Kerala Paper Products Limited (Kppl) vs Mathew E.K on 30 March, 2026

Author: Devan Ramachandran

Bench: Devan Ramachandran

WA NO. 463 OF 2026

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                                                       2026:KER:29582

               IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM

                                  PRESENT

            THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE DEVAN RAMACHANDRAN

                                     &

               THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE BASANT BALAJI

        MONDAY, THE 30TH DAY OF MARCH 2026 / 9TH CHAITHRA, 1948

                          WA NO. 463 OF 2026

        AGAINST THE JUDGMENT DATED 25.10.2024 IN WP(C) NO.16786 OF

2023 OF HIGH COURT OF KERALA

APPELLANT(S)/5TH RESPONDENT:

            KERALA PAPER PRODUCTS LIMITED (KPPL),
            (A GOVERNMENT OF KERALA UNDERTAKING), NEWSPRINT NAGAR,
            KOTTAYAM, KERALA, REPRESENTED BY ITS AUTHORIZED
            SIGNATORY, PIN - 686616


            BY ADVS.
            SHRI.ABEL TOM BENNY
            SRI.D.PREM KAMATH




RESPONDENT(S)/PETITIONERS/RESPONDENTS 1 TO 4:

    1       MATHEW E.K,
            AGED 63 YEARS
            , S/O KURUVILA E.V, P.P.O. NO. KR/KTM/00043671,
            ERUPPAYIL HOUSE, PUNNATHURA WEST P.O., ETTUMMANOOR,
            KOTTAYAM, KERALA, PIN - 686631

    2       RAJENDRAN .R
            AGED 60 YEARS
            S/O S.RAGHAVAN PILLAI, P.P.O. NO. KR/KTM/00046298,
            THANAL, ARAMPUNNA ELAMBAL P.O., PUNALUR, KOLLAM,
            KERALA, PIN - 691322
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    3     RAJASEKHARAN NAIR R
          AGED 61 YEARS
          S/O P.N.RAMAKRISHNAN NAIR, P.P.O. NO. KR/KTM/00045616,
          SOUPARNIKA, PRA 6A, KANJIRAMATTOM ROAD, THODUPPUZHA
          EAST P.O., THODUPPUZHA IDUKKI DISTRICT., PIN - 685584

    4     JAMES CHACKO
          AGED 60 YEARS
          S/O OUSEPH CHACKO, P.P.O. NO. KR/KTM/00046571, RESIDING
          AT KALAPPURAYIL HOUSE, KARIMANNOOR P.O., THODUPPUZHA,
          IDUKKI, KERALA, PIN - 685581

    5     RETNAMMA K
          AGED 62 YEARS
          W/O. DAYADASAN K.M., P.P.O. NO. KR/KTM/00044841 ,
          RESIDING AT 'DHANYA HOUSE', MEVELLOOR P.O., VELLOOR,
          PIN - 686609

    6     JOSEPH SEBASTIAN
          AGED 62 YEARS
          S/O K.J. SEBASTIAN, P.P.O. NO. KR/KTM/00042499,
          RESIDING AT KANIYAMPARAMBIL HOUSE, MALAKUNNAM P.O.,
          CHANGANACHERRY, KOTTAYAM, PIN - 686535

    7     MOLLEY T
          AGED 61 YEARS
          S/O RAJAN PHILIP, P.P.O. NO. KR/KTM/00044496 , RESIDING
          AT OLASSAYIL HOUSE, KARIKODE P.O., PERUVA, KOTTAYAM,
          PIN - 686610

    8     SUNNY BABY
          AGED 64 YEARS
          C/O BABY P.V., P.P.O. NO. KR/KCH/00098182 , RESIDING AT
          PARAMBATHOOR HOUSE, MEKKADU P.O., KARIYAD, ERNAKULAM,
          PIN - 683589

    9     THANKAPPAN P.G
          AGED 65 YEARS
          S/O GOVINDAN , P.P.O. NO. KR/KKD/00061749, RESIDING AT
          PANIKKASSERY HOUSE, KOORACHUNDU P.O., KOZHIKODE, PIN -
          673527

    10    K.B.MOHANAN
          AGED 66 YEARS
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          S/O K.BHASKARAN PILLAY, P.P.O. NO. KR/KTM/00036733,
          RESIDING AT HNL QUARTERS, A110, NEWSPRINT NAGAR P.O.,
          KOTTAYAM, KERALA, PIN - 686616

    11    PRAKASH KUMAR P
          AGED 64 YEARS
          S/O M.P. PRABHAKARAN PILLAI, P.P.O. NO.
          KR/KTM/00037004, RESIDING AT ANAKKALIL HOUSE,
          KOTTANKUTLLAGARA P.O., ALLEPPEY, PIN - 688006

    12    SATHEESAN G
          AGED 65 YEARS
          S/O G.GOPALAN, P.P.O. NO. KR/KTM/00036893 , RESIDING AT
          SANGEETHIKA NEAR KIZHAKKEKKARA, DHARMASASTHA. SREE
          BHADRAKALI TEMPLE, VELLOOR P.O., KOTTAYAM, PIN - 686003

    13    PRAKASH C.T
          AGED 67 YEARS
          S/O THANKAPPAN , P.P.O. NO. KR/KCH/00128862, RESIDING
          AT CHULLIPARAMBIL HOUSE, KARATTUPALLIKARA, PERUMBAVOOR,
          PIN - 683542

    14    BABU K.U
          AGED 65 YEARS
          S/O K.N.. UNNAN, P.P.O. NO. KR/KCH/00101521, RESIDING
          AT KALAPPURAKKAL, OLANADU VARAPPUZHA P.O.,, PIN -
          683517

    15    RAJAGOPALAN K
          AGED 66 YEARS
          S/O K. GOPALAKRISHNAN MENON , P.P.O. NO.
          KR/KCH/00099456 , RESIDING AT DD PLATINUM PLANET, TOWER
          2, ROOM NO. 10K, KATHRIKADAVU, THAMMANAM P.O.,, PIN -
          682017

    16    MADHUSOODHANAN NAIR P.D
          AGED 61 YEARS
          S/O DAMODHARAN, P.P.O. NO. KR/TVM/00087509 , RESIDING
          AT MANNUMKAL HOUSE, MADAMON P.O., PATHANAMTHITTA, PIN -
          689711

    17    N.B.PEETHAMBARAN
          AGED 66 YEARS
          S/O N. BALAKRISHNAN, P.P.O. NO. KR/KCH/00088612 ,
          RESIDING AT NANDIKARA HOUSE, KANNAMKULANGARA,
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          KOORKENCHERY P.O., THRISSUR, PIN - 680007

    18    THANKAMONY T.K
          AGED 63 YEARS
          W/O S. AJAYAKUMAR, P.P.O. NO. KR/KCH/00103055 ,
          RESIDING AT KARIYIL HOUSE, CHENGANDA, VARANADU P.O,
          CHERTHALA, ALAPPUZHA-, PIN - 688539

    19    MOHANAN K.P
          AGED 66 YEARS
          S/O PADMANABHAN K.M, P.P.O. NO. KR/KTM/00035599 ,
          RESIDING AT KARIPURATHU HOUSE, ERUMPAYAM P.O., VELLOOR,
          THALAYOLAPARAMBU, KOTTAYAM, PIN - 686605

    20    AUGUSTINE T.A
          AGED 63 YEARS
          S/O AUGUSTHY AUGUSTHY , P.P.O. NO. KR/KTM/00040847 ,
          RESIDING AT THOTTUMKAL, AMALAGIRI P.O., KOTTAYAM, PIN -
          686561

    21    JOSEPH K.C
          AGED 63 YEARS
          S/O CHACKO , P.P.O. NO. KR/KTM/00041707,RESIDING AT
          KALAMBUKATTU HOUSE, SREEKANDAMANGALAM P.O.,
          ATHIRAMPUZHA, KOTTAYAM, PIN - 686562

    22    ANTONY K.P
          AGED 65 YEARS
          S/O PAPPU K.O., P.P.O. NO. KR/KTM/00035700, RESIDING AT
          KACHAPPILLY HOUSE, NEAR VRINDHAVAN STOP, NORTH PARAVUR,
          ERNAKULAM, PIN - 683513

    23    AMBIKA.K
          AGED 61 YEARS
          W/O. T.M. DINESAN , P.P.O. NO. KR/KTM/00043734 ,
          RESIDING AT KANDATHIL HOUSE, THALAYALAPARAMBU P.O.,
          KOTTAYAM, PIN - 686605

    24    JAYAN. P.P
          AGED 64 YEARS
          S/O PENGAN P.G, P.P.O. NO. KR/KCH/00109203 , RESIDING
          AT PAMBOOR HOUSE, PURATHUR, ALAPPAD P.O, THRISSUR, PIN
          - 680641

    25    RAVEENDRAN NAIR T.M
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          AGED 65 YEARS
          S/O P.K.MADHAVAN NAR, P.P.O. NO. KR/KTM/00035809 ,
          RESIDING AT THEKKINPRAMPIL HOUSE, VELLOR P.O, KOTTYAM,,
          PIN - 686501

    26    ULAHANNAN M.A
          AGED 66 YEARS
          S/O AUGUSTINE M , P.P.O. NO. KR/KTM/00035603 , RESIDING
          AT MECHERIL HOUSE, IRUMPAYAM P.O., KOTTAYAM, PIN -
          686605

    27    VARGHESE P.P
          AGED 63 YEARS
          S/O PAILY P.V., P.P.O. NO. KR/KTM/00040416 , RESIDING
          AT PULIYALAYIL HOUSE, IRUMPAYAM P.O., VELLOOR,
          KOTTAYAM,, PIN - 686605

    28    THULASI PISHARASIAR N
          AGED 66 YEARS
          C/O MOHANDAS K. , P.P.O. NO. KR/KCH/00090574 , RESIDING
          AT THULASIVANAM, MUTHOLAPURAM P.O, ELANJI VIA,
          ERNAKULAM, PIN - 686665

    29    JOSE PAUL
          AGED 66 YEARS
          C/O N.O. PAILY, P.P.O. NO. KR/KCH/00096299, RESIDING AT
          NARIKUNNEL, ELANJ P.O., ERNAKULAM, PIN - 686665

    30    RAJEEV M.K
          AGED 63 YEARS
          C/O P.K.KUTTAN PILLAI, P.P.O. NO.KR/KLM/00112988 ,
          RESIDING AT AMMAVEEDEE, MUKUNDAPURAM CHAVARE, KOLLAM,
          PIN - 691585

    31    USHA J
          AGED 65 YEARS
          C/O AYYAPPAN CHETTIAR, P.P.O. NO. KR/KTM/00038564 ,
          RESIDING AT USHUS,NO.13, ROSE MOUNT VILLAS, KATTACHIRA
          P.O, ETTUMANOOR, KOTTAYAM, PIN - 686572

    32    SUBHADRA AMMA S
          AGED 66 YEARS
          C/O G.VASU DEVEN NAIR, P.P.O. NO. KR/KTM/00033554 ,
          RESIDING AT PANACKAL HOUSE, PANAVALLY P.O, CHERTHALA,
          ALLAPUZHA, PIN - 688526
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    33    SASIDHARAN PILLAI .S
          AGED 65 YEARS
          C/O P.K.SREEDHARANPILLAI, P.P.O. NO. KR/KTM/00038341 ,
          RESIDING AT SREEDHARAS, MEENATHUCHERY, KAVANADU P.O,
          KOLLAM, PIN - 691003

    34    SUKUMARAN NAIR T.R
          AGED 65 YEARS
          S/O. P.RAGHAVAN NAIR, P.P.O. NO. KR/KTM/00037973,
          RESIDING AT NANDANAM, POOZHIKOL P.O, KOTTAYAM, PIN -
          686604

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

    36    THE EMPLOYEES PROVIDENT FUND ORGANISATION
          REPRESENTED BY THE CHIEF PROVIDENT COMMISSIONER,
          BHAVISHYA NIDHI BHAVAN, 14,BHIKAJI CAMA PALACE, NEW
          DELHI-, PIN - 110066

    37    REGIONAL PROVIDENT FUND COMMISSIONER
          EMPLOYEES PROVIDENT FUND ORGANISATION BHAVISHYA NIDHI
          BHAWAN, ADITYA SABARI TOWER, POST OFFICE
          ROAD,THIRUNAKKARA, KOTTAYAM, KERALA -, PIN - 686001

    38    HINDUSTAN NEWSPRINT LIMITED (HNL),
          NEWSPRINT NAGAR, PIRAVOM ROAD, VELLOOR, KERALA
          REPRESENTED BY ITS GENERAL MANAGER, PIN - 686616

    39    AGITHA MENON V.M ( SOUGHT TO BE IMPLEADED )
          W/O. LATE RAJAGOPALAN K., RESIDING AT B-18/69 HNL
          COLONY, VELLOOR, NEWS PRINT NAGAR P.O.,KOTTAYAM, KERALA
          ( SOUGHT TO BE IMPLEADED )


          BY ADVS.
          SHRI.R.SANJITH
          SHRI.JOY THATTIL ITTOOP
          SMT.C.S.SINDHU KRISHNAH
 WA NO. 463 OF 2026

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     THIS WRIT APPEAL HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 30.03.2026,
THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:
 WA NO. 463 OF 2026

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                            JUDGMENT

Dated this the 30th day of March 2026

Devan Ramachandran, J

We are disposing of this appeal with the consent of the learned

counsel for all the parties.

2. Sri.Joy Thattil Ettoop - learned Standing Counsel for the

EPFO, submitted that his client will act upon the "Joint Option", that was

physically presented before them by the erstwhile company, namely,

Hindustan News Print Limited. This is recorded.

3. Sri.Benny Thomas, learned Senior Counsel, instructed by

Abel Tom Benny - learned counsel for the appellant, submitted that his

client's objection is only to endorsing the "Joint Options" since, the

question of their responsibility, if any, towards the former employees of

the HNL is still pending before the Honourable Supreme Court. He

undertook that his client will act in future in terms of the decision to be

taken by the Supreme Court.

4. Sri.Sanjith - learned counsel appearing for party respondents,

submitted that his clients' requirement is only that the "Joint Options" be

acted upon by the competent Authority of the EPFO.

5. In view of the afore, we allow this appeal and modify the WA NO. 463 OF 2026

2026:KER:29582

impugned judgment, directing that all the exercise as ordered therein, be

completed by the EPFO without requiring the endorsement on the "Joint

Options", namely, Ext.P6, by the appellant.

6. Needless to say, our observations do not mean that the

appellant is exonerated of their responsibilities qua the ex-employees of

the HNL; and this will depend upon the decision to be taken by the

Honourable Supreme Court.

7. The afore shall be done by the EPFO within a period of three

months from the date of receipt of a copy of this judgment.

It is clarified that since we are disposing of this matter with the

consent of all the parties, this judgment cannot be construed as a

precedent by any other person, even when analogous circumstances are

presented.

Sd/-

DEVAN RAMACHANDRAN JUDGE

Sd/-

BASANT BALAJI JUDGE saap WA NO. 463 OF 2026

2026:KER:29582

APPENDIX OF WA NO. 463 OF 2026

PETITIONER ANNEXURES

Annexure A1 A TRUE COPY OF THE MEMORANDUM OF WRIT PETITION 11147 OF 2024 ALONG WITH THE EXHIBITS FILED BY THE APPELLANT Annexure A2 TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER DATED 26.12.2023 KR/ KTM/10290/00A/ RPFC/ PENAL DAMAGE/14B/ 2022- 23/ 2348 ISSUED BY THE REGIONAL PROVIDENT FUND COMMISSIONER, KOTTAYAM Annexure A3 TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER DATED 26.12.2023 KR/ KTM/10290/00B/ RPFC/ PENAL DAMAGE/14B/ 2022- 23/ 2349 ISSUED BY THE REGIONAL PROVIDENT FUND COMMISSIONER, KOTTAYAM Annexure A4 TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER DATED 26.12.2023 KR/ KTM/10290/00C/ RPFC/ PENAL DAMAGE/14B/ 2022- 23/ 2350 ISSUED BY THE REGIONAL PROVIDENT FUND COMMISSIONER, KOTTAYAM Annexure A5 TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER DATED 26.12.2023 KR/ KTM/10290/00D/ RPFC/ PENAL DAMAGE/14B/ 2022- 23/ 2351 ISSUED BY THE REGIONAL PROVIDENT FUND COMMISSIONER, KOTTAYAM Annexure A6 TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER DATED 27.12.2023 KR/ KTM/10290/00E/ RPFC/ PENAL DAMAGE/14B/ 2022- 23/ 2352 ISSUED BY THE REGIONAL PROVIDENT FUND COMMISSIONER, KOTTAYAM Annexure A7 TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER DATED 27.12.2023 KR/ KTM/10290/00F/ RPFC/ PENAL DAMAGE/14B/ 2022- 23/ 2353 ISSUED BY THE REGIONAL PROVIDENT FUND COMMISSIONER, KOTTAYAM Annexure A8 TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER DATED 27.12.2023 KR/ KTM/10290/ RPFC/ PENAL DAMAGE/14B/ 2022-23/ 2355A ISSUED BY THE REGIONAL PROVIDENT FUND COMMISSIONER, KOTTAYAM Annexure A9 A TRUE COPY OF THE JUDGMENT DATED 09.12.2024 IN WP(C) NO.11288 OF 2023 OF THIS HON'BLE COURT Annexure A10 A TRUE COPY OF THE REVIEW PETITION NO.

24/2025 WITHOUT ANNEXURES FILED BY THE APPELLANT DATED 25.11.2024 Annexure A11 A TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER DATED 16.12.2025 IN RP NO. 24 OF 2025 OF THIS HON'BLE COURT Annexure A12 TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER DATED 20.11.2023 IN WA NO. 463 OF 2026

2026:KER:29582

THE CIVIL APPEAL DIARY NO 31624/2024 OF SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Annexure A13 TRUE COPY OF THE JOINT OPTION UNDER SECTION 26(6) OF THE EPF SCHEME 1952 DATED 30.01.2024 WHICH IS APPROVED BY THE CPFC Annexure A14 THE TRUE COPY OF THE LETTER SUBMITTED BY THE APPELLANT TO THE REGIONAL PF COMMISSIONER II, EPFO STATING ITS INABILITY TO PROCESS THE JOINT OPTION FORM IN ONLINE MODE.