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High Court of KeralaSingle JudgeDisposed of with directions to act per Sunil Ku...

BPL Medical Technologies Pvt. Ltd. & Others v Union of India & Others

Case / Petition Number:W.P.(C) No.16013 of 2020

Case Details & Bench

Court
High Court of Kerala
Hon'ble Judges
  • Raja Vijayaraghavan V
Judgment Date
2023-03-23
Court Decision / Holding
The petition is disposed of by directing the petitioners and respondents to act in terms of the directions issued by the Supreme Court in EPF Organisation and Another v. Sunil Kumar B and Others (2022 SCC Online SC 1521) and to process the joint option, if submitted by the petitioners and the 4th respondent, while acting strictly in accordance with the law.
Final Disposition
Disposed of with directions to act per Sunil Kumar B directions and to process the joint option in accordance with the law.

Parties to the Case

Appellants / Petitioners

  • Baburaj P.
  • Vasanthakumari S.
  • Mani S.
  • Saraswathi K.
  • Shobana M.K.
  • Muhammed Shereef A.
  • Vikramdas V.
  • Faris M.A.
  • Liju T.O.
  • Vijayalakshmi M.P.
  • Usha K.R.
  • Raghunath P.
  • Shaju Aloysius
  • Manikandan V.
  • V.K. Kusumam
  • Jayaprakash P.K.
  • Pratheesh S.
  • Prasanth B.
  • Jayakumar P.
  • Harisahamed H.

Respondents

  • Union of India, represented by Secretary to Government of India, Ministry of Labour and Employment, Department of Employment, New Delhi-110001
  • Central Provident Fund Commissioner, Employees Provident Fund Organisation, Bhavishya Nidhi Bhavan, 14-Bhikaji Place, New Delhi-110066
  • Regional Provident Fund Commissioner II, Employees Provident Fund Organisation, Regional/Sub Regional Provident Fund Office, Bhavishya Nidhi Bhavan, Annapoorneswaricomplex, Survey No.37/1, Singasandra, Hussur Main Road, Bangalore, Karnataka 560068
  • BPL Medical Technologies (Pvt.) Ltd., Koottupatha, Chandranagar P.O., Palakkad, Pin-678007

Legal Representation & Advocates

Counsels for Petitioners

  • • ASOKM.CHERIAN
  • • SRI.N.SATHEESH
  • • SRI.K.JANARDHANASHENOY

Counsels for Respondents

  • • Mr.M.A.SHAJI, CGC
  • • S.PRASANTH

Case Synopsis & Summary

The petitioners are serving employees of BPL Medical Technologies Pvt. Ltd., Palakkad, who contend that the establishment falls under the Employees Provident Fund and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952, and the associated schemes. They seek to have their pensionable salary reckoned on their actual salary instead of the ceiling limit prescribed under the EPF Scheme, arguing for an enhanced pension from the date of joining the pension scheme. The petitioners also seek a mandamus directing the respondents to accept a joint option with the 4th respondent and transfer such portion of the employer’s contribution from the petitioners’ Provident Fund accounts to their Pension Fund, along with arrears computed on the actual salary. They rely on the Supreme Court’s observations in EPF Organisation and Another v. Sunil Kumar B and Others (2022 SCC Online SC 1521), contending that the claim falls within those directions. The respondents’ counsel submits that actions should be taken in terms of the Supreme Court directions only if the petitioners are eligible under that judgment. On consideration, the court disposed of the petition by directing the petitioners and respondents to act in terms of the Sunil Kumar B directions and to process any joint option, if submitted, while acting strictly in accordance with the law. The appendix includes a true copy of a Kerala High Court judgment (WPC 3486/2019) and related exhibits.

Provisions of Law Cited

Employees Provident Fund and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952EPF Scheme, paragraph 11(3)

Submissions & Arguments

Contentions of Appellants / Petitioners

The petitioners contend that their employment with BPL Medical Technologies Pvt. Ltd. brings them under the ambit of the EPF Act and its schemes. They seek pensionable salary to be reckoned on actual earnings, not the statutory ceiling, and urge that a joint option with the 4th respondent be recognized, with transfer of the employer’s contribution to the Pension Fund and arrears based on actual salary. They rely on the Supreme Court’s directions in EPF Organisation and Another v. Sunil Kumar B and Others and request the court to implement those directions for their claim.

Contentions of Respondents

The respondents submit that any grant of relief must follow the Supreme Court directions and only if the petitioners are eligible under that judgment. They advocate processing the joint option strictly in accordance with law and the applicable statutory framework, and to await the proper eligibility determination under the Supreme Court guidance.

Cited Precedents (2)

Case NameCitationTreatmentExplanation
EPF Organisation and Another v. Sunil Kumar B and Others2022 SCC Online SC 1521PositiveSupreme Court directions referenced in the petition are adopted and applied by the Kerala High Court to guide processing of the joint option in line with that ruling.
W.P.(C) No.3486 of 2019WPC 3486/2019Mentioned OnlyExhibit P1 cites a Kerala High Court judgment (WPC 3486/2019); referenced for background but not treated as controlling authority in the decision.

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Extracted Judgment Text

Exact text extracted from official judgment records.

``` INTHEHIGHCOURTOFKERALAATERNAKULAM PRESENT THEHONOURABLEMR.JUSTICERAJAVIJAYARAGHAVANV THURSDAY,THE23[RD]DAYOFMARCH2023/2NDCHAITHRA,1945 ``` ## **`WP(C) NO. 16013 OF 2020`** ## **`PETITIONERS:`** ``` 1BABURAJP. BPLMEDICALTECHNOLOGIES(PVT.)LTD.,KOOTTUPATHA, CHANDRANAGAR.P.O.,PALAKKAD UANNO.100104781797PFNO.PY/BOM/61365/189. MOBILENO.9446514132. ``` ``` 2VASANTHAKUMARI.S., BPLMEDICALTECHNOLOGIES(PVT).LTD.,KOOTTUPATHA, CHANDRANAGAR.P.O.,PALAKKAD,PIN-678007.UAN NO.100400825448PFNO.PY/BOM/61365/188. 3MANI.S., BPLMEDICALTECHNOLOGIES(PVT).LTD.,KOOTTUPATHA, CHANDRANAGAR.P.O.,PALAKKAD,PIN-678007.UAN NO.100218281089PFNO.PY/BOM/61365/190. 4SARASWATHI.K., BPLMEDICALTECHNOLOGIES(PVT).LTD.,KOOTTUPATHA, CHANDRANAGAR.P.O.,PALAKKAD,PIN-678007.UAN NO.100338406924PFNO.PY/BOM/61365/191. 5SHOBANA.M.K., BPLMEDICALTECHNOLOGIES(PVT).LTD.,KOOTTUPATHA, CHANDRANAGAR.P.O.,PALAKKAD,PIN-678007.UAN NO.100358965001PFNO.PY/BOM/61365/192. 6MUHAMMEDSHEREEF.A., BPLMEDICALTECHNOLOGIES(PVT).LTD.,KOOTTUPATHA, CHANDRANAGAR.P.O.,PALAKKAD,PIN-678007.UAN NO.100229382383PFNO.PY/BOM/61365/174. ``` W.P.(C) No.16013 of 2020 2 ``` 7VIKRAMDAS.V., BPLMEDICALTECHNOLOGIES(PVT).LTD.,KOOTTUPATHA, CHANDRANAGAR.P.O.,PALAKKAD,PIN-678007.UAN NO.100406472484PFNO.PY/BOM/61365/139. ``` ``` 8FARIS.M.A., BPLMEDICALTECHNOLOGIES(PVT).LTD.,KOOTTUPATHA, CHANDRANAGAR.P.O.,PALAKKAD,PIN-678007.UAN NO.100146062232PFNO.PY/BOM/61365/100. ``` ``` 9LIJU.T.O., BPLMEDICALTECHNOLOGIES(PVT).LTD.,KOOTTUPATHA, CHANDRANAGAR.P.O.,PALAKKAD,PIN-678007.UAN NO.100205902108PFNO.PY/BOM/61365/166. ``` ``` 10VIJAYALAKSHMI.M.P., BPLMEDICALTECHNOLOGIES(PVT).LTD.,KOOTTUPATHA, CHANDRANAGAR.P.O.,PALAKKAD,PIN-678007.UAN NO.100405031862,PFNO.PY/BOM/61365/173. ``` ``` 11USHA.K.R., BPLMEDICALTECHNOLOGIES(PVT).LTD.,KOOTTUPATHA, CHANDRANAGAR.P.O.,PALAKKAD,PIN-678007.UAN NO.100396257759,PFNO.PY/BOM/61365/169. ``` ``` 12RAGHUNATH.P., BPLMEDICALTECHNOLOGIES(PVT).LTD.,KOOTTUPATHA, CHANDRANAGAR.P.O.,PALAKKAD,PIN-678007.UAN NO.100290549036PFNO.PY/BOM/61365/138. ``` ``` 13SHAJUALOYSIUS, BPLMEDICALTECHNOLOGIES(PVT).LTD.,KOOTTUPATHA, CHANDRANAGAR.P.O.,PALAKKAD,PIN-678007.UAN NO.100346340700PFNO.PY/BOM/61365/216. ``` ``` 14MANIKANDAN.V., BPLMEDICALTECHNOLOGIES(PVT).LTD.,KOOTTUPATHA, CHANDRANAGAR.P.O.,PALAKKAD,PIN-678007.UAN ``` W.P.(C) No.16013 of 2020 3 ``` NO.100218570616PFNO.PY/BOM/61365/209. ``` ``` 15V.K.KUSUMAM, BPLMEDICALTECHNOLOGIES(PVT).LTD.,KOOTTUPATHA, CHANDRANAGAR.P.O.,PALAKKAD,PIN-678007.UAN NO.100397439538PFNO.PY/BOM/61365/164. ``` ``` 16JAYAPRAKASH.P.K., BPLMEDICALTECHNOLOGIES(PVT).LTD.,KOOTTUPATHA, CHANDRANAGAR.P.O.,PALAKKAD,PIN-678007.UAN NO.100174442122,PFNO.PY/BOM/61365/137. 17PRATHEESH.S., BPLMEDICALTECHNOLOGIES(PVT).LTD.,KOOTTUPATHA, CHANDRANAGAR.P.O.,PALAKKAD,PIN-678007.UAN NO.100278773544,PFNO.PY/BOM/61365/10925. 18PRASANTH.B., BPLMEDICALTECHNOLOGIES(PVT).LTD.,KOOTTUPATHA, CHANDRANAGAR.P.O.,PALAKKAD,PIN-678007.UAN NO.100277818578,PFNO.PY/BOM/61365/175. 19JAYAKUMAR.P., BPLMEDICALTECHNOLOGIES(PVT).LTD.,KOOTTUPATHA, CHANDRANAGAR.P.O.,PALAKKAD,PIN-678007.UAN NO.100173890140,PFNO.PY/BOM/61365/051. 20HARISAHAMED.H., BPLMEDICALTECHNOLOGIES(PVT).LTD.,KOOTTUPATHA, CHANDRANAGAR.P.O.,PALAKKAD,PIN-678007.UAN NO.100573805052,PFNO.PY/BOM/61365/422. ``` ``` BYADVS. ASOKM.CHERIAN SRI.N.SATHEESH SRI.K.JANARDHANASHENOY ``` W.P.(C) No.16013 of 2020 4 ## **`RESPONDENTS:`** ``` 1UNIONOFINDIA, REPRESENTEDBYSECRETARYTOGOVERNMENTOFINDIA, MINISTRYOFLABOURANDEMPLOYMENT,DEPARTMENTOF EMPLOYMENT,NEWDELHI-110001. 2CENTRALPROVIDENTFUNDCOMMISSIONER, EMPLOYEESPROVIDENTFUNDORGANISATION, BHAVISHYANIDHIBHAVAN,14-BHIKAJICAMAPLACE, NEWDELHI-110066. 3REGIONALPROVIDENTFUNDCOMMISSIONERII, EMPLOYEESPROVIDENTFUNDORGANISATION,REGIONAL/SUB REGIONALPROVIDENTFUNDOFFICE,BOMMASANDRA, BHAVISHYANIDHIBHAVAN,ANNAPOORNESWARICOMPLEX, SURVEYNO.37/1,SINGASANDRA,HUSSURMAINROAD, BANGALORE,KARNATAKASTATE,PIN-560068. 4BPLMEDICALTECHNOLOGIES(PVT.)LTD., KOOTTUPATHA,CHANDRANAGAR.P.O.,PALAKKAD, PIN-678007,REPRESENTEDBYITSMANAGINGDIRECTOR. BYADVS. Mr.M.A.SHAJI,CGC S.PRASANTH ``` ``` THISWRITPETITION(CIVIL)HAVINGCOMEUPFOR ADMISSIONON23.03.2023,THECOURTONTHESAMEDAY DELIVEREDTHEFOLLOWING: ``` W.P.(C) No.16013 of 2020 5 ## **JUDGMENT** The petitioners state that they are serving employees of BPL Medical Technologies Pvt. Ltd, Palakkad. According to them, the establishment is covered by the provisions of the Employees Provident Fund and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952, and the schemes framed thereunder. They contend that the contribution to Provident Fund is made by reckoning the actual salary above the ceiling limit prescribed under the Employees Provident Fund Scheme. The contribution collected was on the basis of the limit prescribed in paragraph 11(3) of the EPF Scheme. According to the petitioners, they are entitled to exercise the option to have an enhanced pension, reckoning their actual salary as pensionable salary. It is on these assertions that 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 W.P.(C) No.16013 of 2020 6 exercised by the petitioners and the 4th 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 when exercised by the petitioners and the 4th respondent, and transfer such percentage of the employer’s contribution from the respective Provident Fund Account of the petitioners to their respective employees Pension Fund with the arrears of contribution payable by them based on their actual salary. 2. When the matter was taken up for consideration, the learned counsel appearing for the petitioners submitted that the petitioners herein are serving employees and they are also covered by the observations and directions issued by the Hon’ble Supreme Court in **EPF Organisation and Another v. Sunil Kumar B and Others** (2022 SCC Online SC 1521) and requested that directions be issued to the respondents to consider the claim of the petitioners in terms of the directions contained therein. 3. Sri. Abraham P. Maechinkara, the learned Standing Counsel, submits that the respondents shall act in terms of the directions issued by the Hon’ble Supreme Court, provided that the petitioners are eligible for the benefits under the judgment. W.P.(C) No.16013 of 2020 7 In that view of the matter, this writ petition is disposed of, directing the petitioners as well as the respondents to act in terms of the directions issued by the Hon’ble Supreme Court in **Sunil Kumar B** (supra) and process the request for joint option, if any, submitted by the petitioners/4th respondent and act strictly in accordance with the law. Sd/- **RAJA VIJAYARAGHAVAN V, JUDGE** IAP W.P.(C) No.16013 of 2020 8 ## **`APPENDIX OF WP(C) 16013/2020`** ``` PETITIONEREXHIBITS ``` ``` EXHIBITP1 ``` ``` ATRUECOPYOFTHEJUDGMENTOFTHE HON'BLEHIGHCOURTOFKERALADATED 25.2.2020INWPC.NO.3486/2019. ``` ``` RESPONDENTS’ EXHIBITS: ``` ``` EXHIBITR2(a):TRUECOPYOFTHECALCULATIONSTATEMENTOF SOMEPETITIONERSINANOTHERCASE ```