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Kerala High Court
Regional Provident Fund Commissioner vs Chandran K on 5 December, 2025
Author: Murali Purushothaman
Bench: Murali Purushothaman
RP NO. 132 OF 2025 : 1 :
2025:KER:94326
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM
PRESENT
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE MURALI PURUSHOTHAMAN
FRIDAY, THE 5TH DAY OF DECEMBER 2025 / 14TH AGRAHAYANA,
1947
RP NO. 132 OF 2025
AGAINST THE JUDGMENT DATED 09.12.2024 IN WP(C) NO.11288
OF 2023
REVIEW PETITIONER/2ND RESPONDENT:
REGIONAL PROVIDENT FUND COMMISSIONER
REGIONAL PROVIDENT FUND COMMISSIONER,
EMPLOYEES PROVIDENT FUND ORGANISATION,
SUB REGIONAL OFFICE, SUB REGIONAL OFFICE,
ADITYA SABARI TOWER, POST OFFICE ROAD,
THIRUNNAKKARA, KOTTAYAM, PIN - 686001
BY ADV SRI.JOY THATTIL ITTOOP, SC, EPF
ORGANISATION
RESPONDENTS/PETITIONERS AND RESPONDENTS 1,3 TO 11:
1 CHANDRAN K., AGED 63 YEARS
RADHANIVAS, PERIMPAKKONAM, PALIYODE,
KOTTACKAL P.O., THIRUVANANTHAPURAM.
P.P.O.NO.KR/KTM/00039425, PIN - 695124
2 P. HAREENDRAN NAIR, AGED 63 YEARS
SIVAKRIPA, VADAKARA P.O., THALAYOLAPARAMBU,
KOTTAYAM DIST. P.P.O.NO.KR/KTM/00041283 -
686605
3 VARGHESE.E.J, AGED 63 YEARS
EINAKULATHIL HOUSE, PAZHOOR EAST, PIRAVOM
RP NO. 132 OF 2025 : 2 :
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P.O., ERNAKULAM, KERALA
P.P.O.NO.KR/KCH/00106363 - 686664
4 SREEPATHY R, AGED 63 YEARS
SREEGANESAM, SANSKRIT COLLEGE ROAD,
TRIPUNITHURA, ERNAKULAM DIST.
P.P.O.NO.KR/KTM/00042087, PIN - 682301
5 BENNY P. B., AGED 66 YEARS
PASHNIPARAMBIL, THEJUS, 1170/46,
GCDA ROAD, VADUTHALA,
KOCHI. P.P.O.NO.KR/KCH/00093166, PIN - 682023
6 GANESAN P., AGED 65 YEARS
C/O.PERUMAL PILLAI, LAKSHMI NILAYAM,
VEERANPOTTA, ATHICODE P.O;NATTUKKAL, PALAKKAD.
P.P.O.NO.KR/KKD/00061757, PIN - 678554
7 MOHANAN NAIR K., AGED 63 YEARS
GEETHAM VPS 234, VATTAVILA THIRUMALA P.O.,
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM.
P.P.O.NO.KR/TVM/00084629, PIN - 695006
8 VANAJAKUMARI B., AGED 64 YEARS
SREESAILAMNN, MRA-108, THENGAPURALANE,
KAITHAMUKKU, PETTAH P.O., THIRUVANANTHAPURAM.
P.P.O.NO.KR/TVM/00082338, PIN - 695024
9 JOHNY M.V., AGED 63 YEARS
MADATHUMPADY HOUSE, CRA 26, CHAMPOKADAVU ROAD,
EDAPPALLY P.O., ERNAKULAM DIST.
P.P.O.NO.KR/KTM/00047027, PIN - 682024
0 UNNIKRISHNAN C., AGED 62 YEARS
CHEMPLLY HOUSE,KINAVALLUR P.O; PARALI,
PALAKKAD. P.P.O.NO.KR/KTM/00044184, PIN -
678612
11 ABRAHAM K.A, AGED 63 YEARS
KANDATHIL, THALAYOLAPARAMBU P.O.,
KOTTAYAM DIST. P.P.O.NO.KR/KTM/00038923, PIN -
686605
12 VARGHESE V.M., AGED 63 YEARS
POOVATHUMMOOTTIL HOUSE, MEENADOM P.O;
RP NO. 132 OF 2025 : 3 :
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KOTTAYAM DIST. P.P.O.NO.KR/KTM/0041244, PIN -
686516
13 BHARGAVAN PILLAI R., AGED 64 YEARS
UTHRADAM HOUSE, PUNNAMOODUE, MAVELIKARA P.O.,
ALAPPUZHA DIST. P.P.O.NO.KR/KCH/00100345, PIN
- 690101
14 JOSE P.A., AGED 65 YEARS
PUTHUSSERY HOUSE, MG 1ST LANE ROAD,
KONGORPILLY P.O., ERNAKULAM DIST.
P.P.O.NO.KR/KCH/00095062, PIN - 683518
15 DR. LATHA N.J., AGED 65 YEARS
JANAKINILAYAM, CRRA 104, CHIRAKKULAM ROAD,
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM- P.P.O.NO.KR/KTM/00045372-
695001
16 SASIKALA S., AGED 64 YEARS
AMBADI, POTHY, THALAYOLAPARAMBU,
MIDAYIKUUNU P.O., KOTTAYAM DIST.,
P.P.O.NO.KR/KTM/00036891, PIN - 686605
17 MURALIDHARAN A., AGED 66 YEARS
SREENILAYAM HOUSE, KULAYETTIKKARA P.O;
ARAYANKAVU, ERNAKULAM DIST.
P.P.O.NO.KR/KCH/00089205, PIN - 682315
18 P REGHUNADHAN, AGED 69 YEARS
ANJALY BHAVAN,CHENAVILA, AREEPLACHY P.O;
KURUVIKONAM, PUNALUR, KOLLAM DIST.
P.P.O.NO.KR/KLM/00080847, PIN - 691333
19 SOMARAJAN PILLAI, AGED 67 YEARS
KUDAJADRI, PULIYOORVACHI EAST, THAZHAVA P.O,
KARUNAGAPPALLY, KOLLAM ,
P.P.O.NO.KR/KLM/00093937, PIN - 690523
20 THANGARAJA S.,AGED 63 YEARS
354/1A, 15TH SOUTH STREET,
THIYAGARAJA NAGAR P.O., PALLAYMKOTTAI - TALUK,
TIRUNELVELI DIST. - P.P.O.NO.MD/TNY/00131904-
627011
21 MADANAMOHANAN N., AGED 66 YEARS
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VAZHARATHALA HOUSE, MAMPAZHAKARA,
PERUMPAZHUTHOOR P.O., TRIVANDRUM.
P.P.O.NO.KR/TVM/00076162, PIN - 695126
22 RAM MOHAN G.,AGED 65 YEARS
SANTHIMA, VENDAR P.O; KOTTRAKKARA, KOLLAM
DIST. P.P.O.NO.KR/KTM/00098939, PIN - 691507
23 RAVI N. T.,AGED 65 YEARS
MALPALLIL HOUSE, VELLOOR, MEVELLOOR P.O;
KOTTAYAM DIST. P.P.O.NO.KR/KTM/00039235, PIN -
686609
24 SOMADAS K., AGED 64 YEARS
SAUPARNIKA, THAZHIKARA P.O., MAVELIKARA,
ALAPPUZHA, KERALA. P.P.O.NO.KR/KCH/00105436,
PIN - 690102
25 SUNNY K. C., AGED 64 YEARS
KIZHAKKANAMTHADATHIL HOUSE, MEVELLOOR P.O.,
VELLOOR, KOTTAYAM DIST.
P.P.O.NO.KR/KTM/00043077, PIN - 686609
26 BAJIRAO RAKHAMAJI SHELKE
AGED 64 YEARS
AT POST ALE, TALUKA JUNNAR, DIST. PUNE,
MAHARASTRA STATE. P.P.O.NO.PUPUN00118829, PIN
- 412411
27 SUNNY JOSEPH
AGED 63 YEARS
MUNJANATTU HOUSE, CHAKKAMPUZHA P.O., PALA,
KOTTAYAM DIST. P.P.O.NO.KR/KTM/00042126, PIN -
686574
28 GOPALAN K.
AGED 66 YEARS
GEETHALAYAM HOUSE, MANGUZHIPOTTA, PULINCHODE,
VAIDAYARANGADI P.O., KOZHIKODE.
P.P.O.NO.KR/KKD/00057033, PIN - 673633
29 CHANDRAKUMAR P.
AGED 63 YEARS
AMBAKUDI VEEDU, MARIYAPURAM P.O.,
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM DIST.
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P.P.O.NO.KR/TVM/00081219, PIN - 695122
30 JOY P.M.
AGED 66 YEARS
PADINJAREKUDILIL HOUSE, KOKKAPPILLY P.O.,
THIRUVAMKULAM (VIA.), ERNAKULAM DIST.
P.P.O.NO.KR/KCH/00090493, PIN - 682305
31 POULOSE K.V.
AGED 63 YEARS
KANNAPARAMBAN HOUSE, PADINJARE, CHALAKUDY,
NEAR RAILWAY STATION, CHALAKUDY P.O., THRISSUR
DIST. P.P.O.NO.KR/KCH/00114025, PIN - 680307
32 RAVI K.E.
AGED 63 YEARS
C/O EACHERAN K.R., KOLAVELIPARAMBIL,
KANNAMKUZHISSERY, KURUMASSERY P.O., ERNAKULAM
DIST. P.P.O.NO.KR/KCH/00114307, PIN - 683579
33 VIJAYAN M. I.
AGED 64 YEARS
MALIAKAL HOUSE, ATTUPURAM, AYROOR P.O., ALUVA,
ERNAKULAM DIST. P.P.O.NO.KR/KCH/00112192, PIN
- 683579
34 E.V. SOMAN NAIR
AGED 69 YEARS
SREESAILAM, PUTHUSSERIMALA P.O., RANNY,
PATHANAMTHITTA DIST. P.P.O.NO.KR/TVM/00067391,
PIN - 689672
35 BAHULEYAN K.K.
AGED 65 YEARS
THATTARUPARAMBIL HOUSE, EDAVATTOM P.O.,
THALAYOLAPARAMBU (VIA.), KOTTAYAM DIST.
P.P.O.NO.KR/KTM/00035896, PIN - 686605
36 VIMALA A.V
AGED 63 YEARS
KALAPPURACKAL HOUSE, KSHB COLONY,
VETTIKKATTUMUKKU, VADAKARA P.O., KOTTAYAM
DIST. P.P.O.NO.KR/KTM/00042119, PIN - 686605
37 SUNNY M.J
RP NO. 132 OF 2025 : 6 :
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AGED 64 YEARS
MADATHUMPADY, ROSEBHAVAN, MANAKAPADY,
MULAKULAM, KARIKODE P.O., KOTTAYAM DIST.
P.P.O.NO.KR/KTM/00042331, PIN - 686610
38 MURALEEDHARAN PILLAI D
AGED 63 YEARS
KARTHIKA. NANGIARKULANGARA P.O;
P.P.O.NO.KR/KCH/00114767, PIN - 690513
39 THOMAS.A
AGED 63 YEARS
PUTHENPURAKKAL HOUSE, MUKKADU, KAVANAD P.O,
KOLLAM , P.P.O.NO.KR/KTM/0041710, PIN - 691003
40 JOE MAMMEN K
AGED 64 YEARS
KAVUMKOTTETHU HOUSE, CHIRAYIRAMPU P.O.,
MARAMON, PATHANAMTHITTA DIST.
P.P.O.NO.KR/TVM/00078486, PIN - 689549
41 XAVIER K.V
AGED 64 YEARS
KOOVAPPALLIL HOUSE, MEVELLOOR P.O; VELLOOR,
KOTTAYAM DIST. P.P.O.NO.KR/KTM/00040091, PIN -
686609
42 VASANDAKUMAR P.N
AGED 61 YEARS
A98/391 HNL COLONY, NEWSPRINT NAGAR P.O.,
KOTTAYAM DIST. P.P.O.NO.KR/KTM/00044569, PIN -
686616
43 DILEEPKUMAR N.
AGED 61 YEARS
S/O NANAPPAN, KURISALAPPARAMBIL HOUSE,
PANICKERKADAVU, SV MARKET P.O.,
KARUNAGAPPALLY, KOLLAM DIST.
P.P.O.NO.KR/KTM/00043250, PIN - 690573
44 MOHANANPILLAI S.
AGED 65 YEARS
KARTHIKA VEEDU,NEAR PULIMATH TEMPLE, PULIMATH
P.O; THIRUVANANTHAPURAM,KERALA.
P.P.O.NO.KR/KTM/00035810, PIN - 695612
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45 BABY T.V
AGED 62 YEARS
THEYATHU HOUSE, MEVELLOOR P.O., KOTTAYAM.
P.P.O.NO.KR/KTM/00042326, PIN - 686609
46 ZACHARIA ABRAHAM
AGED 63 YEARS
THAYYIL HOUSE,KUTTOOR P.O., THIRUVELLA - 6,
PATHANAMTHITTA DIST. P.P.O.NO.KR/TVM/00080494,
PIN - 689106
47 RAVINDRAN PILLAI V.
AGED 63 YEARS
KOTTAUDEPADEETATHIL HOUSE, OLAKETTIYAMVALAM
P.O., PONNEZHA, MAVELIKKARA, ALAPUZHA DIST.
P.P.O.NO.KR/KTM/00041466, PIN - 690510
48 NANDLAL SINGH
AGED 63 YEARS
VILLAGE - TATHIRPUR, MAHEBAYANI P.O.,
LAKHIMPUR KHER DIST., UTTAR PRADESH.
P.P.O.NO.KR/KTM/00040054, PIN - 261506
49 HARIKUMAR P.S
AGED 64 YEARS
PEANDANATH HOUSE, KANJIRAMATTOM, THODUPUZHA
EAST P.O., KERALA. P.P.O.NO.KR/KTM/00042491,
PIN - 685585
50 DEVENDRA PRASAD YADAV
AGED 65 YEARS
S/O BOUKU PRASAD YADAV NANDLALPUR NEAR ITC
MILK DIARY, DEVSAN BHAWAN, BENIGIR P.O.,
MUNGER DIST., BIHAR. P.P.O.NO.KR/KTM/00033553,
PIN - 811202
51 CHANDRASEKHARAN NAIR T.K
AGED 65 YEARS
THEKKEDATH HOUSE,TALAYOLAPARAMBU P.O; KOTTAYAM
DIST. P.P.O.NO.KR/KTM/00034932, PIN - 686605
52 AMBIKA N.K
AGED 63 YEARS
MURALIKA, VELLOOR, MEVELLOOR P.O; KOTTAYAM
DIST.KERALA. P.P.O.NO.KR/KTM/00041166, PIN -
686609
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53 JOHN CYRIAC
AGED 64 YEARS
AYIRATTIPADAVIL HOUSE, KARIKODE P.O., PERUVA,
KOTTAYAM DIST. P.P.O.NO.KR/KTM/00043329, PIN -
686610
54 SUKUMARAN V.K.
AGED 64 YEARS
VADAKKE PARAMBIL HOUSE, KARIKODE P.O., PERUVA,
KOTTAYAM DIST. P.P.O.NO.KR/KTM/00040079, PIN -
686610
55 THARMARAJ M.
AGED 64 YEARS
10/328, CARMEL HOUSE,KAMARAJNAGAR
PAVOORCHATHRAM,TENKASI, TAMILNADU.
P.P.O.NO.MD/TNY/00124062, PIN - 627808
56 SUDHAKARA KURUP
AGED 66 YEARS
ASWATHY BHAVANAM, ERAVICHIRA EAST, SOORANADU
SOUTH, KOLLAM. P.P.O.NO.KR/KTM/00097832, PIN -
699522
57 VARGHESE PAUL
AGED 64 YEARS
KARIMPUMKALA PUTHUSSERIL HOUSE, THURUTHY P.O;
PERUMBAVOOR, ERNAKULAM DIST.
P.P.O.NO.KR/KCH/00101117, PIN - 683545
58 VALSALAN N.V.,
AGED 63 YEARS
SOUPARNIKA, ATHIYADAM, SREESTHA P.O, KANNUR
P.O , P.P.O.NO.KR/KTM/00040394, PIN - 670303
59 BABU C.G.
AGED 68 YEARS
HARITHA, PANAVALLY P.O., CHERTHALA, ALAPUZHA.
P.P.O.NO.KR/KCH/00078871, PIN - 688526
60 DIVAKARAN M.T.
AGED 66 YEARS
SREESRUTHY, THURUTHY LANE, UDAYAMPEROOR P.O.,
ERNAKULAM DIST. P.P.O.NO.KR/KCH/00089085, PIN
RP NO. 132 OF 2025 : 9 :
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- 682307
61 SANATHANAN K.
AGED 63 YEARS
GEETHA NIVAS,VAZHAPPALLY WEST P.O;
CHANGANACHERRY, KOTTAYAM DISTRICT.
P.P.O.NO.KR/KTM/00042853, PIN - 686103
62 ABRAHAM P. GEORGE
AGED 66 YEARS
MUKKATTU HOUSE, KURICHY, SACHIVOTHAMAPURAM
P.O., KOTTAYAM DIST. KR/KTM/00033517, PIN -
686532
63 BABY V.T
AGED 61 YEARS
MUNDUVELIL HOUSE, KEEZHOOR P.O., KOTTAYAM.
P.P.O.NO.KR/KTM/00039423, PIN - 686605
64 BABU R.B
AGED 65 YEARS
SOUPARNIKA, THONNALLOOR, MEVELLOOR P.O.,
KOTTAYAM DIST. P.P.O.NO.KR/KTM/00035539, PIN -
686609
65 K.D.VIJAYALAKSHMI
AGED 65 YEARS
AIKAANALIL, KARIKODE P.O; PERUVA, KOTTAYAM
DIST. P.P.O.NO.KR/KTM/00035313, PIN - 686610
66 GEORGE JOSEPH
AGED 61 YEARS
MULLOOPARAMPIL HOUSE, MUTHOLAPURAM P.O.,
ELANJI, ERNAKULAM DIST.
P.P.O.NO.KR/KCH/00113549, PIN - 686665
67 KANAGARAJ R.
AGED 66 YEARS
12/17F MADATHUVILAI, VIRIKODE P.O.,
KANYAKUMARI DIST., TAMIL NADU.
P.P.O.NO.MD/NKL/00107364, PIN - 629165
68 RAMACHANDRAN NAIR P.R.
AGED 65 YEARS
PULLIAT HOUSE, MEVELLOOR P.O., MEVELLOOR,
RP NO. 132 OF 2025 : 10 :
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KOTTAYAM DIST. P.P.O.NO.KR/KTM/00038403, PIN -
686609
69 R.V. DEV
AGED 68 YEARS
PRANAVAM, KARIKODE P.O., PERUVA, KOTTAYAM
DIST. P.P.O.NO.KR/KTM/00029138, PIN - 686610
70 BABU SURESHKUMAR K.C.
AGED 68 YEARS
VARISHTA, KAPPILLIPARA, MUNDUR P.O., PALAKKAD.
P.P.O.NO.KR/KKD/00054926, PIN - 678592
71 SALINA T.A.
AGED 63 YEARS
AIKKARAKANDATHIL HOUSE, PERUVA P.O., KOTTAYAM
DIST. P.P.O.NO.KR/KTM/00039044, PIN - 686610
72 CHANDRAN M
AGED 68 YEARS
MANAKKADAVATH HOUSE, KOLOLAMBA P.O., EDAPPAL,
MALAPPURAM DIST. P.P.O.NO.KR/KKD/00052000, PIN
- 679576
73 MOHANAN P.V.
AGED 62 YEARS
PADINJAREKALAYIL, MEVELLOOR, KOTTAYAM DIST.
P.P.O.NO.KR/KTM/00041536, PIN - 686609
74 PHYLIP P.V.
AGED 62 YEARS
MAMPILLIL HOUSE, MEVELLOOR P.O., VELLOOR,
KOTTAYAM DIST. P.P.O.NO.KR/KTM/00041721, PIN -
686609
75 THOMAS K.J.
AGED 64 YEARS
KAVANAYIL HOUSE, MEVELLOOR P.O., KOTTAYAM
DIST. P.P.O.NO.KR/KTM/00037001, PIN - 686609
76 P. J. JOSEPH
AGED 65 YEARS
VALAYIL PUTHENPURA, MEVELLOOR P.O., KOTTAYAM.
P.P.O.NO.KR/KTM/00035202, PIN - 686609
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77 SUDHAKARAN R.
AGED 63 YEARS
GREESHMAM, PRASANTHI NAGAR - 375,
KOTTARAKKARA, KOLLAM DIST.
P.P.O.NO.KR/KTM/00039710, PIN - 691506
78 MOHANAN P.
AGED 68 YEARS
POORNASREE HOUSE, 6, KAIRALI STREET, BYPASS
JUNCTION, MANNUTHY P.O., TRICHUR DIST.
P.P.O.NO.KR/KCH/00076176, PIN - 680651
79 A. BALACHANDRAN
AGED 67 YEARS
AZAKAPADATHU HOUSE, VADAVANOOR P.O., PALAKKAD
DIST. P.P.O.NO.KR/KKD/00056350, PIN - 678504
80 GOPALAKRISHNAN V.
AGED 69 YEARS
VANIL HOUSE, PATHAIKKARA P.O., PERINTALMANNA
(VIA), MALAPPURAM DIST.
P.P.O.NO.KR/KKD/00048962, PIN - 679322
81 K.N.RANI,
AGED 61 YEARS
THEKKUMTHARA, MEVELLOR P.O, VELLOOR, VELLOOR,
KOTTAYAM P.P.O.NO.KR/KTM/00046276, PIN -
686609
82 AJITH KUMAR.G,
AGED 62 YEARS
ERAMATHU AKSHKRAM, CMC/12, CHERTHALA ,
P.P.O.NO.KR/KCH/00111044, PIN - 688524
83 SUGATHAN.G,
AGED 70 YEARS
KOCHUVILAYIL, UMBERNADU, KALLUMALA P.O,
MAVELIKKARA , P.P.O.NO.KR/KCH/63406, PIN -
690110
84 UNION OF INDIA (UOI),
REPRESENTED BY THE SECRETARY TO GOVT. OF
INDIA, MINISTRY OF LABOUR & DEPARTMENT OF
EMPLOYMENT, NEW DELHI,, PIN -
110001
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85 REGIONAL PROVIDENT FUND COMMISSIONER,
SUB REGIONAL OFFICE, EMPLOYEES PROVIDENT FUND
ORGANISATION (EPFO), BHAVISHANIDHI BHAVAN,
KALOOR, ERNAKULAM,, PIN - 682017
86 ASSISTANT PROVIDENT FUND COMMISSIONER
SUB REGIONAL OFFICE, EMPLOYEES PROVIDENT FUND
ORGANISATION (EPFO), BHAVISHANIDHI BHAVAN,
ERANJIPALAM , KOZHIKODE, PIN - 673006
87 REGIONAL PROVIDENT FUND COMMISSIONER,
EMPLOYEES PROVIDENT FUND ORGANISATION (EPFO),
BHAVISHANIDHI BHAVAN, PATTOM PALACE,
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, PIN - 695004
88 ASSISTANT PROVIDENT FUND COMMISSIONER
SUB REGIONAL OFFICE, EMPLOYEES PROVIDENT FUND
ORGANISATION (EPFO), BHAVISHANIDHI BHAVAN,
KOLLAM, PIN - 691001
89 THE REGIONAL PROVIDENT FUND COMMISSIONER,
REGIONAL PROVIDENT FUND OFFICE, 2ND AND 3RD
FLOOR, NEAR GOLIBAR MAIDAN, CAMP,
PUNE- (MAHARASHTRA),, PIN - 411001
90 PROVIDENT FUND COMMISSIONER
EMPLOYEES PROVIDENT FUND ORGANIZATION, NO-66,
WATER TANK ROAD, NAGERCOIL, TAMILNADU, PIN -
629001
91 THE REGIONAL PROVIDENT FUND COMMISSIONER,
EMPLOYEES PROVIDENT FUND ORGANIZATION,
MPWM+7M5, BHAVISHYA NIDHI BHAVAN, NGO B
COLONY, TIRUNELVELI, TAMILNADU,, PIN - 627007
92 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
93 KERALA PAPER PRODUCTS LIMITED
REPRESENTED BY ITS MANAGING DIRECTOR,
NEWS PRING NAGAR RD., VELLOOR, KERALA - 686616
RP NO. 132 OF 2025 : 13 :
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R1-R83 BY ADV SHRI.P.N.MOHANAN
R84 BY ADV.SMT.O.M.SHALINA, DSGI
R93 BY ADV.SRI.BENNY THOMAS (SR.)
THIS REVIEW PETITION HAVING BEEN FINALLY HEARD ON
05.12.2025, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE
FOLLOWING:
RP NO. 132 OF 2025 : 14 :
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ORDER
This review petition is filed by the Regional Provident
Fund Commissioner, Employees' Provident Fund
Organisation, Sub Regional Office, Kottayam, the 2nd
respondent in W.P(C) No.11288 of 2023 against the
judgment of this Court dated 09.12.2024 passed therein.
2. The writ petitioners are the retired employees of
Hindustan Newsprint Ltd.(HNL). The said establishment was
later taken over by the Kerala Paper Products Limited
(KPPL), the 11th respondent in the writ petition. Joint option
forms under Paragraph 11(4) of the Employees' Pension
Scheme, 1995, in respect of the petitioners were submitted
by the HNL, the erstwhile employer, before the Employees
Provident Fund Organization (EPFO), as evident by Ext. P4.
This Court, by the impugned judgment, directed the review
petitioner to consider Ext. P4 joint option form submitted by
the writ petitioners and other similar option forms
individually submitted by them through the employer, as
RP NO. 132 OF 2025 : 15 :
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expeditiously as possible, at any rate, within a period of
three months from the date of receipt of copy of the
judgment. It was also made clear that this Court has not
considered the merits of the claim of the writ petitioners and
all their claims were left open.
3. The contention of the review petitioner was that
the writ petitioners have submitted their online option
pursuant to the judgment of the Hon'ble Supreme Court in
Employees Provident Fund Organisation and another
v. Sunil Kumar B. and others [2022 SCC Online SC
1521], and the same is available in the portal of KPPL for
forwarding to the portal of EPFO for processing. It was
stated that KPPL has no further liability in the matter and all
that KPPL has to do is to forward the joint options to the
online portal of the EPFO before 31.01.2025, the last date
for submission, so that the applications can be processed by
the EPFO for the petitioners to avail the benefit of the
judgement in Sunil Kumar's case (supra). Accordingly, this
Court, by order dated 12.09.2025, allowed the review
petition and modified the judgment dated 09.12.2024 in
W.P(C) No.11288 of 2023 with the following directions:
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(i) The KPPL, the 11 th respondent in
the writ petition shall endorse and forward the
online options submitted by the writ petitioners
to the online portal of EPFO within one month
from today, and shall have no further liability in
doing so.
(ii) On receipt of the online options,
the review petitioner shall process and finalise
the same within a period of three months
therefrom.
(iii) It is made clear that the above
direction is issued only to enable the review
petitioner to process the online options
submitted by the writ petitioners to avail the
benefit of the judgment of the Hon'ble Supreme
Court in Sunil Kumar's case (supra). This
direction will not in any manner affect the legal
issue whether KPPL is the employer of HNL
employees who retired prior to 2021, and the
issue whether KPPL has any liability towards
employees like the writ petitioners who retired
from service prior to the take over of HNL,
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would depend on and would be subject to the
decision to be taken by the Hon'ble Supreme
Court in Civil Appeal No.31624/2023.
(iv) Since the review petition was filed
with application to condone delay and the
application itself was brought up for
consideration after the closure of online facility
on 31.01.2025, the said cut off date shall not
stand in the way of EPFO accepting and
processing the online options of the writ
petitioners as and when forwarded by KPPL.
(v) It is made clear that this Court has
not considered the merits of the claim of the
writ petitioners for higher pension.
4. The Regional Provident Fund Commissioner,
EPFO, Kottayam, the review petitioner has now filed a
petition for correction of the order dated 12.09.2025 in R.P.
No. 132 of 2025, stating inter alia that since the online
portal operated by the Head Office of the EPFO closed on
31.01.2025, it is unable to process the online options of the
writ petitioners. It is therefore submitted that the
observation of this Court in the order dated 12.09.2025 that
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the cut-off date of 31.01.2025 should not stand in the way
of review petitioner accepting and processing the online
options of the writ petitioners "as and when such options are
forwarded" by KPPL requires correction/clarification to the
effect that the cut-off time for receiving options in the EPFO
online portal expired on 31.01.2025.
5. It is to be noted that, after stating in the review
petition that all that KPPL has to do is to forward the joint
options to the online portal of the EPFO, the EPFO has now
turned turtle and taken a somersault by contending that,
since the online portal of the EPFO is closed on 31.01.2025,
it is unable to process the online options of the writ
petitioners. Direction No. (iv) in the order in R.P. No. 132 of
2025 was issued taking note of the fact that the review
petition itself was brought up for consideration after the
closure of the online facility on 31.01.2025.
6. Heard the counsel on both sides.
Admittedly, Ext. P4 joint option submitted by the writ
petitioners and other similar option forms individually
RP NO. 132 OF 2025 : 19 :
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submitted by them through HNL, the erstwhile employer
were received by the Regional Provident Fund
Commissioner, EPFO, Kottayam, the review petitioner.
Accordingly, this Court, by judgment dated 09.12.2024 in
W.P(C) No.11288 of 2023, directed the review petitioner to
consider Ext. P4 joint option form submitted by the writ
petitioners and other similar option forms individually
submitted by them through the employer. In the review
petition, the stand of the EPFO was that all that KPPL has to
do is to forward the joint options to the online portal of the
EPFO for processing. However, their present stand is that,
since the online portal of the EPFO is closed on 31.01.2025,
it is unable to process the online options of the writ
petitioners. The EPFO cannot be permitted to take
inconsistent stand and leave the petitioners, who are retired
employees, in the evening of their lives, in a state of
uncertainty regarding their pension. Being so, this Court
erred in acting upon the averments in the review petition
filed by the Regional Provident Fund Commissioner, EPFO,
Kottayam. This patent error has to be corrected suo motu
by this Court in exercise of its inherent jurisdiction. The
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interest of justice would be met if the order dated
12.09.2025 in R.P No.132 of 2025 is recalled and the
judgment dated 09.12.2024 in W.P(C) No.11288 of 2023 is
restored and R.P.No.132 of 2025 is dismissed. It is so
ordered. The directions in the judgment dated 09.12.2024
shall be complied with in two months from today.
Sd/-
MURALI PURUSHOTHAMAN
JUDGE
SB
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APPENDIX OF RP NO. 132 OF 2025
RESPONDENT ANNEXURES
ANNEXURE R1 (c) true copy of the Circular dated
22.11.2006 of the Additional Central
PF Commissioner
ANNEXURE R1 (a) true copy of the letter dated
16.06.2020 of Finance Manager
ANNEXURE R1 (b) true copy of the order dated
23.03.2017 of the Central PF
Commissioner
ANNEXURE R1 (d) true copy of the circular dated
08.11.2013 of the third respondent
ANNEXURE R1 (e) true copy of the order dated
22.01.2019 issued by the Additional
Central Provident Fund Commissioner
ANNEXURE R1 (f) true copy of the order dated
07.02.2019 of the Additional Central
PF Commissioner
PETITIONER ANNEXURES
Annexure A1 THE TRUE COPY OF THE LETTER DATED
05.06.2023 (DISPATCHED ON 06.06.2023)
ISSUED BY THE APPLICANT TO RESPONDENT
NO.93
Annexure A2 THE TRUE COPY OF THE LETTER DATED
10.01.2025 ISSUED BY THE APPLICANT TO
THE RESPONDENT NO.93, ALONG WITH THE
PRESS RELEASE DTD 18.12.2024 ISSUED
BY THE MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND
EMPLOYMENT
