Kerala High Court
Rajasekar P vs Union Of India on 13 April, 2023
WP(C) No.8171/2023 1/5
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM
PRESENT
THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE RAJA VIJAYARAGHAVAN V
Thursday, the 13th day of April 2023 / 23rd Chaithra, 1945
WP(C) NO. 8171 OF 2023
PETITIONERS:
1. RAJASEKAR P, AGED 58 YEARS, S/O. PUNDAREEKASHAN P.P.O. NO.
KR/KCH/00127616, NAMASIVAYA, ROSE GARDENS, A.K.G ROAD, EDAPPALLY
TOLL, EDAPPALLY, KOCHI 682024
2. N. AJAYAKUMAR, AGED 59 YEARS, S/O. K. NANU, P.P.O. NO.
KR/KCH/00123814, CHAITHANYA, ROSE GARDENS, A.K.G. ROAD, EDAPPALLY
TOLL, EDAPPALLY P.O, KOCHI, PIN - 682024
3. R.T. VENUGOPAL,AGED 59 YEARS, S/O.THANKAPPAN NAIR, P.P.O. NO.
KR/KCH/00123562, VAISHNAVAM, THRIVENI NAGAR, THIRUVANKULAM P.O,
ERNAKULAM DISTRICT, PIN - 682305
4. GEORGE BABU K.C, AGED 58 YEARS, S/O. K.V. CHANDY, P.P.O. NO.,
KR/KCH/00128345, KARINGATT HOUSE, KARTHEDOM, MALIPPURAM P.O, KOCHI,
PIN - 682511
5. K.N. MOHANAN NAIR, AGED 61 YEARS, S/O. K.ARAYANAN NAIR, P.P.O.
NO. KR/TVM/00093502, KADAKKETHU HOUSE, AAYROOR SOUTH P.O, RANNY,
PATHANAMTHITTA, PIN - 689611
6. P. SUBRAMANIAN, AGED 61 YEARS, S/O. K.V. PARAMESWARAN, P.P.O. NO.
KR/KCH/00122076,THOTTOOR MADOM, 10/C, NETTAYIKODATH ROAD,
PALARIVATTOM P.O, KOCHI, PIN - 682025
7. SANTHOSH P.AUGUSTINE, AGED 62
YEARS,S/O.AUGUSTINE P.S,P.P.O.NO.KR/KCH/00121849, PALAKUNNEL HOUSE,
PANAYIKKULAM, ALANGAD, ERNAKULAM DISTRICT, PIN - 683511
8. C.D. JOSEPH, AGED 60 YEARS, S/O. DEVASSYKUTTY, P.P.O. NO.
KR/KCH/00121095, CHAKKALAKAL HOUSE, OLANADU, VARAPPUZHA, KOCHI, PIN
- 683517
9. SUBRAMANIAN T.K, AGED 60 YEARS, S/O. KOCHUKRISHNAN, P.P.O. NO.
KR/KCH/00121948,THEPARAMBIL HOUSE, MANAKKALAPPADY, KONATHUKUNNU P.O,
THRISSUR, PIN - 680123
10. MURALEEDHARAN K.V, AGED 60 YEARS, S/O. T.V.S. WARRIER, P.P.O. NO.
KR/KCH/00121099,PALLATHU VARIAM, NEDUMBAL PALLAM, THOTTIPPAL P.O,
TRISSUR, PIN - 680310
11. M.A. ANTONY, AGED 60 YEARS, S/O. M.C. ALPHONSE, P.P.O. NO.
KR/KCH/00121096, MULAKKAYATH HOUSE, PANANGAD P.O, KOCHI, PIN -
682506
12. SANTHOSH V. ARAVIND, AGED 60 YEARS, S/O. P.D.ARAVINDAKSHAN
NAIR,P.P.O. NO.KR/KCH/00121094, AT ANJALY, VIDAKUZHA, N A D POST,
ERNAKULAM, PIN - 683563
13. GOJO KURIAN .P, AGED 60 YEARS, S/O. P.C. KURIAN, P.P.O. NO.
KR/KCH/00121946, PUTHUSSERY HOUSE, H.NO.2/275B, UDAYAMPEROOR P.O,
ERNAKULAM, PIN - 682307
14. ASSAINAR K.B, AGED 60 YEARS, S/O. BEERAN PAREED KUTTY, P.P.O. NO.
KR/KCH/00121947, KOOTTUNGAL HOUSE, ELOOR EAST, UDYOGAMANDAL P.O,
ERNAKULAM, PIN - 683501
15. V.S. SAJAN, AGED 60 YEARS, S/O. SIVARAMA PILLAI, P.P.O. NO.
WP(C) No.8171/2023 2/5
KR/KCH/00121856, MIDHILA, EAST KADUNGALLOOR, U.C.COLLEGE P.O, ALUVA,
PIN - 683102
16. R. SURESH BABU, AGED 60 YEARS, S/O. RENGAMANI, P.P.O. NO.
KR/KCH/00121950, B-24, FACT TOWNSHIP, UDYOGAMANDAL P.O, KOCHI, PIN -
683501
17. PRAKASH K.G,AGED 60 YEARS, S/O. GOPINATHAN NAIR K.A, P.P.O. NO.
KR/KCH/00122022, KOMBATHIL PUTHUVELIL HOUSE, ELOOR EAST,
UDYOGAMANDAL P.O,, PIN - 683501
18. C.P. BABU, AGED 60 YEARS, S/O. C.A. POULOSE, P.P.O. NO.
KR/KCH/000122567, CHUKKIRY HOUSE, PATTERIPURAM, ALUVA, PIN - 683101
19. SEBI ANTONY, AGED 59 YEARS, S/O. E.D. ANTONY, P.P.O. NO.
KR/KCH/00123807, SRAMBICKAL HOUSE, SMP COLONY ROAD, EROOR P.O,
TRIPUNITHRUA, PIN - 682306
20. SADASIVAN V.P, AGED 59 YEARS, S/O. V.K. PRABHAKARAN, P.P.O. NO.
KR/KCH/00123761 ANJALY, VIDAKUZHA, N.A.D. POST, ALUVA, PIN - 683563
21. RAMESH BABU K, AGED 59 YEARS, S/O. LAVAT CHARUNNI, P.P.O. NO.
KR/KCH/00124093, SOUPARNIKA, MYTHRI NAGAR, KARIPAI SUNDARAGIRI,
NORTH KALAMASSERY, ERNAKULAM, PIN - 683104
22. SHAJI K. CHERIAN, AGED 59 YEARS, S/O. M.K. CHERIAN, P.P.O. NO.
KR/KCH/00124681, QUARTER NO.311/06, FACT-CD TOWNSHIP, AMBALAMEDU
P.O, KOCHI, PIN - 682303
23. LINCY JOSEPH, AGED 59 YEARS, W/O. SAJAN THOMAS, P.P.O. NO.
KR/KCH/00123756, MNRA-35, KOLLAMURI ROAD, EDAPPALLY TOLL, EDAPPALLY
P.O, KOCHI, PIN - 682024
24. C.C. SATHYAN, AGED 58 YEARS, S/O. C.R. CHANDRASEKHARA PANICKER,
P.P.O. NO. KR/KCH/00129520, THAPASYA HOUSE, KADUNGAMANGALAM,
THIRUVANKULAM P.O, KOCHI, PIN - 682305
RESPONDENTS:
1. UNION OF INDIA, MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT, DEPARTMENT OF
EMPLOYMENT, NEWDELHI-11001.REPRESENTED BY THE SECRETARY
2. THE EMPLOYEES PROVIDENT FUND ORGANISATION, REPRESENTED BY THE CHIEF
PROVIDENT COMMISSIONER, BHAVISHYA NIDHI BHAVAN, 14,BHIKAJI CAMA
PALACE, NEW DELHI - 110066
3. REGIONAL PROVIDENT FUND COMMISSIONER, THE EMPLOYEES PROVIDENT FUND
ORGANISATION KALOOR, ERNAKULAM -682017
4. THE FERTILISERS AND CHEMICALS TRAVANCORE , LIMITED (FACT) THE
FERTILISERS AND CHEMICALS TRAVANCORE LIMITED (FACT), UDYOGAMANDAL,
ERNAKULAM 683 501, REPRESENTED BY ITS CHAIRMAN AND MANAGING
DIRECTOR, PIN - 683501
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 the operation of Exhibit P1 notification to the extent to
which same is prejudicial to the interests of the petitioners and direct
the respondents 2 and 3 to permit petitioners to enjoy all pensionary
benefits, computed on the basis of their actual salary, under the
provisions of the employees' pension scheme,1995, subject to the outcome
of the above Writ Petition.
WP(C) No.8171/2023 3/5
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
13.03.2023 and upon hearing the arguments of M/S. R.SANJITH & C.S.SINDHU
KRISHNAH, Advocates for the petitioners, SRI.S.PRASANTH, Advocate for R2
& R3 and of M/S. GOPIKRISHNAN NAMBIAR M, K.JOHN MATHAI, JOSON MANAVALAN,
KURYAN THOMAS, PAULOSE C. ABRAHAM & RAJA KANNAN, Advocates for R4, the
court passed the following:
WP(C) No.8171/2023 4/5
RAJA VIJAYARAGHAVAN V, J.
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W.P.(C) Nos. 7593, 8171 & 11075 of 2023
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Dated this the 13th day of April, 2023
ORDER
When these matters are taken up for consideration, Sri. Sajeev
Kumar K Gopal, the learned Standing Counsel appearing for the EPF,
submitted that there is no hindrance on the petitioners in exercising the
higher option in terms of the judgment of the Honourable Supreme Court in
EPF Organisation and Another v. Sunil Kumar B and Others (2022
SCC Online SC 1521).
The submission is recorded.
Sd/-
RAJA VIJAYARAGHAVAN V,
JUDGE
NS
WP(C) No.8171/2023 5/5
APPENDIX OF WP(C) 8171/2023
Exhibit P1 TRUE COPY OF THE CIRCULAR BEARING NO
PENSION/2022/56259/16541 DATED 20/02/2023 ISSUED BY THE
2ND RESPONDENT
