Kerala High Court

S. Shanavas 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. 6502 OF 2023
PETITIONERS:

  1. S. SHANAVAS, AGED 72 YEARS, ANAND BHAVAN SANTHI NAGAR 30, KAVANAD
     P.O, KOLLAM P.P.O NO.110778, PIN - 691003
  2. P. THULASEEDHARAN AGED 70 YEARS THATTARAYYATHU HOUSE VADAKKUMTHALA
     MAKE, VADAKKUMTHALA P.O KARUNAGAPALLY, KOLLAM P.P.O.NO.
     KR/KLM/109491., PIN - 690544
  3. S. THANKAPPAN AGED 71 YEARS PRASANTH NIVAS 237 NALANDA NAGAR AYATHIL
     P.O, KOLLAM. P.P.O NO. 109455. , PIN - 691017
  4. K. AHAMED KOYA AGED 71 YEARS PARATTAYIL VADAKETHIL AZAD NAGAR 91
     ERAVIPURAM P.O., KOLLAM P.P.O NO. 109153, PIN - 691011
  5. S. HARIDAS AGED 72 YEARS PETTAYIL VEEDU, MADANTHA CODU, NELLIMUKKU
     P.O, KUZHIMATHIKADU , KOLLAM, P.P.O NO.113426., PIN - 691509
  6. K.P. JOSEPH AGED 69 YEARS PAWGREES BHAVAN KADAVOOR, PERINAD P.O,
     KOLLAM , P.P.O NO.109433, PIN - 691601
  7. K. REVAMMA AGED 70 YEARS ANEESH VILLA, VADAKKEVILA P.O PALLIMUKKU,
     KOLLAM . P.P.O NO. , PIN - 109458
  8. I.K. THOMAS AGED 72 YEARS IYNIKKAL HOUSE THAMARAKULAM, KOLLAM P.P.O
     NO. 108368, PIN - 691001
  9. G. UNNIKRISHNAN NAIR AGED 72 YEARS ANJALI, 27/TKM NAGAR TKMC P.O,
     KOLLAM P.P.O NO. 109129, PIN - 691005
 10. K.V. RAJU AGED 72 YEARS ANEESH VILLA, VADAKEVILA P.O PALLIMUKKU,
     KOLLAM- P.P.O NO.109125, PIN - 691010
 11. P.G VARGEES AGED 72 YEARS LAL NIVAS, KTN 45 VADAKKEVILA, PALLIMUKKU
     P.O KOLLAM P.P.O NO. 109484., PIN - 691910
 12. MERYKUTTY THOMAS AGED 74 YEARS LAL NIVAS, KTN 45 PALLIMUKKU P.O,
     KOLLAM P.P.O NO. 109477., PIN - 691910
 13. N. HUSSAIBA BEEVI AGED 69 YEARS PANAVELI, AYIRAMTHENGU KOOTTIKADA
     P.O, KOLLAM P.P.O NO. 109425., PIN - 691020
 14. V.R PRASAD AGED 72 YEARS KOSALAM, CHERUSSERIBHAGAM CHAVARA, KOLLAM .
     P.P.O NO. 109133, PIN - 691583
 15. M.K. DEVARAJAN AGED 70 YEARS MANGALATHU VEEDU VADAKKUMTHALA MEKU,
     VADAKKUMTHALA P.O KARUNAGAPALLY - P.P.O NO. 108369, PIN - 690536
 16. K. RAJAN. AGED 72 YEARS SATHYA BHAVAN DESIYA NAGAR 30, THEKKEVILA
     P.O, KOLLAM - P.P.O NO. 109135, PIN - 691016
 17. T. RAMACHANDRAN AGED 72 YEARS DARSANA, MULLUVILA SNG NAGAR 16 ,
     VADAKKEVILA P.O, KOLLAM - P.P.O NO. 109456 , PIN - 691010
 18. K. SHAMSUDEEN AGED 71 YEARS SHINE NIVAS KOOTTIKADA. MAYYANADU,
     KOLLAM - P.P.O NO. 107531, PIN - 691020
 19. OMANA. S AGED 72 YEARS KALLUVETTAMKUZHI VEEDU MATHURAPPA, THADICADU
     P.O, ANCHAL, KOLLAM- P.P.O NO. 110486, PIN - 691306
 20. P.N KUNJUPILLAI AGED 69 YEARS , KRISHNA BHAVAN, PANTRANDUMURI NAGAR
     102 THATTAMALA P.O, KOLLAM - P.P.O NO.109432, PIN - 691020
 21. V. PADMANABHAN AGED 71 YEARS RITHU, K.P NAGAR 75B KALLUMTHAZHAM P.O,
     KILIKOLLOOT, KOLLAM - P.P.O NO. 109197 , PIN - 691010
 22. V. JOHNKUTTY AGED 70 YEARS KRIPA, MYTHRI NAGAR 87 ASRAMAM, KOLLAM -
    P.P.O NO.109489 , PIN - 691002
23. K. AHAMMED BASHEER AGED 70 YEARS RIYAS MANZIL ADITHYA NAGAR 85,
    VADAKKEVILA P.O, KOLLAM - P.P.O NO.108623 , PIN - 691010
24. V. RAMANKUTTY AGED 72 YEARS KALLUVILA PUTHENVEEDU PAZHANGALAM,
    NALLILA P.O, KOLLAM - . P.P.O NO. 109438 , PIN - 691515
25. M. YOHANNAN PANICKER AGED 72 YEARS PLAVILA VEEDU HOSPITAL JN.,
    KUNDARA -. P.P.O NO. 109139, PIN - 691501
26. REETHAMMA JOHN AGED 71 YEARS VINOD BHAVAN JNRA 224 , PATTATHANAM,
    KOLLAM - P.P.O NO. 109436, PIN - 691001
27. K. SREEKANTAN NAIR AGED 72 YEARS SREELEKSHMI, TERA 111
    THIRUMULLAVARAM P.O, KOLLAM P.P.O NO. 109187, PIN - 690112
28. JOHN ALEXANDER AGED 67 YEARS HUMBLE COTTAGE VADAKKEVILA P.O, KOLLAM
    - P.P.O NO. 109478, PIN - 691010
29. N. KRISHNANKUTTY AGED 68 YEARS KRISHNAN, BODHI NAGAR 80 THATTAMALA
    P.O, KOLLAM P.P.O NO. 109479, PIN - 691020
30. ABDUL RASHEED AGED 72 YEARS PUNNOTTUVILA EZHIPPURAM, PARIPPALLY P.O,
    KOLLAM - , P.P.O NO. 109497, PIN - 691574
31. V. RAMESAN AGED 72 YEARS USHUS, INCHAKKADU KAKKAKUNNU P.O, SOORANAD,
    KOLLAM- P.P.O NO. 109480, PIN - 690010
32. BABU RAJENDRA PRASAD AGED 70 YEARS PUTHENVEEDU, NO. 184 NEAR MASONIC
    HALL MUNDAKKAL WEST, KOLLAM - P.P.O NO. 108588 , PIN - 691010
33. P. SURENDRABABU AGED 73 YEARS , CHAITHANYA KADAPPAKKADA P.O, KOLLAM
    - P.P.O NO. 109188 , PIN - 691008
34. N. SARASAN AGED 70 YEARS ATHIRA AKKARAVILA NAGAR 147 VADAKKEVILA
    P.O, KOLLAM - P.P.O NO. 109198, PIN - 691010
35. K. NATARAJAPILLAI AGED 72 YEARS RAJ BHAVAN VADAKKUKARA (WEST),
    UMAYANALLOOR P.O KOLLAM P.P.O.NO. KR/KLM/109150, PIN - 691589
36. BABURAJAN. N AGED 72 YEARS BABURAJAN. N AGED 72 YEARS, CHEMPAKAM,
    PLAVILAMELATHIL HOUSE THAZHUTHALA, KOTTIYAM - P.P.O NO. 108317, PIN
    - 691571
37. RAMACHANDRAN PILLAI AGED 69 YEARS VASUDEVA MANDIRAM, VENDER MUKKU
    VADAKKEVILA P.O, KOLLAM - . P.P.O NO. 107514, PIN - 691010
38. V. MADHAVAN AGED 70 YEARS MINI BHAVAN, POOVATTOOR EAST KALAYAPURAM
    P.O, KOTTARAKKARA, KOLLAM - , P.P.O NO. 109155, PIN - 691506
39. IBRAHIMKUTTY. AGED 71 YEARS JABIR MANZIL, CHAVARA P.O, PANMANA,
    KOLLAM- P.P.O NO. 109482, PIN - 691583
40. S. SANKARADASAN AGED 72 YEARS ASWATHY, VADAKKEVILA P.O MANACADU,
    PALLIMUKKU, KOLLAM - P.P.O NO. 107838, PIN - 691010
41. KURUVILA PAUL AGED 68 YEARS PADINJARA KUDIYIL THEJAS NAGAR 57,
    THATTAMALA P.O KOLLAM - P.P.O NO.109481, PIN - 691020
42. PANKAJAKSHAN. R AGED 69 YEARS SAJI VIHAR, VADAKKEVILA P.O KOLLAM -
    P.P.O NO. 108318, PIN - 691910
43. V. GOPI AGED 71 YEARS KAVILPUTHENVILA PUTHANTHURA P.O NEENDAKARA,
    KOLLAM - P.P.O NO. KR/KLM/113427, PIN - 691582
44. G. VASAVAN AGED 72 YEARS VIGIL NIVAS, KANATHARKUNNA KARALIMUKKU P.O
    WEST KALLADA, KOLLAM, P.P.O NO. 113425, PIN - 691500
45. SMT. B. RETNAKUMARI AMMA AGED 72 YEARS KOTTOOR VEEDU PANTHRANDUMURI
    THATTAMALA P.O, KOLLAM - P.P.O NO. 109488, PIN - 691020
46. K. SREEKANTAN NAIR AGED 70 YEARS SREELEKSHMI, TERA 111
     THIRUMULLAVARAM P.O, KOLLAM P.P.O NO. 109187 , PIN - 691012
47. N. VIJAYAN AGED 71 YEARS PALLISSERIL HOUSE THATTAMALA P.O, KOLLAM-
    P.P.O NO. 106116, PIN - 691020
48. JOHN GIBSON, AGED 70 YEARS THANNIVILAPUTHENVEEDU, KARUVELIL P.O.,
    EZHUKODE, KOLLAM , P.P.O.NO.109149, PIN - 691505
49. P.MICHAEL, AGED 72 YEARS ZION VILLA, THEKKU BHAGAM, CHAVARA SOUTH
    P.O, KOLLAM , P.P.O.NO. 109492, PIN - 691584
50. M. MEHRUNISSA AGED 69 YEARS MEHAR MP3, 216/553, MUKKULA, MAYYANAD
    P.O, KOLLAM - P.P.O NO. 108367 , PIN - 691303
51. K.GOPALAKRISHNAN NAIR, AGED 71 YEARS LEKSHMI BHAVAN, KOIVILA P.O,
    KOLLAM -, P.P.O.NO.109430, PIN - 691590
52. P.JYOTHIRMAYI, AGED 69 YEARS , JYOTHIS, IKYA NAGAR - 131,
    VADAKKEVILA, PALLIMUKKU, KOLLAM P.P.O.NO.109134., PIN - 691010
53. A.VISWANATHAN, AGED 71 YEARS , PRASANTHI, MSRA 10, EAST OF VETINARY
    HOSPITAL, OLAYIL, KOLLAM P.P.O.NO.109490 , PIN - 691009
54. R.FATHIMUTHU, AGED 72 YEARS KALARI PADINJATTATHIL, AYATHIL,
    GANDHINAGAR - 37, KOLLAM P.P.O.NO.106951 , PIN - 691017
55. VISWANATHAN.K, AGED 70 YEARS VRINDAVANAM HOUSE, S.N.PURAM,
    PAVITHRESWARAM P.O, KOLLAM - , P.P.O.NO.109989 , PIN - 691524
56. SMT. O. ALEYAMMA AGED 71 YEARS S.S BHAVAN, THEKKEPUNNAVILA
    ADHICHANALLOOR P.O, KOLLAM - P.P.O NO. 109485 , PIN - 691573
57. C.R VISWANATHAN ACHARY AGED 70 YEARS VRINDAVAN, KAREEPARA
    KUZHIMATHICADU P.O, KOLLAM - P.P.O NO. 109151 , PIN - 691509
58. P.G.SALIM KUMAR, AGED 68 YEARS GOPI MANDIRAM, MUNDAKAL EAST, KOLLAM
    - , P.P.O.NO.107866, PIN - 691001
59. K.R.GEETHA, AGED 68 YEARS VIGIL, NEAR HIGH SCHOOL, MAYYANAD P.O.,
    KOLLAM -, P.P.O.NO.107864, PIN - 691303
60. N.V.JAYAPRASAD, AGED 67 YEARS , KAUSTHUBHAM, PAMPURAM,
    KALLUVATHUKKAL P.O, KOLLAM , P.P.O.107886, PIN - 691578
61. ABDUL SALAM.H, AGED 66 YEARS SOUMI MANZIL, KANNANALLOOR P.O., KOLLAM
    - , P.P.O.NO.106499, PIN - 691576
62. P.BABU PILLAI, AGED 72 YEARS THEKKEDATHU VEEDU, MADAPPALLY,
    MUKUNDAPURAM.P.O., CHAVARA, KOLLAM - , P.P.O.NO.110877 , PIN -
    691585
63. G.PADMAKUMAR, AGED 70 YEARS GANGA NIVAS, CHEMMAKKAD P.O., PERINAD,
    KOLLAM - , P.P.O.NO.110876, PIN - 691601
64. LEKSHMANAN ACHARY.V, AGED 72 YEARS DIVYALAYAM, OYUR P.O.,KOLLAM - ,
    P.P.O.NO.109930, PIN - 691510
65. K.SUNDARESAN, AGED 71 YEARS ASWATHIM KOTTARAKKARA, KERALAPURAM,
    CHANDANATHOPPE, KOLLAM - , P.P.O.NO.110041 , PIN - 691014
66. P.SAMUEL, AGED 70 YEARS KALKULANGARAVEEDU, PERAYAM, MULAVANA P.O.,
    KOLLAM - , P.P.O.NO.114571 , PIN - 691503
67. SURESH BABU.G, AGED 70 YEARS SREEVILASAM, PATTANTHURUTHU P.O.,
    PERINAD (VIA), KOLLAM - , P.P.O.NO.110777, PIN - 691601
68. WILSON.A, AGED 70 YEARS ST.MARYS BHAVAN, MULAVANA P.O., KANJIRACODE,
    KUNDARA P.O., KOLLAM - , P.P.O.NO.110854, PIN - 691501
69. N.DAYANANDAN, AGED 71 YEARS PALAKOTTU VADAKKATHIL, VENGARA,
    THODIYOOR NORTH P.O., KARUNAGAPPALLY - , P.P.O.NO.109692. , PIN -
    690523
70. M.MURALEEDHARAN PILLAI, AGED 71 YEARS MURALEESADANAM, THEVALAPPURAM
     P.O, PUTHOOR, KOTTARAKKARA, KOLLAM - , P.P.O.NO.109649. , PIN -
    691509
71. R.MURALEEDHARAN PILLAI, AGED 71 YEARS THEKKEVILAKADAYIL HOUSE,
    KAREEPRA, KUZHIMATHCADU, KOLLAM - , P.P.O.NO.110850, PIN - 691509
72. R.KAMALADHARAN, AGED 70 YEARS SUDHABHAVAN, VELAMKONAM, PERUMPUZHA
    P.O., KOLLAM - , P.P.O.NO.114577 , PIN - 691504
73. V.ASOK KUMAR, AGED 69 YEARS ANJALI, CHITTOOR, PONMANA P.O, CHAVARA,
    KOLLAM - , P.P.O.NO.109991 , PIN - 691583
74. A.RADHAKRISHNAN, AGED 70 YEARS KULANGARATHARA VEEDU, CHATHINAMKULAM,
    CHANDANATHOPE P.O, KOLLAM , P.P.O.NO.109800. , PIN - 691014
75. P.GOPALAKRISHNA PILLAI, AGED 70 YEARS ARATHILVEEDUY, MYLACKADU P.O,
    KOLLAM , P.P.O.NO.109691 , PIN - 691571
76. K.THANKAPPAN, AGED 69 YEARS DIVYALAYAM, THATTAMALA P.O, KOLLAM - ,
    P.P.O.NO.109496, PIN - 691020
77. A.SHAMSUDEENKUNJU, AGED 72 YEARS NUJIYATH MANZIL, THAZHAM C.P.ROAD,
    CHATHANOOR P.O, KOLLAM - , P.P.O.NO.110484 , PIN - 691572
78. K.MURALEEDHARAN UNNITHAN, AGED 69 YEARS MYTHRI BHAVANAM, VILAKUDY
    P.O, KUNNIKKODE, KOLLAM - , P.P.O.NO.1107 , PIN - 691508
79. A.SHAMSUDEENKUTTY, AGED 71 YEARS SHINE DALE, KOOTTIKKADA P.O,
    THATTAMALA, KOLLAM P.P.O.NO.110498 , PIN - 691020
80. SALIM.S AGED 69 YEARS BHARKATH, KERALAPURAM, VELLIMON P.O, KOLLAM
    P.P.O.NO110878 , PIN - 691501
81. A.S.HARIKUMAR, AGED 69 YEARS AKAMUTTATHU HOUSE, HARIGEETHAM,
    PERISSERY P.O, CHANGANNUR - , ALAPPUZHA P.P.O.NO.109854, PIN -
    689126
82. N.CHANDRA SEKHARA PILLAI, AGED 70 YEARS ANJALI, NEAR RAILWAY
    STATION, EZHUKONE P.O, KOLLAM - , P.P.O.NO.109494 , PIN - 691505
83. ALPHONSE.M.KURISHINGAL, AGED 68 YEARS KULAPURAYIDOM, ERAVIPURAM,
    KOLLAM - , P.P.O.NO.109185 , PIN - 691011
84. O.DEVAYANI, AGED 70 YEARS MUTTAMUTTAM, MUNDAKKAL EAST, KOLLAM - ,
    P.P.O.NO.108618 , PIN - 691001
85. P.THANKACHAN, AGED 71 YEARS PUNUKANNOOR, PERUMPAZHA P.O, KUNDARA,
    KOLLAM - , P.P.O.NO.108590 , PIN - 691504
86. G.SIVASANKARAN KUTTY AGED 68 YEARS PALACKAL, PATTATHANAM P.O, KOLLAM
    - , P.P.O.NO.109421, PIN - 691012
87. BALAKRISHNAN, AGED 73 YEARS PRAKASH BHAVAN, PALLICKAL P.O,
    KOTTARAKKARA, KOLLAM - P.P.O.NO.108583 , PIN - 691506
88. SATHEESAN.S, AGED 70 YEARS MANNAN THARAYIL, PUTHENTHURA P.O,
    NEENDAKARA, KOLLAM - , P.P.O.NO.110037 , PIN - 691588
89. C.RAMACHANDRAN PILLAI, AGED 70 YEARS PADINJARAKATTIL HOUSE,
    KALAKKODE P.O, BOOTHAKKULAM, KOLLAM - P.P.O.108637 , PIN - 691302
90. N.VELU, AGED 68 YEARS ROLASSERIL PUTHENVEEDU, VENGA P.O,
    SASTHAMKOTTA, KOLLAM - , P.P.O.107057, PIN - 690521
91. JALALUDHEEN KUNJU, AGED 71 YEARS ALAPPURATHU, ADINADU SOUTH,
    KATTILKADAVU P.O, KARUNAGAPPALLY, KOLLAM P.P.O.NO.109459. , PIN -
    690518
92. V.R.INDIRAMANI AGED 72 YEARS INDUBHAVAN, SREE SARAVANA NAGAR HOUSE
    NO.149, ERAVIPURAM, KOLLAM , P.P.O.NO.109983, PIN - 691011
93. A.ABDUL KHADAR, AGED 70 YEARS THEKKECHARUVILA, SKV JUNCTION,
    PALLIMON P.O, KOLLAM , P.P.O.NO.109426, PIN - 691570
  94. K.SANKARA PRASAD, AGED 72 YEARS MAMPALLY 64, LEKSHMI NAGAR,
     THEKKEVILA, KOLLAM , P.P.O.NO.109191, PIN - 691016
 95. S.SIVASANKARA PILLAI, AGED 72 YEARS VISHNU NIVAS, KANNIMEL,
     MARATHADI P.O, KOLLAM . P.P.O.NO.109162 , PIN - 691003
 96. P.K.THULASEEDHARAN PILLAI, AGED 70 YEARS LOVELY DALE, HOUSE NO.104,
     AISWARYA NAGAR, MANGAD P.O, KOLLAM , P.P.O.NO.108700, PIN - 691015
 97. J.CLETUS, AGED 68 YEARS ANNI COTTAGE, ERAVIPURAM P.O, KOLLAM ,
     P.P.O.NO.109152, PIN - 691011
 98. ANANDA KRISHNAN ACHARY, AGED 69 YEARS PRIJI SADANAM, NEDUMANPANA
     P.O, KOLLAM , P.P.O.NO.109138, PIN - 691580
 99. R.DEVADASAN ACHARY, AGED 70 YEARS THUZHANIKKATTU VEEDU, MULLUVILA,
     VADAKKEVILA P.O, KOLLAM , P.P.O.NO.108593 , PIN - 691010
100. MARIAMMA GEORGE, AGED 70 YEARS KOYIKKAL HOUSE, MUNDAKKAL MIDDLE,
     KOLLAM , P.P.O.NO.11039 , PIN - 691001
101. N.RAVEENDRAN, AGED 70 YEARS R.R.BHAVAN, SNG NAGAR, MULLUVILA,
     VADAKKEVILA P.O, KOLLAM . P.P.O.NO.109434, PIN - 691010
102. R.VIJAYAN, AGED 71 YEARS KAIRALI, MULLUVILA, VADAKKEVILA P.O, KOLLAM
     . P.P.O.NO.109933 , PIN - 691010

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), PONNAMMA CHAMBERS, KOLLAM , PIN
     - 691001
  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. UNITED ELECTRICAL INDUSTRIES, REPRESENTED BY THE MANAGING DIRECTOR
     PALLIMUKKU, KOLLAM , PIN - 691010
  5. UNITED ELECTRICAL INDUSTRIES, REPRESENTED BY THE MANAGING DIRECTOR
     PALLIMUKKU, KOLLAM , PIN - 691010
  6. QUILON CO-OPERATIVE SPINNING MILLS LTD., REPRESENTED BY MANAGING
     DIRECTOR, KARACODE P.O., CHATHANNUR, KOLLAM - , PIN - 691579
  7. THE KERALA ELECTRICAL & ALLIED ENGINEERING COMPANY LTD, REPRESENTED
     BY MANAGING DIRECTOR,   KUNDARA, KOLLAM, PIN - 691501

     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 as on 1st march) 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.
PIRAPPANCODE V.S.SUDHEER V.S & AKASH S., Advocates for R2 & R3,
M/S.   P.BENNY THOMAS, D.PREM KAMATH, TOM THOMAS , ABEL TOM BENNY,
 K.S.MUHAMMED SHEFIN, BHARATH NAIR, PRAISY THOMAS, Advocates for R7, 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.