Kerala High Court
T Ajith Kumar vs Union Of India (Uoi) on 8 January, 2025
Author: Murali Purushothaman
Bench: Murali Purushothaman
WP(C) No.656/2025 1/5 Order Date : 08-01-2025
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM
PRESENT
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE MURALI PURUSHOTHAMAN
Wednesday, the 8th day of January 2025 / 18th pousha, 1946
WP(C) NO. 656 OF 2025
PETITIONERS:
1. T AJITH KUMAR,AGED 65 YEARS, S/O V.N. THANKAPPAN PILLAI, VASUNDHARA
(H), PERUVARAM WEST, NORTH PARAVUR PO, ERNAKULAM DT, UAN 1000 7637
5311, PIN - 683513
2. PREETHI A.M, AGED 63 YEARS, D/O A.M.NEELAKANTAN NAMBOODIRI, NENMINI,
160, JAWAHAR NAGAR, KADAVANTHRA, KOCHI-20, UAN 10028 N 0077 673,
PIN, PIN - 682020
3. HARINDRAN C.H, AGED 63 YEARS, S/O BALAKRISHNA KURUP, HARISREE, SRA
NO.156 ,KALLARA ROAD, EROOR, THRIPUNITHURA, UAN 10016 1917 151, PIN
- 682306
4. LOHITHAKSHAN U.K, AGED 65 YEARS, S/O GOVINDAN U., KSHETHRA, NEAR
INDANE GAS GODOWN, PO. KIZHUNNA, KANNUR, UAN 10020 6381 384, PIN -
670007
5. DINAKARAN KOMBILATH, AGED 61 YEARS, S/O LATE T.V. KRISHNAN NAMBIAR,
GEETHANJALI,JOURNALIST NAGAR, MUNDAYAD PO , KANNUR, UAN 10013 856
0669, PIN-678512
6. VINOD CHANDRAN K.,AGED 62 YEARS, S/O P.K. NARAYANAN NAMBIAR, 10-C,
SOUPARNIKA APARTMENT, PALLIKKUNNU, KANNUR. UAN 1004 0788 2759, PIN -
670597
7. K BALAKRISHNAN, AGED 62 YEARS, S/O A.K. KRISHNAN NAMBIAR,
'SWARALAYA', CHERUPAZHASSI PO, KANNUR DT., KERALA. UAN 100 1060
36304, PIN - 670601
8. RATHEESH BABU M.K, AGED 64 YEARS, S/O E.P. GOPALAN NAMBIAR, 'OM
SHAKTHI', PO THAZHE CHOVVA, KANNUR, UAN 100 3091 16764, PIN - 670018
9. AJIT KUMAR M.K., AGED 61 YEARS, S/O E.P. GOPALAN NAMBIAR, SREEJI
NIVAS, NEAR KSEB OFFICE, PO.CHOVVA, KANNUR, UAN 1000 7637 1023, PIN
- 670006
10. VINOD P.K., AGED 63 YEARS, S/O K.K. MENON, KATTAYAT HOUSE,
PANNIANKARA, PO KALLAI, KOZHIKODE, UAN 100 4084 40641, PIN - 673003
11. RAMACHANDRAN O. R., AGED 62 YEARS, S/O LATE O.V .RAMAN NAMBUDIRI,
OTHALUR MANA, PERUMANNA, KOZHIKODE, UAN 10030 27828 62, PIN - 673019
12. SASINDRAN P.P., AGED 63 YEARS, S/O C. SANKARANKUTTY NAMBIAR,
'NIRANJANA', PO THOTTADA, CHALA, KANNUR UAN 1003 4003 5905, PIN -
670007
13. RAVINDRAN P.K., AGED 66 YEARS, S/O LATE P.I. KUNJAN, SREEDEV, HRA-
44, SUNDAY ROAD, CHEVAYOOR PO, KOZHIKODE-!7, KERALA UAN 1003 1158 95
33, PIN - 673017
14. BALARAMAN K.K., AGED 64 YEARS, S/O K. DAMODARAN NAMBIAR, 'SREE',
33/5256E, GOLFLINK ROAD, OPP. VRINDAVAN COLONY, PO CHEVAYUR,
KOZHIKODE-17 UAN 100 1062 53405, PIN - 673017
15. VINOD KUMAR K.K, AGED 60 YEARS, S/O C. GOVINDAN NAMBIAR,
'AAASHIYANA', DESODHRIM CROSS ROAD, NEAR MASS CORNER, MALAPARAMBA
PO, KOZHIKODE UAN 1004 0825 1615, PIN - 673009
16. SOMAN T, AGED 62 YEARS, S/O V. NARAYANAN NAIR, PARVANAM, PO
WP(C) No.656/2025 2/5 Order Date : 08-01-2025
KUTHIRAVATTOM, KOZHIKODE, KERALA, UAN 1003 5944 2201, PIN - 673016
17. M. SUDHEENDRA KUMAR, AGED 62 YEARS, S/O M. RAMUTTY, 'SWASTHI',
OTHAYAMANGALAM ROAD, KARAPARAMBA PO, KOZHIKODE UAN 1003 6581 6892,
PIN - 673010
18. B. REMESH KUMAR, AGED 62 YEARS, S/O K. BALAKRISHNAN NAIR, GRA 244,
TC 2/1540, LAKSHMI NIVAS, KOTTARA LANE, GOWREESHAPATTAM PO,
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM UAN 10030 490 M3122, PIN-695004
19. ASOK SRINIVAS, AGED 63 YEARS, S/O T.M. SRINIVAS, NIVEDYAM, KARAT
ROAD, NADAKKAVU, KOZHIKODE. UAN 100 09545 7205, PIN - 673011
20. SURENDRAN P.K., AGED 65 YEARS, S/O P.R. KUMARAN, SAMEERAM, ANJALI
GARDENS, NEW LANE, PALLIPPURAM PO, PALAKKAD, KERALA, UAN 1003 7340
2719, PIN - 678006
21. CYRIAC MATHEW, AGED 64 YEARS S/O MATHEW, KAITHAMATTAM, MANTHAMKUNDU,
THALIPARAMBA PO, KANNUR UAN 1001 2680 2827, PIN - 670141
22. RADHAKRISHNAN T., AGED 64 YEARS, S/O P. KELU KURUP, THE LAURELS,
BILATHIKULAM, CALICUT, KERALA UAN 1002 8968 6060, PIN - 673006
23. G.BINULAL, AGED 61 YEARS, S/O V. GOPLAKRISHNAN NAIR, ARATHI, KNRA
36, KAIRALI NAGAR, KAMALESWARAM, MANACAUD PO, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM UAN
10011 5409 626, PIN - 695024
24. JOLAMMA GEORGE, AGED 65 YEARS, D/O T.C. GEORGE, ADIMATHRA HOUSE,
MARIYATHURUTHU PO, KOTTAYAM, KERALA UAN 100 1780 15621 PIN - 686017
25. VENUKUMAR S.D., AGED 65 YEARS, S/O A.R. DAMODARA PANICKER,
SREEMANGALATH, KALLISSERY PO, CHENGANNUR, ALAPPUZHA DT. UAN 100 4027
96057 PIN - 689124
26. V.S. SHINE AGED 63 YEARS, S/O V.K. SUKUMARAN, VALIYAPARAMBIL,
VATTEKKUNNAM, EDAPPALLY (N), KOCHI-24 UAN 100 3509 77328, PIN-682024
27. UNNIKRISHNAN THOTTAKAD, AGED 61 YEARS, S/O K.N. GOPALA MENON,
PUTHANPURAKKAL HOUSE, ERAVUCHIRA PO, THOTTAKAD, KOTTAYAM, KERALA,
UAN 1003 957 46477, PIN-686539
28. SALAHUDDIN.E, AGED 64 YEARS, S/O.M.ESMAILKUTTY, SADR, ALIYA GARDENS,
PANCHIKKAL, AYYANTHOLE, THRISSUR- UAN NO.100 3287 36867, PIN-680003
29. PREMCHAND P, AGED 63 YEARS S/O CHANDU, PAPATHY, P.O ARTS COLLEGE,
CALICUT- UAN NO. 100 2807 86775, PIN-673018
RESPONDENTS:
1. UNION OF INDIA (UOI), REPRESENTED BY THE SECRETARY TO THE GOVERNMENT
OF INDIA, MINISTRY OF LABOUR & EMPLOYMENT, SHRAM SAKTHI BHAVAN,
RAFFI MARGH, NEW DELHI, PIN - 110001
2. THE REGIONAL PROVIDENT FUND COMMISSIONER, EMPLOYEES PROVIDENT FUND
ORGANIZATION, REGIONAL OFFICE, BHAVISHYANIDHI BHAVAN, P.B.NO.1806,
ERANHIPALAM P.O, KOZHIKODE, PIN-673006
3. THE CENTRAL PROVIDENT FUND COMMISSIONER, EMPLOYEES PROVIDENT FUND
ORGANIZATION, BHAVISHYANIDHI BHAVAN, NEW DELHI, PIN-110066
4. THE MATHRUBHUMI PRINTING & PUBLISHING COMPANY LTD., K.P.KESAVA MENON
ROAD, KOZHIKODE, KERALA, PIN - 673001
Writ Petition (Civil) praying inter alia that in the circumstances
WP(C) No.656/2025 3/5 Order Date : 08-01-2025
stated in the affidavit filed along with the WP(C) the High Court be
pleased to direct the respondents 2 to 4 to process the joint option forms
preferred by the petitioners in accordance with the judgement EPFO & Anr.
vs. SUNIL KUMAR. B & Ors., SLP (C) No. 8658-8659/2019 pending disposal of
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. V.V. NANDAGOPAL NAMBIAR, PREEJA P. VIJAYAN, SMITHA (EZHUPUNNA), PAVAN
ROSE JOHNSON & VANDANA BHAT T.V., Advocates for the petitioners, the court
passed the following:
WP(C) No.656/2025 4/5 Order Date : 08-01-2025
MURALI PURUSHOTHAMAN, J.
---------------------------------------------
W.P.(C) No. 656 OF 2025
-------------------------------------------------
Dated this the 8th day of January, 2025
ORDER
Admit. The learned CGC takes notice for the 1st
respondent. The learned Standing Counsel takes notice for
respondents 2 and 3. Issue notice by speed post to the 4 th
respondent.
The learned Standing Counsel for the Employees
Provident Fund Organisation to get instructions.
Post on 21.01.2025.
Sd/-
MURALI PURUSHOTHAMAN
JUDGE
al/-.
WP(C) No.656/2025 5/5 Order Date : 08-01-2025
APPENDIX OF WP(C) 656/2025
Exhibit P1. TRUE COPY OF THE JUDGEMENT DATED 4.11.2022 EMPLOYEES
PROVIDENT FUND ORGANIZATION AND ANOTHER VS. SUNIL KUMAR
B AND OTHERS (2022 (7) KHC 12 (SC))
Exhibit P2 THE TRUE COPY OF THE JOINT OPTION FORM SUBMITTED BY THE
1ST PETITIONER
Exhibit-P3 . TRUE COPY OF THE JUDGMENT DATED 25.11.2024 IN WPC NO.
