High Court of KeralaSingle Judge2020-08-14Disposed of with directions to consider Ext.P4 ...

Asok Kumar R and Others v. Employees Provident Fund Organisation and Others

Case / Petition Number:WP(C).No.16686 OF 2020

Case Details & Bench

Court: High Court of Kerala
Hon'ble Judges: A.K. Jayasankaran Nambiar
Judgment Date: 2020-08-14
Court Decision / Holding: Disposed of with a direction to the 1st and 2nd respondents to consider and pass orders on Ext.P4 series of applications within six weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this judgment, after hearing the petitioners, taking note of P. Sasikumar v. Union of India (W.P.(C) No.13120/2015) and RC Gupta v. Regional Provident Fund Commissioner, Employees Provident Fund Organisation and Others (2018) 14 SCC 809.
Final Disposition: Disposed of with directions to consider Ext.P4 series within six weeks after hearing, taking into account cited precedents.

Parties to the Case

Appellants / Petitioners

ASOK KUMAR R
WILLIAM BRUNO K.M.
APPUKUTTAN. M.A
ABDUL KALAM.A.
K.E. AYYAPPAN
NANDAKUMAR.C.
IGNATIUS MATHEW
E.K. MATHEW
SURENDRN NAIR.P.R.
KRISHNAN.Y.
RAMAKANTH BHAT.K.
PARAMESWARAN.M.
G. SURENDRAN
MATHEW V.O.
BABY V JOSEPH
BALARAMAN NAIR.M.K.
SURENDRAN. K.N.
NANDAKUMARAN.A.
PRESANNA.K.P.
RADHAKRISHNAN NAIR.P.V.
K. RAMESH
SYAMPRASAD A.P.
P.R. BHARATHAKUMARA PANICKER

Respondents

EMPLOYEES PROVIDENT FUND ORGANISATION
ASSISTANT PROVIDENT FUND COMMISSIONER, EPF ORGANIZATION SUB REGIONAL OFFICE, KALOOR, COCHIN 17
UNION OF INDIA REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY TO THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA, MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT SHRAM SAKTHI BHAVAN, RAFFI MARG, NEW DELHI 110001
HMT MACHINE TOOLS LTD., REPRESENTED BY ITS MANAGING DIRECTOR, HMT COLONY, KALAMASSERY, ERNAKULAM 683 503

Legal Representation & Advocates

Counsels for Petitioners

• SRI.P.THOMAS GEEVERGHESE
• SRI.TONY THOMAS (INCHIPARAMBIL)
• SRI.E.S.FIROS

Counsels for Respondents

• SRI.PRASANTH
• SRI.P.VIJAYAKUMAR
• SRI.SAJI VARGHESE

Case Synopsis & Summary

This writ petition (WP(C) No. 16686/2020) before the Kerala High Court, Ernakulam, is filed by twenty-three petitioners (employees) seeking higher pension under the Employees Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act. The petitioners contend they are entitled to enhanced pension benefits and have filed Ext.P4 series of applications before the 1st and 2nd respondents (the EPFO authorities) requesting reconsideration in light of favorable jurisprudence. They rely on judgments including P. Sasikumar v. Union of India (W.P.(C) No. 13120/2015) and RC Gupta v. Regional Provident Fund Commissioner (2018) 14 SCC 809 to support an entitlement to higher pension. The respondents, including EPF Organisation, its Sub Regional Office, the Union of India, and HMT Machine Tools Ltd., oppose a broad directive, arguing that pension decisions are governed by statutory provisions and require proper administrative action. After hearing counsel for both sides, the judge, Justice A.K. Jayasankaran Nambiar, disposes of the petition with a directional order: to consider and pass orders on Ext.P4 series within six weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of the judgment, after hearing the petitioners, taking note of the cited judgments. The court directs the petitioners to furnish copies of the writ petition and judgment for further action. The decision emphasizes a procedural route toward potential pension enhancements, guided by the cited precedents."

Provisions of Law Cited

Employees' Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952

Submissions & Arguments

Contentions of Appellants / Petitioners

The petitioners seek a direction to the 1st and 2nd respondents to consider Ext.P4 series of applications for higher pension under the EPF Act, guided by the decisions in P. Sasikumar v. Union of India and RC Gupta v. RPFC. They contend eligibility for enhanced pension under the statutory framework and urge the court to ensure timely, favorable action on their applications after hearing.

Contentions of Respondents

The respondents oppose a blanket directive, arguing pension enhancement requires adherence to the statutory scheme and administrative prudence. They recommend that any orders be grounded in the statutory provisions and the court should avoid directing beyond what the legal framework permits, ensuring proper consideration of Ext.P4 applications within existing processes.

Cited Precedents (3)

Case Name	Citation	Treatment	Explanation
P. Sasikumar v. Union of India	W.P.(C) No.13120/2015	Positive	Judgment relied upon as authority to guide consideration of higher pension applications.
RC Gupta and Others v. Regional Provident Fund Commissioner, Employees Provident Fund Organisation and Others	(2018) 14 SCC 809	Positive	Supreme Court decision addressing pension matters under EPF regime; used to frame the court's direction.
WPC 2215/2020	WPC 2215/2020	Mentioned Only	Exhibit P3; referenced as a related judgment but not directly discussed in the reasoning.

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Extracted Judgment Text

Exact text extracted from official judgment records.

## **IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM** ## **PRESENT** ## **THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE A.K.JAYASANKARAN NAMBIAR** **FRIDAY, THE 14TH DAY OF AUGUST 2020 / 23RD SRAVANA, 1942** ## **WP(C).No.16686 OF 2020** ## **PETITIONERS:** - **1 ASOK KUMAR R AGED 64 YEARS EPF ACCOUNT NO. KR/KCH/002357/000/0004315, VYSHAKH, NAJATH NAGAR, SOUTH KALAMASSERY, KOCHI 682 033.** - **2 WILLIAM BRUNO K.M., AGED 71 YEARS EPF ACCOUNT NO. KR/KCH/002357/000/0004442, KANAPPILLY HOUSE, KOONAMMAVU P.O. NORTH PARUR. ERNAKULAM.** - **3 APPUKUTTAN. M.A, AGED 68 YEARS EPF ACCOUNT NO. KR/KCH/002357/000/0003821, KAIPOTHUPARAMBIAL HOUSE MONAPPILLY, PUTHENNCRUZ P.O. ERNAKULAM 682 308.** - **4 ABDUL KALAM.A., AGED 73 YEARS EPF ACCOUNT NO. KR/KCH/002357/000/0003339, ALFAJAR, PRESS MUKKU, EDAVA P.O. TRIVANDRUM DISTRICT , KERALA 695 311.** - **5 K.E. AYYAPPAN, AGED 73 YEARS EPF ACCOUNT NO. KR/KCH/002357/000/0003426, KANJIRATHUMKUDY, AIMURY P.O. 683 544.** - **6 NANDAKUMAR.C. AGED 63 YEARS EPF ACCOUNT NO. KR/KCH/002357/000/0004563, 28/3495, KRISHNA SREE. PONNETH WEST ROAD, CHILAVANNOOR, KOCHI 682 020.** - **7 IGNATIUS MATHEW, AGED 58 YEARS EPF ACCOUNT NO. KR/KCH/002357/000/0004609, PALETT HOUSE, NNRA 106, MANKUZHI ROAD, EDAPPALLY TOLL, KOCHI 24.** - **8 E.K. MATHEW, AGED 68 YEARS** 2 **WP(C).No.16686 OF 2020** **EPF ACCOUNT NO. KR/KCH/002357/000/0003940 EDAPPANGATTIL HOSE, MGM NAGAR, PERUMPILLY P.O. 682 314.** - **9 SURENDRN NAIR.P.R., AGED 70 YEARS** **EPF ACCOUNT NO. KR/2357/3642.** **SNOW HOUSE XXX/330, EROOR WEST P.O. TRIPUNITHURA, ERNAKULAM 682 306.** - **10 KRISHNAN.Y., AGED 57 YEARS KERALA 683 511.** - **11 RAMAKANTH BHAT.K., AGED 65 YEARS** - **EPF ACCOUNT NO. KR/KCH/002357/000/0003827 KARTHIA MANAKKAPPADI, KARUMALLUR P.O. ERNAKULAM, KERALA 683 511.** **EPF ACCOUNT NO. KR/KCH/002357/000/0004840 FLAT NO. 8, INDRAPRASTA APARTMENTS, P.V. LANE, TD ROAD, ERNAKULAM, KERALA 682 035.** - **12 PARAMESWARAN.M., AGED 66 YEARS EPF ACCOUNT NO. KR/KCH/002357/000/0004315, DIVYA BHAVAN, SPW ROAD, THAIKKATTUKARA P.O. ALUVA, ERNAKULAM, KERALA 683 106.** - **13 G. SURENDRAN, AGED 68 YEARS EPF ACCOUNT NO. KR/KCH/002357/000/0003738 35-308-A SUJAPREM, AUTHOMOBILE ROD, PALARIVATTOM, ERNAKULAM 682 025.** - **14 MATHEW V.O., AGED 68 YEARS EPF ACCOUNT NO. KR/KCH/002357/000/0003876 VATHALLOOR HOUSE, KARUKUNNU, UC COLLEGE, P.O. ALUVA 683 102.** - **15 BABY V JOSEPH, AGED 71 YEARS** **EPF ACCOUNT NO. KR/KCH/002357/000/0004315, DIVYA BHAVAN, SPW ROAD, THAIKKATTUKARA P.O. ALUVA, ERNAKULAM, KERALA 683 106.** **EPF ACCOUNT NO. KR/KCH/002357/000/0003876 VATHALLOOR HOUSE, KARUKUNNU, UC COLLEGE, P.O. ALUVA 683 102.** **EPF ACCOUNT NO. KR/KCH/002357/000/0003596, VALIYAPARAMBIL HOUSE, IRINGOL P.O. PERUMBAVOOR, ERNAKULAM 683 548.** **16 BALARAMAN NAIR.M.K., AGED 64 YEARS EPF ACCOUNT NO. KR/KCH/002357/000/0004284 FLAT NO. 002, SANTHI VIHAR APARTMENT, ELANJIKAL LANE, YUVAJANA SAMAJAM ROAD, KADAVANTHRA, ERNAKULAM, KERALA 682 020.** 3 **WP(C).No.16686 OF 2020** |**17**|**SURENDRAN. K.N.,**| |---|---| ||**AGED 58 YEARS**| ||**EPF ACCOUNT NO. KR/KCH/002357/000/0004639**| ||**KATTUPARAMBIL, ELINJIPARA P.O. CHALAKKUDI, KOLLAM,**| ||**KERALA 680 721.**| |**18**|**NANDAKUMARAN.A.,**| ||**AGED 68 YEARS**| ||**EPF ACCOUNT NO. KR/KCH/002357/000/0004236**| ||**MANJEERAM (POTTEKKAT) V.K. ROAD, NILAMBUR, MALAPPURAM**| ||**679 329.**| |**19**|**PRESANNA.K.P.,**| ||**AGED 72 YEARS**| ||**EPF ACCOUNT NO. KR/KCH/002357/000/0004278**| ||**FLAT NO. BI21, MAHAVEER MARVEL APARTMENT,**| ||**KODICHIKKANAHALLI ROAD, BILEKKAHALLI P.O. KARNATAKA**| ||**560 076.**| |**20**|**RADHAKRISHNAN NAIR.P.V.,**| ||**AGED 72 YEARS**| ||**EPF ACCOUNT NO. KR/KCH/002357/000/0004315,**| ||**H.NO. 33/1269, ASWATHY, PRASANTHINAGAR, EDAPPALLY P.O.**| ||**ERNAKULAM 682 024.**| |**21**|**K. RAMESH,**| ||**AGED 66 YEARS**| ||**EPF ACCOUNT NO. KR/KCH/002357/000/0004591,**| ||**KRISHNAPRIYAM, TD NORTH GATE, ERNAKULAM, KERALA 682**| ||**035.**| |**22**|**SYAMPRASAD A.P.,**| ||**AGED 60 YEARS**| ||**EPF ACCOUNT NO. KR/KCH/002357/000/0004618**| ||**DEVIPRASAADAM, SUNDARAHGIRI, NORTH KALAMASSERY,**| ||**ERNAKULAM, KERALA 683 104.**| |**23**|**P.R. BHARATHAKUMARA PANICKER,**| ||**AGED 65 YEARS**| ||**EPF ACCOUNT NO. KR/KCH/002357/000/0004723,**| ||**PADMA VIHAR, PERUVARAM SOUTH, KIZHAKKEPRAM, NORTH**| ||**PARAVOOR, ERNAKULAM, KERALA 683 513.**| ||**BY ADVS.**| ||**SRI.P.THOMAS GEEVERGHESE**| ||**SRI.TONY THOMAS (INCHIPARAMBIL)**| ||**SRI.E.S.FIROS**| |**RESPONDENTS**<br>**:**|| |**1**|**EMPLOYEES PROVIDENT FUND ORGANISATION**| ||**REPRESENTED BY REGIONAL PROVIDENT FUND COMMISSIONER,**| ||**BHAVISHANIDHI BHAVAN, NO. 36/655A, KALOOR, KOCHI 682**| 4 **WP(C).No.16686 OF 2020** **017.** - **2 THE ASSISTANT PROVIDENT FUND COMMISSIONER, EPF ORGANIZATION SUB REGIONAL OFFICE, KALOOR, COCHIN 17.** - **3 UNION OF INDIA REPRESENTED BY IS SECRETARY TO THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA, MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT SHRAM SAKTHI BHAVAN RAFFI MARG. NEW DELHI 110001.** - **4 HMT MACHINE TOOSL LTD., REPRESENTED BY ITS MANAGING DIRECTOR, HMT COLONY, KALAMASSERY, ERNAKULAM 683 503.** **BY ADV. S PRASANTH,SC BY ADV.SRI.P.VIJAYAKUMAR, ASG BY ADV.SRI.SAJI VARGHESE, SC** **THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 14.08.2020, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:** 5 **WP(C).No.16686 OF 2020** ## **JUDGMENT** The petitioners have preferred Ext.P4 series of applications before the 1[st] and 2[nd] respondents seeking a higher pension under the provisions of the Employees Provident Fund and Miscellaneous Provisions Act. The limited prayer of the petitioners in this writ petition is for a direction to the 1st and 2nd respondents to consider and pass orders on Ext.P4 series of applications, in the light of the judgment of this Court in P. Sasikumar v. Union of India [W.P.(C)No.13120/2015] and in R.C.Gupta and Others v. Regional Provident Fund Commissioner, Employees Provident Fund Organisation and Others [(2018) 14 SCC 809]. 2. I have heard Sri.P.Thomas Geeverghese, the learned counsel for the petitioners, Sri.S.Prasanth, the learned Standing counsel for respondents 1 and 2, the learned Standing counsel for the 4[th] respondent and also the learned Assistant Solicitor General of India for the 3[rd] respondent. On a consideration of the facts and circumstances of the case and the submissions made across the Bar, I dispose the writ petition with a direction to the 1[st] and 2[nd] respondents to consider and pass orders on 6 **WP(C).No.16686 OF 2020** Ext.P4 series of applications, taking note of the judgments referred above, within a period of six weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this judgment, after hearing the petitioners. The petitioners shall produce a copy of the writ petition together with a copy of the judgment before the 1[st] and 2[nd] respondents for further action. **Sd/A.K.JAYASANKARAN NAMBIAR JUDGE** mns 7 **WP(C).No.16686 OF 2020** ## **APPENDIX** ## **PETITIONER'S/S EXHIBITS:** **EXHIBIT P1 TRUE COPY OF THE PENSION ORDER OF THE 1ST PETITIONER IN KR/KCH/55536.** - **EXHIBIT P1 (A) TRUE COPY OF THE PENSION ORDER OF THE 2ND PETITIONER IN KR/KCH/48029.** - **EXHIBIT P1 (B) TRUE COPY OF THE PENSION ORDER OF THE 3RD PETITIONER IN KR/KCH/00062609.** - **EXHIBIT P1 (C) TRUE COPY OF THE PENSION ORDER OF THE 4TH PETITIONER IN KR/KCH/37182.** - **EXHIBIT P1 (D) TRUE COPY OF THE PENSION ORDER OF THE 5TH PETITIONER IN KR/KCH/39487.** - **EXHIBIT P1 (E) TRUE COPY OF THE PENSION ORDER OF THE 6TH PETITIONER IN KR/KCH/00050682.** **EXHIBIT P1 (F) TRUE COPY OF THE PENSION ORDER OF THE 7TH PETITIONER IN KR/KCH/00077393.** - **EXHIBIT P1 (G) TRUE COPY OF THE PENSION ORDER OF THE 8TH PETITIONER IN KR/KCH/63453.** - **EXHIBIT P1 (H) TRUE COPY OF THE PENSION ORDER OF THE 9TH PETITIONER IN KR/KCH/49943.** - **EXHIBIT P1 (I) TRUE COPY OF THE PENSION ORDER OF THE 10TH PETITIONER IN KR/KCH/00068098.** - **EXHIBIT P1 (J) TRUE COPY OF THE PENSION ORDER OF THE 11TH PETITIONER IN KR/KCH/00075322.** - **EXHIBIT P1 (K) TRUE COPY OF THE PENSION ORDER OF THE 12TH PETITIONER IN KR/KCH/00069906.** - **EXHIBIT P1 (L) TRUE COPY OF THE PENSION ORDER OF THE 13TH PETITIONER IN KR/KCH/60349.** - **EXHIBIT P1 (M) TRUE COPY OF THE PENSION ORDER OF THE 14TH PETITIONER IN KR/KCH/61848 WITH TYPED COPY.** - **EXHIBIT P1 (N) TRUE COPY OF THE PENSION ORDER OF THE 15TH PETITIONER IN KR/KCH/00047287.** - **EXHIBIT P1 (0) TRUE COPY OF THE PENSION ORDER OF THE 16TH PETITIONER IN KR/KCH/00079904.** 8 **WP(C).No.16686 OF 2020** **EXHIBIT P1 (P) TRUE COPY OF THE PENSION ORDER OF THE 17TH PETITIONER IN KR/KLM/00096569.** - **EXHIBIT P1 (Q) TRUE COPY OF THE PENSION ORDER OF THE 18TH PETITIONER IN KR/KKD/40464..** - **EXHIBIT P1 (R) TRUE COPY OF THE PENSION ORDER OF THE 19TH PETITIONER IN KR/KCH/00044792.** - **EXHIBIT P1 (S) TRUE COPY OF THE PENSION ORDER OF THE 20TH PETITIONER IN KR/KCH/0002117.** - **EXHIBIT P1 (T) TRUE COPY OF THE PENSION ORDER OF THE 21ST PETITIONER IN KR/KCH/00074609.** - **EXHIBIT P1 (U) TRUE COPY OF THE PENSION ORDER OF THE 22ND PETITIONER IN KR/KCH/00104854.** - **EXHIBIT P1 (V) TRUE COPY OF THE PENSION ORDER OF THE 23RD PETITIONER IN KR/KCH/00080766.** - **EXHIBIT P2 TRUE COPY OF JUDGMENT IN P.SASIKUMAR, V. UNION OF INDIA, WPC NO. 13120 OF 2015 DATED 12TH OCTOBER 2018.** - **EXHIBIT P3 TRUE COPY OF JUDGMENT IN WPC 2215/2020 DATED 25/02/2020.** - **EXHIBIT P4 TRUE COPY OF THE APPLICATION SUBMITTED BY THE 1ST PETITIONER DATED 21/02/2019.** - **EXHIBIT P4 (A) TRUE COPY OF THE APPLICATION SUBMITTED BY THE 2ND PETITIONER DATED 22/02/2019.** - **EXHIBIT P4 (B) TRUE COPY OF THE APPLICATION SUBMITTED BY THE 3RD PETITIONER DATED 25/02/2019.** - **EXHIBIT P4 (C) TRUE COPY OF THE APPLICATION SUBMITTED BY THE 4TH PETITIONER DATED 18/02/2019.** - **EXHIBIT P4 (D) TRUE COPY OF THE APPLICATION SUBMITTED BY THE 5TH PETITIONER DATED 19.02.2019** - **EXHIBIT P4 (E) TRUE COPY OF THE APPLICATION SUBMITTED BY THE 6TH PETITIONER DATED 19/3/2019.** - **EXHIBIT P4 (F) TRUE COPY OF THE APPLICATION SUBMITTED BY THE 7TH PETITIONER DATED 02.05.2019.** - **EXHIBIT P4 (G) TRUE COPY OF THE APPLICATION SUBMITTED BY THE 8TH PETITIONER DATED 13/02/2019.** **EXHIBIT P4 (H) TRUE COPY OF THE APPLICATION SUBMITTED BY THE 9TH PETITIONER DATED 25/02/2019.** 9 **WP(C).No.16686 OF 2020** **EXHIBIT P4 (I) TRUE COPY OF THE APPLICATION SUBMITTED BY THE 10TH PETITIONER DATED 14/02/2019.** **EXHIBIT P4 (J) TRUE COPY OF THE APPLICATION SUBMITTED BY THE 11TH PETITIONER DATED 08/03/2019.** **EXHIBIT P4 (K) TRUE COPY OF THE APPLICATION SUBMITTED BY THE 12TH PETITIONER DATED 18/02/2019.** **EXHIBIT P4 (L) TRUE COPY OF THE APPLICATION SUBMITTED BY THE 13TH PETITIONER DATED 18/02/2019. EXHIBIT P4 (M) TRUE COPY OF THE APPLICATION SUBMITTED BY THE 14TH PETITIONER DATED 18/02/2019. EXHIBIT P4 (N) TRUE COPY OF THE APPLICATION SUBMITTED BY THE 15TH PETITIONER DATED 18/02/2019.** **EXHIBIT P4 (O) TRUE COPY OF THE APPLICATION SUBMITTED BY THE 16TH PETITIONER DATED 18/02/2019. EXHIBIT P4 (P) TRUE COPY OF THE APPLICATION SUBMITTED BY THE 17TH PETITIONER DATED 8/04/2019. EXHIBIT P4 (Q) TRUE COPY OF THE APPLICATION SUBMITTED BY THE 18TH PETITIONER DATED 19/05/2019. EXHIBIT P4 (R) TRUE COPY OF THE APPLICATION SUBMITTED BY THE 19TH PETITIONER DATED 19/05/2019. EXHIBIT P4 (S) TRUE COPY OF THE APPLICATION SUBMITTED BY THE 20TH PETITIONER DATED 25/02/2019. EXHIBIT P4 (T) TRUE COPY OF THE APPLICATION SUBMITTED BY THE 21ST PETITIONER DATED 18/03/2019. EXHIBIT P4 (U) TRUE COPY OF THE APPLICATION SUBMITTED BY THE 22ND PETITIONER DATED 19/05/2019. EXHIBIT P4 (V) TRUE COPY OF THE APPLICATION SUBMITTED BY THE 23RD PETITIONER DATED 19/05/2019.** RESPONDENTS EXHIBITS:NIL //TRUE COPY// P.A TO JUDGE