Achuthaprasad V. Panjanjanyam and others v. Union of India and others

## **`IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM`** ## **`PRESENT`** ## **`THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE MURALI PURUSHOTHAMAN`** ``` WEDNESDAY, THE 16[TH] DAY OF AUGUST 2023 / 25TH SRAVANA, 1945 WP(C) NO. 15867 OF 2020 ``` ## **`PETITIONERS:`** - **`1 ACHUTHAPRASAD V. PANJAJANYAM, SHIVAPURI, NEAR KAILAS NAGAR, KALPATHY P.O., PALAKKAD – 678 003 UAN NO.100073714731.`** - **`2 BADHARUDHEEN S., HOUSE NO.X/558, OASIS, NEAR TECHNICAL SCHOOL, KUPPIYODE ROAD, MARUTHA ROAD, (PO), PALAKKAD – 673 007, UAN NO.100105118277.`** - **`3 GOPALAKRISHNAN. P., VAISHNAVAM, SNEHA NAGAR, ERATTAYAL, MARUTHA ROAD, P.O. PALAKKAD – 678 007, UAN NO.100155066501.`** - **`4 JACOB SUNDARAN. A., KOZHUMPUKKARA HOUSE, KONGAMPARA, KOZHIPPARA. P.O., PALAKKAD - 678557, UAN NO.100169538272.`** - **`5 JAYAKRISHNAN.K ., KIZHAKKE HOUSE, NEAR AYAPPAN KAVU, KOLLENGODE POST, PALAKKAD - 678506, UAN NO.100173856989.`** - **`6 JINSHY P., SHALOM, PANAMKALAM, CHANDRA NAGAR POST, PALAKKAD – 678 007, UAN NO.100176325401.`** - **`7 MUKESH. K., MURUKA NIVAS, PULPOORAMANNAM, COYALMANNAM, PALAKKAD – 678 702, UAN NO.100237045571.`** - **`8 NARAYANAN. K., KIZHAKKEPPATTU HOUSE, TRITHALA POST, PALAKKAD – 679 534, UAN NO.100250468258.`** - **`9 PADMANABHAN. M., PRANAVAM, 4/73-5 IYER STREET, MATTUMANTHA, C.N .PURAM. P.O., PALAKKAD – 678 005 UAN NO.100265066039.`** - **`10 SASIKUMAR. C.K., VAISHNAVAM, THANNEER PANTHAL, KINASSERY POST, PALAKKAD UAN NO.100339918725.`** - **`11 SATHISH KUMAR.M., VADAKKAD HOUSE, THENNILAPURAM POST, ALATHUR, PALAKKAD – 678 682, UAN NO.100341232884.`** ``` WP(C).No.15867 OF 2020 ``` ``` 2 ``` - **`12 SEBY JOSE, PATHADAN HOUSE, ELAVOOR POST, PALUPUZHA, ANGAMALY, ERNAKULAM – 683 572 UAN NO.100343332678.`** - **`13 SHAJAHAN. K.D., 1/785, SOPANAM, KODUMBU P.O., PALAKKAD-678551, UAN NO.100346288700.`** - **`14 SURESH KUMAR.V.A, 8/187, KAILAS, C.N.PURAM POST, VALIYA PADAM, PALAKKAD – 678 005, UAN NO.100374228851.`** - **`15 SAROJAM V., SREEVALSAM, KIZHAKKEMURY, KANJIKODE, PALAKKAD – 678 621, UAN NO.100339518706.`** - **`16 RAJA MOHAN C., DEVI NIVAS, CHINGACHAM HOUSE, PUDUNAGARAM, PALAKKAD – 678 503, UAN NO.100293091825.`** - **`17 JAYALAKSHMI.C., THAVALAM, SIVAPARVATHYPURAM, PUDUSSERY, PALAKKAD – 678 623, UAN NO.100173951617.`** - **`18 SANTHI R., PRASADAM, NADAKKAVU, AKATHETHARA, PALAKKAD – 678 007, UAN NO.100335942982.`** - **`19 HARIDAS.M.P., SALIJEETH KUZHIYAKKADU, MILMA ROAD, KALLEPULLY, PALAKKAD – 678 005, UAN NO.100161660765.`** - **`20 V.JALAJAKUMARI, AYILYAM, EDATHARA, PALAKKAD, UAN NO.100171855002.`** - **`21 SEETHA.K., 6/370 PALLA STREET, SEKHARI PURAM (PO), PALAKKAD – 678 010, UAN NO.100343608718.`** - **`22 PADMAJA.K., MANU NIVAS, JAWHAR NAGAR, KURUDIKKAD PUDUSSERY, PALAKKAD – 678 623, UAN NO.100265000598.`** - **`23 VIJAYAKUMARI.S., ANUGRAHA HOUSE, ODUVANKAD, KUZHALMANNAM, PALAKKAD – 678 702, UAN NO.100404981790.`** - **`24 USHA.M., ANUGRAHA, KONGAPADAM, AKATHETHARA.P.O., PALAKKAD – 678 008, UAN NO.100396279214.`** - **`25 ASWATHY.S., VARADHANAM, KAILAS NAGAR, PUDUSSERY.P.O., PALAKKAD – 678 623, UAN NO.100095588369.`** - **`26 BEENA.B., KURUGAD HOUSE, MARUTHA ROAD PO,`** ``` WP(C).No.15867 OF 2020 ``` ``` 3 ``` ``` PALAKKAD – 678 007, UAN NO.100109160994. ``` - **`27 MEENA.T.C., HARINANDANAM, AMBHALAPURAM, WEST YAKKADA, PALAKKAD – 678 001, UAN NO.100226338181.`** - **`28 BINDU.C.,`** - **`GOVINDAM, WEST VALLAT HOUSE, KAVILPADU, OLAVAKKODE, PALAKKAD – 678 012, UAN NO.100115044962.`** - **`29 ANITHA.R., 12/120, ANURAG, PUTHUR, PALAKKAD – 678 001, UAN NO.100085692399.`** - **`30 MALINI.T.T., NIVEDYAM, CHOLODE, C.N.PURAM, MATTUMANTHA, PALAKKAD – 678 005, UAN NO.100216238513.`** - **`31 GEETHA.S., PANKAJ, ARAM PADAM, TATTAMBANGALAM, PALAKKAD – 678 102, UAN NO.100152701244.`** - **`32 REMA.C.V., GOKULAM, PANAYOOR, ATHIKKODE, PALAKKAD – 678 552. UAN NO.100312591085.`** - **`33 LAKSHMIKUTTY K., PULIKKAL HOUSE, NELLIAM PADAM, MARUTHA ROAD, PALAKKAD – 678 007 UAN NO.100203029310.`** - **`34 GEETHA.K., VAISHNAVAM, SANKARATHAKADU, MARUTHA ROAD, PALAKKAD – 678 007, UAN NO.100152644562.`** - **`35 SOUMINI.K., MARGASSERY HOUSE, AKATHETHARA.P.O., PALAKKAD – 678 008, UAN NO.100360863420.`** - **`36 SULEKSHA.V., THAMARACHIRA HOUSE, PALLANCHATHANOOR, PALAKKAD – 678 573, UAN NO.100368102401.`** - **`37 KAVITHA.A., KIZHAKKEPURAKKAL, 32/45, VADAKKANTHARA, CHUNNAMBUTHARA, PALAKKAD – 678 012 UAN NO.100191952584.`** - **`38 BEENA CHANDRAN.V., ANAHA, OPP. PANCHAYATU OFFICE, KODUMBU, PALAKKAD - 678 551 UAN NO.100109164463.`** - **`39 USHA.R., GOKULAM, THEKKETHARA, AKATHETHARA P.O., PALAKKAD – 678 008 UAN NO.100396308700.`** ``` WP(C).No.15867 OF 2020 ``` ``` 4 ``` - **`40 VIJAYAM.S., GOKULAM KADOOR, KODUNTHIRAPULLY, PALAKKAD – 678 004, UAN NO.100405094321.`** - **`41 RATHY.P., 5/413, PREMA NIVAS,VISWAKARMA NAGAR, MELE MURALI, IND ESTATE, PALAKKAD – 678 731 UAN NO.100309391165.`** - **`42 KALPAKAVALLY.B., RVC ROAD, VALLENGHY, NEMMARA, PALAKKAD – 678 508, UAN NO.100186432275.`** - **`43 TEREESH.E., H 10 EDAPPATHIL, FCI COLONY, SECOND LANE, INDUSTRIAL ESTATE, PUTHUPPARIYARAM - 1, PALAKKAD – 678 731, UAN NO.100390424571.`** - **`44 VASUDEVAN.M., PARIYARAM, PARIYARAM POST, KANNUR, UAN NO.100401077900.`** - **`45 VEERARAGHAVAN.R.V., PDN-14, SREERANJINI, PRIYADARSINI NAGAR, PUTHUR, PALAKKAD – 678 001 UAN NO.100401459509.`** - **`46 VIJAYARAJAN P., PUTHEN VEETIL HOUSE, VELLINEZHI POST, PALAKKAD – 679 504, UAN NO.100405179368.`** ``` BY ADVS. SRI. ASOK M.CHERIAN SRI. N.SATHEESH SRI. K.JANARDHANA SHENOY ``` ## **`RESPONDENTS:`** - **`1 UNION OF INDIA, REPRESENTED BY SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT OF INDIA, MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT, DEPARTMENT OF EMPLOYMENT, NEW DELHI – 110 001.`** - **`2 CENTRAL PROVIDENT FUND COMMISSIONER, EMPLOYEES PROVIDENT FUND ORGANISATION, BHAVISHYA NIDHI BHAVAN, 14-BHIKAJI CAMA PLACE, NEW DELHI – 110 066.`** - **`3 EMPLOYEES PROVIDENT FUND ORGANIZATION, SUB REGIONAL OFFICE, 'BHAVISHYANIDHI BHAVAN', ERANHIPALAM, KOZHIKODE, KERALA – 673 006.`** ``` WP(C).No.15867 OF 2020 ``` ``` 5 ``` ``` 4BPL TELECOM PVT.LTD., KOTTUPATHA, CHANDRA NAGAR, PALAKKAD – 678 007, REPRESENTED BY ITS MANAGING DIRECTOR. ``` ``` BY ADVS. DR. ABRAHAM P.MEACHINKARA - SC SRI. M.GOPIKRISHNAN NAMBIAR SRI. K.JOHN MATHAI SRI.J OSON MANAVALAN SRI. KURYAN THOMAS SRI. PAULOSE C. ABRAHAM SRI. JAI MOHAN ``` ``` THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 16.08.2023, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: ``` ``` WP(C).No.15867 OF 2020 ``` ``` 6 ``` ## **`JUDGMENT`** ## This writ petition is filed seeking the following ## reliefs:- “i) to declare that the petitioners are entitled to get pension on the basis of pensionable salary reckoned in accordance with their actual salary from the date of his joining the Pension Scheme under the Employees Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952 accepting the joint option exercised by the petitioners and the 4[th] respondent by the PF Organisation. ii) to issue a writ in the nature of mandamus directing respondents 2 to 4 to accept the joint option exercised by the petitioners and the 4[th] respondent, and transfer such percentage of the employer’s contribution from the respective Provident Fund Account of the petitioners to their respective Employee Pension Fund with the arrears of contribution payable by them based on their actual salary.” 2. The petitioners are retired employees of the 4[th] respondent establishment. They are subscribers of Employees’ Provident Fund. According to the petitioners, they are entitled for higher pension under the Employees’ Provident Funds and Miscellaneous ``` WP(C).No.15867 OF 2020 ``` ``` 7 ``` Provisions Act, 1952 as per the option exercised by them. It is their case that the pension has to be paid without limiting the amount to the maximum pensionable salary prescribed in paragraph 11(3) of the Employees’ Pension Scheme, 1995. 3. Dr.Abraham P.Meachinkara, the learned Standing Counsel for the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation submits that the question raised in the writ petition is now settled by the Hon’ble Supreme Court in **EPF Organisation and Another v. Sunil Kumar B and Others** [2022 SCC online SC 1521] and that the grievance of the petitioners raised in this writ petition will be considered in accordance with the directions therein. In the light of the said submission, this writ petition is disposed of directing the competent among the respondents to re-consider the claims put forward by the petitioners in the light of the dictum laid down ``` WP(C).No.15867 OF 2020 ``` ``` 8 ``` by the Hon’ble Supreme Court in the decision cited above within a period of three months from the date of receipt of a copy of this judgment. ## **`Sd/-`** ``` MURALI PURUSHOTHAMAN JUDGE ``` SPR ``` WP(C).No.15867 OF 2020 ``` ``` 9 ``` ## **`APPENDIX`** ## **`PETITIONER’S EXHIBITS:-`** ``` EXHIBIT P1 ``` ``` A TRUE COPY OF THE JUDGMENT OF THE HON'BLE HIGH COURT OF KERALA DATED 25.2.2020 IN WPC.NO.3846/2019. ``` ``` RESPONDENTS EXHIBITS: NIL. ```