Regi George Mathews vs Union Of India
2023 Latest Caselaw 4835 Ker

WP(C) No.11075/2023                         1/7

                          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. 11075 OF 2023
   PETITIONERS:

      1.

REGI GEORGE MATHEWS, AGED 60 YEARS, S/O. P.M. MATHAI, P.P.O. NO.

KR/KCH/00122186, KANIRAPALLILHOUSE, PONNURUNNI, VYTTILA P.O., KOCHI, PIN - 682019

2. K.K. SREEKUMAR, AGED 60 YEARS, /O. KOCHU CHERUKKAN, P.P.O. NO. KR/KCH/00124113, KANAPPILLY THADATHIL HOUSE, MANJUMMAL, UDYOGAMANDAL P .O, PIN - 683501

3. JOSE PETER, AGED 60 YEARS, S/O. P.P. PETER, P.P.O. NO. KR/KCH/00123754, PANIKULANGARA HOUSE, EAST KADUNGALLOOR, U.C.COLLEGE P.O, ALUVA,, PIN - 683102

4. P.P. MURALI, AGED 60 YEARS, S/O. PARAMESWARAN NAIR, P.P.O. NO. KR/KCH/00123896, PARICKAPPILLY HOUSE, MANJUMMEL-P.O., UDYOGAMANDAL, KOCHI, PIN - 683501

5. MANUVAL DICROSE, AGED 60 YEARS, S/O. GREGORY D`CRUZ, P.P.O. NO. KR/KCH/00112201, MANJADIPARAMBIL HOUSE, MANJUMMAL P.O, ERNAKULAM, PIN - 683501

6. CHANDRASEKHARAN K.R, AGED 60 YEARS, S/O. ACHUTHA MENON N.K., P.P.O. NO. KR/KCH/00124288, SAANDRANANDAM, ROSE VILLAGE, PVWRA 145, PONEKKARA, AIMS P.O, EDAPPALLY, ERNAKULAM DISTRICT, PIN - 682041

7. SREEKUMAR P.P, AGED 60 YEARS, S/O. PADMANABHA PILLAI P.K., P.P.O. NO. KR/KCH/00123588, SOWPARNIKA KANNANKERIYIL HOUSE, CHITTETHUKARA,CAEZ P.O., KAKKANADU, KOCHI, PIN - 682307

8. MANOHARAKUMAR B, AGED 60 YEARS, S/O. BHASKARAN NAIR, P.P.O. NO. KR/KCH/00123895, KOONIKKATTU PARAMBIL HOUSE, CHITHRAPPUZHA, IRIMPANAM P.O, KOCHI, PIN - 682309

9. SHEJI VARGHESE, AGED 60 YEARS, S/O. C.V. VARGHESE, P.P.O. NO. KR/KCH/00123870, KOCHATTE HOUSE, JOHN PAUL ROAD, MUPPATHADOM P.O, ALUVA, PIN - 683110

10. M.P. MOHANAN, AGED 59 YEARS, S/O. K.K. PAPPU, P.P.O. NO. KR/KCH/00124261, MOOTHEDATHKUDIYIL HOUSE, VADAVUDOE P.O, PUTHENCRUZ, ERNAKULAM, PIN - 682308

11. SANTOSH BABU T.A, AGED 59 YEARS, S/O. T.K. ACHUTHAN, P.P.O. NO. KR/KCH/00123755,THADATHIPARAMBIL HOUSE, MANJUMMEL-P.O, UDYOGAMANDAL, KOCHI, PIN - 683501

12. K. VENUGOPAL, AGED 59 YEARS, S/O. AYYAPPAN NAIR, P.P.O. NO. KR/KCH/00123605, KOYYITTU VEEDU, PONNARAM, MUPPATHADAM P.O, ERNAKULAM DISTRICT, PIN - 683110

13. JOPPAN M.T, AGED 59 YEARS, S/O. THOMAS M.K., P.P.O. NO. KR/KCH/123585, MULLOOR HOUSE, KOONAMMAVU P.O, ERNAKULAM DISTRICT, PIN - 683518

14. SASI T.P, AGED 59 YEARS, S/O. PAPPU, P.P.O. NO. KR/KCH/00123589, THOTTAPPILLIL HOUSE, CHENGARA (KARA), PATTIMATTOM P.O, ERNAKULAM, PIN - 683562

15. JOY B.P, AGED 59 YEARS, S/O. POULOSE B.V, P.P.O. NO.

WP(C) No.11075/2023 2/7

KR/KCH/00123315, BHARANIKULANGARA, MALLUSSERY, VATTAPPARAMBU P.O, ANGAMALY, PIN - 683579

16. S. NAINAR, AGED 59 YEARS, S/O. S. SHANMUGAM, P.P.O. NO. KR/KCH/00124262, B1 FLAT 14, FACT TOWNSHIP, UDYOGAMANDAL P.O., KOCHI, PIN - 683501

17. RAVEENDRAN P.A, AGED 59 YEARS, S/O. P.N. AYYAPPAN, P.P.O. NO. KR/KCH/00126677, AMBADI HOUSE, MUPPATHADOM P.O., ALUVA, PIN - 683110

18. M.C. ABRAHAM, AGED 59 YEARS, S/O. M.A. CHACKO, P.P.O. NO. KR/KCH/00123813,MANGATTU HOUSE, VAIKOM P.O., KOTTAYAM DISTRICT, PIN

- 686141

19. SIVAPRASAD R, AGED 59 YEARS, S/O. G. RAMACHANDRAN PILLAI, P.P.O. NO. KR/KCH/00123787, SANTHALAYAM, KUZHIMATTOM P.O, KOTTAYAM, PIN - 686533

20. MANOJ BABU T, AGED 51 YEARS, S/O. V.A. THANKAN, P.P.O. NO. KR/KCH/00124259,55 KTRA, KANNANKULANGARA, TRIPUNITHURA P.O, ERNAKULAM, PIN - 682301

21. TOMICHAN K.E, AGED 59 YEARS, S/O. K.V. EMMANUEL, P.P.O. NO. KR/KCH/00125317,STEVE COTTAGE, ARA-61, JANATHA COLONY ROAD, VADUTHALA P.O, KOCHI, PIN - 682012

22. GOPI M.V, AGED 59 YEARS, S/O. VELAYUDHAN M.P, P.P.O. NO. KR/KCH00123377,MUDILIKKULAM HOUSE, NEAR VILLAGE OFFICE, ANNALLUR P.O, THRISSUR, PIN - 680781

23. M.O. GEORGE, AGED 59 YEARS, S/O. M.P. OUSEPH, P.P.O. NO. KR/KCH/00124010, MOOLAN HOUSE, NEELEESWARAM P.O., KALADY(VIA), ERNAKULAM DISTRICT, PIN - 683574

24. E. SIRAJUDEEN, AGED 59 YEARS, S/O. M. EBRAHIM KUTTY, P.P.O. NO. KR/KCH/00123760, KALATHIL HOUSE, KALACHOOR ROAD, MANJUMMEL P.O, UDYOGAMANDAL, KOCHI, PIN - 683501

25. BABU JOSEPH AGED 59 YEARS S/O. JOSEPH P.T, P.P.O. NO. KR/KCH/00124116,PERUMANNIL HOUSE, MUTHIRAPADOM, THAIKKATTUKARA P.O, ALUVA, PIN - 683106

26. SUNILKUMAR K AGED 59 YEARS S/O. SANKARAN NAMBIAR, P.P.O. NO. KR/KCH/00124175,FLAT NO.2H, LORD KRISHNA, NEAR ULIYANNOOR BRIDGE, ALUVA P.O,, PIN - 683101

27. LAWRENCE P.X, AGED 69 YEARS, S/O. P.A. XAVIER, P.P.O. NO. KR/KCH/00124260, PADATHUPARAMBIL HOUSE, KEM VILLA NO.4, VEMPILLY, ERNAKULAM, PIN - 683564

28. GIRISH A, AGED 59 YEARS, S/O. V. ANANTHA PADMANABHA SARMA, P.P.O. NO. KR/KCH/00123582, `ASWATHY', 50/1456-A, VRRA-34, VIVEKANANDA ROAD, AIMS PO, KUNNUMPURAM, N.EDAPPALLY, ERNAKULAM-, PIN - 682041

29. P. VENUGOPALAN NAIR, AGED 59 YEARS, S/O. PARAMESWARAN PILLAI, P.P.O. NO.KR/KCH/00123757, SREEVILASAM, MALIPRAM ROAD, EDAPPALLY TOLL GATE, EDAPPALLY P.O, KOCHI , PIN - 682024

30. THOMAS P. THOMAS, AGED 59 YEARS, S/O. P.T. THOMAS, P.P.O. NO. KR/KCH/00124166, PARACKAL HOUSE, U.C. COLLEGE P.O., ALUVA, PIN - 683102

31. THOMAS K. ABRAHAM, AGED 59 YEARS, S/O. P.C. ABRAHAM, P.P.O. NO. KR/KCH/00124268, KEEKARIKKATT, VADACODE P.O, MUNDANPALAM, ERNAKULAM, PIN - 682021

32. LESLIE VARGHESE, AGED 59 YEARS, S/O. K.V. VARGHESE, P.P.O.

WP(C) No.11075/2023 3/7

NO.KR/KCH/00124092, KOCHIKAT HOUSE, CHIRAKKAKAM, VARAPPUZHA, ERNAKULAM, PIN - 683517

33. M.T. DAYANANDAN, AGED 59 YEARS, S/O. M. THANKAPPAN NAIR, P.P.O. NO. KR/KCH/00124078, SREELAKAM, PATHALAM, KUTTIKKATTUKARA P.O., UDYOGAMANDAL, KOCHI, PIN - 683501

34. THOMAS C.L, AGED 59 YEARS, S/O. LONAPPAN C.D, P.P.O NO. KR/KCH/00128405, CHIRAYATH HOUSE, CHERANELLORE P.O., ERNAKULAM, PIN

- 682034

35. P.P. FRANCIS, AGED 59 YEARS, S/O. P.V. PATHROSE, P.P.O. NO.KR/KCH/00124845, Q FLAT 119, FACT TOWNSHIP, UDYOGAMANDAL P.O., KOCHI, PIN - 683501

36. P.A. RANJITH, AGED 59 YEARS, S/O. P.K. AYYAPPAN, P.P.O. NO.KR/KCH/00125698, PULLARIPADATH HOUSE, NAYARAMBALAM P.O., ERNAKULAM, PIN - 682509

37. ABDUL AZEEZ P.M, AGED 59 YEARS, S/O. P.K. MOHAMMED, P.P.O. NO. KR/KCH/00126691, PAZHAYILLATHU VEEDU, MUTTAR LINK ROAD, MANJUMMAL P.O, UDYOGAMANDAL, PIN - 683501

38. K.J. TITUS AGED 59 YEARS S/O. K.T. JOSEPH, P.P.O. NO. KR/KCH/00125211, KALKUZHY HOUSE, THOTTAKKATTUKARA P.O, ALUVA, PIN - 683108

39. T.V. SATHEESAN, AGED 59 YEARS, S/O. VELAYUDHAN, P.P.O. NO. KR/KCH/124846, THAZHATHUVEETTIL HOUSE, NEW BEACH ROAD, CHALIYAM P.O, KOZHIKODE, PIN - 673301

40. U.R. SAJU, AGED 59 YEARS, S/O. RAMAN, P.P.O. NO. KR/KCH/00128795, UNDIPURAYIDATHIL HOUSE, CHIRAKKAKAM, VARAPPUZHA, ERNAKULAM, PIN - 683517

41. A.S. ANTONY, AGED 59 YEARS, S/O. C.V. XAVIER, P.P.O. NO. KR/KCH/00126506, AYYARVELITHARA HOUSE, EZHUPUNNA SOUTH P.O., CHERTHALA, ALAPPUZHA, PIN - 688537

42. SURESH R, AGED 59 YEARS,S/O. RAMAKRISHNAN NAIR R, P.P.O.NO.KR/KCH/00125325, MANIDWEEPAM, PRIYADARSINI NAGAR, PERUMBAVOOR, PIN - 683546

43. M. JOSEPH, AGED 59 YEARS, S/O. MATHAI, P.P.O. NO. KR/KCH/00127877 PEDIKKATTIL HOUSE, MANJUMMAL P.O, UDYOGAMANDAL, KOCHI, PIN - 683501

44. P.V. SURESH, AGED 59 YEARS, S/O. P.K. VELAYUDHAN, P.P.O. NO. KR/KCH/00128382, KRISHNAMRITHAM, PONNACHUIPARAMBIL, OLANAD, VARAPUZHA P.O, KOCHI, PIN - 683517

45. S.N. SASIKUMAR, AGED 59 YEARS, S/O, NARAYANA PILLAI, P.P.O. NO. KR/KCH/00127051, SARASAVILASAM, MELOOR P.O, POOLANI, CHALAKUDY, TRICHUR, PIN - 680311

46. V.P. NAZAR, AGED 59 YEARS, S/O. V.K. PAREETH, P.P.O. NO. KR/KCH/00127194, VALIYAPRAMBIL HOUSE, CHIRAYAM, PANAYIKKULAM, ALUVA., PIN - 683511

47. K.V. MOHANAN, AGED 59 YEARS, S/O. K.A. VASU, P.P.O. NO. KR/KCH/129834, KUNNAPPILLY HOUSE, KANGARAPPADY P.O, KOCHI, PIN - 682021

48. PASCAL BYLON, AGED 59 YEARS, S/O. A.A. JOSEPH, P.P.O. NO. KR/KCH/00129835, AMMAPARAMBIL HOUSE, JANATHA STOP, JRA-169, MANJUMMAL P.O, UDYOGAMANDAL, PIN - 683501

49. SUBHASH V.J, AGED 59 YEARS, S/O. P.R. JANARDHANAN UNNITHAN, P.P.O.

WP(C) No.11075/2023 4/7

NO. KR/KCH/00128938, VALLIYATHU, ARA-165, AL-FIA NAGAR, SOUTH KALAMASSERY, PIN - 682022

50. VIJAYAKUMAR S, AGED 59 YEARS, S/O. SREENIVASA KAMATH, P.P.O. NO. KR/KCH/00128404, PUTHENVEEDU, PALLIPPURAM P.O., CHERTHALA, PIN - 688541

51. V.A. USHAR, AGED 59 YEARS, S/O. V.A. AYYAPPAN, P.P.O. NO. KR/KCH/00128383,MATHIRAPARAMBIL HOUSE, VALLUVALLY, KOONAMMAVU P.O, ERNAKULAM, PIN - 683518

52. K. PADMANABHAN, AGED 59 YEARS, S/O. O.P. NARAYANAN NAIR, P.P.O. NO. KR/KCH/00127201, KRISHNAKRIPA, CHANDRASEKHARAPURAM, MUPPATHADAM PO, ALUVA, PIN - 683110

53. A.P. SABU, AGED 59 YEARS, S/O. A.O. POULOSE, P.P.O. NO. KR/KCH/00128565, ARAKKAL HOUSE, VARAPPUZHA P.O, ERNAKULAM-683517 S/O. A.O. POULOSE, P.P.O. NO. KR/KCH/00128565, ARAKKAL HOUSE, VARAPPUZHA P.O, ERNAKULAM, PIN - 683517

54. P.V. BABU, AGED 59 YEARS S/O. P.U. VARGHESE, P.P.O. NO. KR/KCH/00128480, PUNNACHUVATTIL HOUSE, PAMPAKUDA P.O, MEMMURY, MUVATTUPUZHA, PIN - 686667

55. KENY RAJAN, AGED 58 YEARS, S/O. P. RAJAN, P.P.O. NO. KR/KCH/00127195, WALASSERIL HOUSE, CHERANALLOORE ROAD, MANJUMMAL P.O, UDYOGAMANDAL, PIN - 683501

56. R.SAJI, AGED 58 YEARS, S/O. RAMACHANDRAN NAIR, P.P.O. NO. KR/KCH/00128384, `DIVYAM', CHANGAMPUZHA NAGAR P.O, KOCHI, PIN - 682033

57. R. SREEKUMAR, AGED 58 YEARS, S/O. P.M. RAMACHANDRAN NAIR, P.P.O. NO. KR/KCH/00128937, ARACKAL HOUSE, MEKKAVU KARA, VAPPALASSERY P.O, ANKAMALY, PIN - 683572

58. DENNIS T.F, AGED 58 YEARS, S/O. FRANCIS T.M, P.P.O. NO. KR/KCH/00128290, THOTTAKATH HOUSE, CHENNUR, KOTHAD P.O., ERNAKULAM, PIN - 682027

59. BASHYAM SANKAR .M, AGED 58 YEARS, S/O. MANAVALAN M, P.P.O. NO. KR/KCH/00127899, B1-FLAT-30, FACT QUARTERS, FACT TOWNSHIP, UDYOGAMANDAL P.O., KOCHI, PIN - 683501

60. JOSHY T.R AGED 58 YEARS S/O. RAPHEL T.D, P.P.O. NO. KR/KCH/00128803,THEKKUMPURATH HOUSE, MANJUMMAL P.O., UDYOGAMANDAL, KOCHI, PIN - 683501

61. T.J. ALBERT STEPHEN, AGED 58 YEARS, S/O. T.L. JOSEPH, P.P.O. NO. KR/KCH/00128939, THANNIKKAPPILLY HOUSE, MANJUMMAL P.O., UDYOGAMANDAL, PIN - 683501

62. M.D. SABU, AGED 58 YEARS, S/O. DEVASSY, P.P.O. NO. KR/KCH/00129268, MARAKKALATH HOUSE, ELOOR SOUTH, UDYOGAMANDAL P.O, KOCHI, PIN - 683501

RESPONDENTS:

1. UNION OF INDIA, MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT, DEPARTMENT OF EMPLOYMENT,NEWDELHI-. REPRESENTED BY THE SECRETARY, PIN - 110001

2. THE EMPLOYEES PROVIDENT FUND ORGANISATION REPRESENTED BY THE CHIEF PROVIDENT COMMISSIONER, BHAVISHYA NIDHI BHAVAN, 14,BHIKAJI CAMA PALACE, NEW DELHI- , PIN - 110066 WP(C) No.11075/2023 5/7

3. REGIONAL PROVIDENT FUND COMMISSIONER THE EMPLOYEES PROVIDENT FUND ORGANISATION KALOOR, ERNAKULAM-, PIN - 682017

4. THE FERTILISERS AND CHEMICALS TRAVANCORE LIMITED (FACT) UDYOGAMANDAL, ERNAKULAM, 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.

This petition coming on for orders upon perusing the petition and the affidavit filed in support of WP(C) and upon hearing the arguments of M/S. R.SANJITH & C.S.SINDHU KRISHNAH, Advocates for the petitioner and of M/S. GOPIKRISHNAN NAMBIAR M, K.JOHN MATHAI, JOSON MANAVALAN, KURYAN THOMAS, PAULOSE C. ABRAHAM, RAJA KANNAN & VIJAYAKUMAR K., Advocates for the respondents, the court passed the following:

WP(C) No.11075/2023 6/7

RAJA VIJAYARAGHAVAN V, J.

------------------------------------- W.P.(C) Nos. 7593, 8171 & 11075 of 2023

------------------------------------------- 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.11075/2023                 7/7

                       APPENDIX OF WP(C) 11075/2023
Exhibit P1            TRUE COPY OF THE CIRCULAR BEARING NO

PENSION/2022/56259/16541 DATED 20/02/2023 ISSUED BY THE 2ND RESPONDENT