM, FEROKE
    KOZHIKODE PPO NO.KR/KKD 68087, PIN - 673631
70. SIVADASAN K. AGED 71 YEARS KADAMBIL HOUSE RUBI CORNER
    KARUVANTHURUTHY KOZHIKODE PPO NO.KR/KKD 67287, PIN - 673631
 71. SOMAN C. AGED 69 YEARS CHERIYATH HOUSE KUTTIKKATTUPARAMBA P.O.
    NALLALAM KOZHIKODE PPO NO.KR/KKD/68262, PIN - 673027
72. SUBRAMANIAN T. AGED 70 YEARS THEKKEKKATTIL HOUSE VALLIKUNNU P.O.
    ARIYALLOOR MALAPPURAM PPO NO.KR/KKD 67465, PIN - 676312
73. SUBRAMANIAN V AGED 71 YEARS AISWARYA NIVAS P.O. KARUVANTHURUTHY
    FEROKE KOZHIKODE PPO NO.KR/KKD 67239, PIN - 673631
74. SUBRAMANIAN C.V. AGED 70 YEARS CHAKKAVALAPPIL PATTAR THODI P.O.
    PAYYANAKKAL KALLAI KOZHIKODE PPO NO.KR/KKD 68289, PIN - 673003
75. SUKUMARAN P AGED 71 YEARS ALULLAKANDI HOUSE P.O. PERUMUCHAM VIA
    FEROKE KOZHIKODE PPO NO.KR/KKD 67439, PIN - 673631
76. SUKUMARAN K. AGED 69 YEARS MURINGAPARAMBIL HOUSE P.O. KADALUNDI
    KOZHIKODE PPO NO.KR/KKD 68086, PIN - 673302
77. SUMATHI V.K. AGED 67 YEARS VETTUVANKANDY HOUSE P.O. GURUVAYURAPPAN
    COLLEGE PALAZHI KOZHIKODE PPO NO.KR/KKD 68957, PIN - 673014
78. SUNDARAN T. AGED 71 YEARS 'ASWATHI' P.O KOLATHARA KOZHIKODE PPO
    NO.KR/KKD 67464, PIN - 673655
79. SURENDRAN P.A. AGED 70 YEARS PUNNATH PANCHAMI NIVAS P.O. KARAD
    PARAMBA (VIA) FAROOK COLLEGE KOZHIKODE PPO NO.KR/KKD 67422, PIN -
    673632
80. SURENDRAN T.K. AGED 71 YEARS SUJATHA MANDIR P.O. KOLATHARA KOZHIKODE
    PPO NO.KR/KKD 67319, PIN - 673655
81. SURESH P. HENRY AGED 73 YEARS DYNACIA KUNDAITHODE P.O. KOLATHARA
    KOZHIKODE PPO NO.KR/KKD 67108, PIN - 673655
82. UTHAMAN M.C. AGED 74 YEARS SREE PADAM P.O. PERUMUGHAM FEROKE
    KOZHIKODE PPO NO.KR/KKD 67225, PIN - 673631
83. VALSARAJ V. AGED 70 YEARS PAZHUKKADAKANDY HOUSE MARIYAMBATH PARAMBA
    P.O. KOLATHARA, CHERUVANNUR KOZHIKODE PPO NO.KR/KKD 67420, PIN -
    673655
84. VASU T. AGED 72 YEARS AGED 72 YEARS P.O. ARAKKINAR KOZHIKODE PPO
    NO.KR/KKD 68000, PIN - 673028
85. VELAYUDHAN A AGED 68 YEARS ARODIKUNNATH VEEDU P.O. OLAVATTOOR (VIA)
    KONDOTTY MALAPPURAM PPO NO.KR/KKD 68857, PIN - 673638
86. VENUGOPALAN K AGED 67 YEARS KONNAMKUZHI HOUSE P.O. MANNUR KOZHIKODE
    PPO NO.KR/KKD 68470, PIN - 673328
87. VEERANKOYA P. AGED 69 YEARS PALLIKONDI HOUSE KANDOTH PARAMBA P.O.
    KOLATHARA KOZHIKODE PPO NO. KR/KKD/68046, PIN - 673655
88. VINODKUMAR N. AGED 67 YEARS 'PAVITHRAM' NEAR STAR TILE WORKS
    MODANGALI PARAMBA P.O. KALLAI KOZHIKODE PPO NO. KR/KKD/68246, PIN -
    673003
89. VINODRAJAN V. AGED 73 YEARS 'VIJAYA NIVAS' EDENDAPADAM ROAD P.O.
    CHELEMBRA (VIA) UNIVERSITY MALAPPURAM PPO NOKR/KKD/67206, PIN -
    673634
90. VISWANATHAN ERADI P AGED 77 YEARS 'VARAVEENA' PACHAKKAL, GOLF LINK
    ROAD MALAPARAMBA KOZHIKODE PPO NO.KR/KKD/67037, PIN - 673009
91. AMINAKUTTY AGED 67 YEARS (W/O LATE P.P. MOIDEENKUTTY) THUNDIYIL
    HOUSE KALLUVETTU KUZHI RAHMAN BAZAR P.O. KOLATHARA KOZHIKODE PPO
    NO.KR/KKD/67440, PIN - 673655
92. JAYANTHI T. AGED 70 YEARS (W/O LATE T. BALAKRISHNAN} THARAYIL HOUSE
    P,O, ARAKKINAR KOZHIKODE PPO NO.KR/KKD/67746, PIN - 673028
93. MALA VASAGOM AGED 70 YEARS (W/O/LATE P.M. VASAGOM) 10-75/21 BALAMORE
      ROAD NEAR VELLALAR KALYANAMANDAPAM ERACHAKULAM KANYAKUMARI DIST
     TAMIL NADU PPO NO.KR/KKD/67240, PIN - 629901
 94. PRASANNA CHANDRAN AGED 70 YEARS (W/O LATE N, CHANDRAN
     NEEKAMPARAMBATH HOUSE P.O. KOLATHARA KOZHIKODE PPO NO.KR/KKD/66932,
     PIN - 673655
 95. REETHA P. AGED 70 YEARS (W/O LATE M. PRAKASAN) MANGATHARA HOUSE P.O.
     KOLATHARA CHERUVANNUR KOZHIKODE PPO NO.KR/KKD/68476, PIN - 673655
 96. RUKMANI DEVI AGED 70 YEARS (W/O/LATE T. SINGARAVELU) SANTHI NIVAS
     K.K.P., PUTTEKKAT P.O. FEROKE KOZHIKODE PPO NO.KR/KKD/68912, PIN -
     673631
 97. SAHEERA AGED 70 YEARS (W/O LATE C. BEERANKOYA} KALARIKANDI PARAMBA
     P.O. KOLATHARA CHERUVANNUR KOZHIKODE PPO NO.KR/KKD/67423, PIN -
     673655
 98. SAREENA M.K. AGED 70 YEARS (W/O LATE K.P. ABDUL RAHIMAN)
     KATTILPEEDIYAKKAL HOUSE MUTHIRAKALLAYI PARAMBU ULLISSERIKUNNU P.O.
     NALLALAM, AREEKKAD KOZHIKODE PPO NO.KR/KKD/67444, PIN - 673027
 99. VILASINI C. AGED 70 YEARS (W/O LATE P. PURUSHU) PUTHENCHERI HOUSE
     PANAYATYATHATT P.O. KOLATHARA KOZHIKODE PPO NO.KR/KKD/68261, PIN -
     673655

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. ASSISTANT PROVIDENT FUND COMMISSIONER, SUB REGIONAL OFFICE,
     EMPLOYEES PROVIDENT FUND ORGANISATION (EPFO), BHAVISHANIDHI BHAVAN,
     ERANJIPALAM , KOZHIKODE , PIN - 673006
  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 , PIN - 110066
  4. SAIL SCL KERALA LTD, REPRESENTED BY ITS MANAGING DIRECTOR, STEEL
     NAGAR, KOLATHARA P.O, KOZHIKODE , PIN - 673655
  5. REGIONAL PROVIDENT FUND COMMISSIONER, SUB REGIONAL OFFICE, EMPLOYEES
     PROVIDENT FUND ORGANISATION (EPFO), BHAVISHANIDHI BHAVAN, KALOOR,
     ERNAKULAM, PIN - 682017

     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 communication and issue a direction to
the second respondent to disburse monthly higher pension from february
2023 (due from 1st march), 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
22.03.2023 and upon hearing the arguments of M/S. P.N.MOHANAN, C.P.SABARI,
AMRUTHA SURESH & GILROY ROZARIO, Advocates for the petitioners, M/S.
ABRAHAM P.MEACHINKARA & NITA N.S, Advocates for R2,R3 & R5, 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.