Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) v. P.A. Sebastian and Others

## **IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM** ## **PRESENT** **THE HONOURABLE MRS. JUSTICE ANU SIVARAMAN** **&** **THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE C. JAYACHANDRAN** **MONDAY, THE 18[TH] DAY OF SEPTEMBER 2023/27TH BHADRA, 1945** **WA NO.1489 OF 2020** **AGAINST THE JUDGMENT DATED 23.06.2020 IN WP(C) 5379/2020 OF HIGH** ## **COURT OF KERALA** ## **APPELLANTS/RESPONDENTS 2 TO 4 IN WP(C):** 1 THE ASSISTANT PROVIDENT FUND COMMISSIONER, EMPLOYEES PROVIDENT FUND ORGANISATION, REGIONAL OFFICE, KOZHIKODE-673 006. 2 THE REGIONAL PROVIDENT FUND COMMISSIONER, (PENSION)-1, EMPLOYEES PROVIDENT FUND ORGANIZATION, PATTOM, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM-695 004. 3 THE CENTRAL PROVIDENT FUND COMMISSIONER, EMPLOYEES PROVIDENT FUND ORGANIZATION, BHAVISHYA NIDHI BHAVAN, 14-BHIKAJI CAMA PLACE, NEW DELHI 110 066. BY ADV. SRI.SAJEEV KUMAR K. GOPAL, SC, EPFO ## **RESPONDENT/PETITIONERS 1 TO 62/RESPONDENT 1 AND 5:** - 1 P.A.SEBASTIAN, AGED 61 YEARS, S/O.P.V.ANTONY, PANIKKULANGARA HOUSE, KUTTUR (P.O), THRISSUR DISTRICT, PIN-680 013. - 2 E.M.JAISHORE, AGED 64 YEARS, S/O.E.MUKUNDAN, MULLOTH HOUSE, KIDANGOOR (P.O),THURAVOOR , ANGAMALI, ERNAKULAM DISTRICT-683 572. - 3 M.N.MURALEEDHARAN, AGED 59 YEARS, S/O.NARAYANAN, MUNDAYOOR VALAPPIL HOUSE, MUTHUVARA, AMALA NAGAR (P.O), THRISSUR DISTRICT-680 555. - 4 A.SETHUMADHAVAN, AGED 60 YEARS, S/O.A.MADHAVAN, AYIKKARA HOUSE, POOCHATTY, ERAVIMANGALAM (P.O), THRISSUR DISTRICT-680 751. - 5 V.MURALEEDHARAN, AGED 64 YEARS, S/O.V.KRISHNAN NAIR, ANUGRAHAM, METRO STREET, ENGINEERING COLLEGE (P.O), THRISSUR-680 009. ## **W.A.No.1489 OF 2020** ## **-:2:-** - 6 O.BALACHANDRAN, AGED 59 YEARS, S/O.LATE K.SANKARANKUTTY MENON, ORAYAMPARATH HOUSE, NARAYANATHRA, CHOOLISSERY, THRISSUR DISTRICT-680 541. - 7 VIJAYAN.D., AGED 59 YEARS, S/O. R.DAMODHARAN NAIR, USHUS, NELLIKKADU, KANDALA (P.O), MARANALLUR, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM DISTRICT-695 512. - 8 OMANA AUGUSTINE, AGED 58 YEARS, D/O.AUGUSTINE, T.C 96/848, THURUVIKKAL (P.O) THIRUVANANTHAPURAM DISTRICT-695 011. - 9 A.KRISHNA KUMAR, AGED 61 YEARS, S/O.V.ANANTHAKRISHNA PILLAI, PRANAVAM, TC 36/730 (1), SAMAJAM LANE, PERUMTHANNI, VALLAKKADAVU (P.O), THIRUVANANTHAPURAM DISTRICT-695 008. - 10 G.PURUSHOTHAMAN NAIR, AGED 58 YEARS, S/O.N.GANGADHARAN NAIR, AMBADI, THIRUMANGALAM, KORAKKULAM ROAD, BLAN GAMURI, NEYYATTINKARA, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM DISTRICT-695 121. - 11 ANIL CHANDRAN.R., AGED 58 YEARS, D/O.P.RAMACHANDRAN NAIR, T.C.36/730 (1), PRANAVAM, SAMAJAM LANE, SLRA 9, PERUMTHANNI, VALLAKKADAVU (P.O), THIRUVANANTHAPURAM-695 008. - 12 RAJAKUMARI.S., AGED 60 YEARS, D/O.A.H.MONY, TC 37/620-1, MOOKAMBIKA, CHOTTUPURA THERUVU, WSRA189, FORT (P.O), THIRUVANANTHAPURAM-695 023. - 13 S.VIJAYAKUMAR, AGED 63 YEARS, S/O.K.SIVANANDAN, ASARI, MANKARATHALA VEEDU, PELIBHAGAM, TC 19/128, THIRUMALA (P.O), THIRUVANANTHAPURAM-695 006. - 14 MANIKANTAN.K., AGED 72 YEARS, S/O.SREEKUMARA PILLAI, TC 26/794, GEETH HOUSE, CHEMBAKA NAGAR-76, PANAVILA, OOTTUKUZHI, GPO, PULIMOODU, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM-695 001. - 15 K.KARUNAKARAN, AGED 72 YEARS, S/O.R.KUNJAN, ATHIRA, SANTHIVILA, NEAR KARKET JUNCTION, NEMOM (P.O), THIRUVANANTHAPURAM-695 020. - 16 K.PRABHAKARAN, AGED 76 YEARS, S/O.P.NARAYANAN NAIR, ROHINI, HOUSE NO.9, **W.A.No.1489 OF 2020** ## **-:3:-** RAJALEKSHMI NAGAR, PATTOM, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM-695 004. - 17 C.SIVANANDAN, AGED 66 YEARS, S/O.K.CHELLAPPAN, RISHI MANDIRAM, PANACODE (P.O)., ARYANAD, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM-695 542. - 18 THULASI MOHAN.G., AGED 60 YEARS, S/O.K.GOPALAN NAIR, SOWPARNIKA, TC 6/980-8, VARA 837, KRISHNA PILLAI NAGAR, ARAPPURA, VATTIYOORKKAVU (P.O), THIRUVANANTHAPURAM-695 013. - 19 B.JAYACHANDRAN, AGED 58 YEARS, S/O.B.BHASKARAN NAIR, SARALA SREE, ARRA 115, AVITTAM ROAD, MEDICAL COLLEGE (P.O), THIRUVANANTHAPURAM-695 011. - 20 S.SASIKUMAR, AGED 61 YEARS. S/O.P.SANKARAN NAIR, OM SANKAR, TC 24/1357, THYCAUD (P.O), THIRUVANANTHAPURAM-695 014. - 21 SOMAN.K., AGED 59 YEARS, S/O.KESAVAN NAIR, KIZHAKKEVADUTHALA HOUSE, CHEPPANAM (P.O), ALAPPUZHA DISTRICT-690 507. - 22 PANKAJAKSHAN.S.,AGED 63 YEARS, S/O.KUNJIKRISHNAN.S., SANKARA BHAVANAM, KAKKAZHAM (P.O), AMBALAPPUZHA, ALAPPUZHA DISTRICT-688 005. - 23 T.K.RAJAGOPAL, AGED 59 YEARS, S/O. K.G.KRISHNA PANICKER, PRANVAM, MANNAR (P.O), ALAPPUZHA DISTRICT-689 622. - 24 JOLAMMA GEORGE, AGED 60 YEARS, D/O.T.C. CHACKO, ADIMATHRA HOUSE, MARIYATHURUTH (P.O), KOTTAYAM-686 017. - 25 SASIKUMAR.K., AGED 58 YEARS, S/O.RAMAKRISHNA PILLAI, CHIRAMMEL, MARIYATHURUTHU (P.O), KOTTAYAM-686 017. - 26 ASOKAKUMAR.N.G., AGED 59 YEARS, S/O.N.GOVINDA PANICKER, ARADHANA, TC 4/2078, NBRA-26, KURAVANKONAM, KOWDIAR (P.O), THIRUVANANTHAPURAM-695 003. - 27 K.G.MUKUNDAN PILLAI, AGED 59 YEARS, S/O.A.GOPINATHA PILLAI, POTHANOOR SMRITHI, **W.A.No.1489 OF 2020** ## **-:4:-** THAZHAKKARA (P.O), MAVELIKKARA, ALAPPUZHA DISTRICT-690 102. 28 RAJA MOHANAN NAIR.K.G., AGED 59 YEARS, S/O.K.N.GOPALAN NAIR, KEZHIYETH, VAYALA NORTH, NERIAPURAM-VIA, MAMMOD (P.O), PATHANAMTHITTA DISTRICT-689 513. 29 SOMASEKHARAN.K.K, AGED 72 YEARS, S/O.G.KRISHNA PILLAI, MULAVOOR HOUSE, EDAPPADY (P.O), BHARANANGANAM, KOTTAYAM DISTRICT-686 578. 30 T.VINOD, AGED 60 YEARS, S/O.T.K.BALAKRISHNAN, PACHA HOUSE, AZHIKKODE SOUTH (P.O), KANNUR-670 009. - 31 K.M.RADHAKRISHNAN, AGED 59 YEARS, S/O.M.C BALAKRISHNAN, MANIKRISHNA HOUSE, KOLLAM (P.O), KOYILANDY, KOZHIKODE DISTRICT-673 307. - 32 KUMAR.R.K., AGED 59 YEARS, S/O.THANKAPPAN NAIR.K, MANASA, TC 55/442, AMRUTHA NAGAR, KAIMANAM, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM-695 018. - 33 R.RAMACHANDRAN NAIR, AGED 59 YEARS, S/O.RAGHAVAN NAIR, GANGOTHRI, TC 55/5 (1), VISHNU NAGAR, KAIMANAM, PAPPANAMCODE(P.O), THIRUVANANTHAPURAM-695 018. - 34 R.ASOKAN, AGED 60 YEARS, S/O.P.REGHAVAN, KRISHNA SILA, TC 43/1338 (1), MUTTATHARA, VALLAKKADAVU (P.O), THIRUVANANTHAPURAM-695 008. - 35 K.MURALIDHARAN NAIR, AGED 61 YEARS, S/O.KRISHNA PILLAI, SREE VALSAM, FRIENDS NAGAR -51, GOPIKKADA, KAVANADU (P.O), KOLLAM-691 003. 36 P.M.BABU, AGED 59 YEARS, S/O.P.M.RAGHAVAN, SOWPARNIKA, OPPOSITE ARULAPPATTU DEVI TEMPLE, CHEVARABALAM (P.O), KOZHIKODE-673 017. 37 DHARMARAJAN.M.P., AGED 61 YEARS, S/O.VELAYUDHAN.M.P., MECHERIPUNATHIL HOUSE, SOUTH BAZAR, KUTTIPPURAM (P.O), MALAPPURAM DISTRICT-679 571. **W.A.No.1489 OF 2020** ## **-:5:-** - 38 ASHOK SRINIVAS, AGED 58 YEARS, S/O.T.M.SRINIVASAN, NIVEDHYAM, KARATTU ROAD, KOZHIKODE-673 011. - 39 K.P.JAYANANDHAN, AGED 58 YEARS, S/O.PERACHUTTY.K.P., ASWATHY, KALOORTHAZHAM PARAMBA, PUTHIYARA (P.O), KOZHIKODE-673 004. - 40 K.SUNDARAN, AGED 59 YEARS, S/O.PACKER, VYSHAKAM PUTHALATH, VELLIPARAMBA, KUTTIKKATTOOR, KOZHIKODE-673 008. - 41 RADHAKRISHNAN.T., AGED 59 YEARS, S/O.LATE P.KELU KURUP, THE LAURELS, BILATHIKULAM, KOZHIKODE-673 006. - 42 HARINDRANATH.K., AGED 59 YEARS, S/O.NARAYANAN NAIR.K., FLAT NO.J1, JEEVAN BHIMA NAGAR, KARAPARAMBA (P.O), KOZHIKODE-673 010. - 43 PUSHPARAJAN.M., AGED 58 YEARS, S/O.BHASKARAN.M., DEVARCHANA, PETTERIPARAMBA, KUTHIRAVATTOM (P.O), KOZHIKODE-673 016. - 44 ANILKUMAR.A., AGED 58 YEARS, S/O.M.PADMANABHAN NAIR, ANKATHIL, KUTHIRAVATTOM (P.O), KOZHIKODE-673 016. - 45 HARIKUMAR.K., AGED 59 YEARS, S/O.M.SREEKUMARA MENON, 19/2084, A6 (37/3562), FIRST FLOOR, EXPRESS TOWERS, P.V. SWAMY ROAD, CHALAPPURAM (P.O). KOZHIKODE-673 002. - 46 C.P.RADHA, AGED 60 YEARS, D/O.SANKARN NAIR, MANATHANATH HOUSE, KURIKKILAD, CHORODE, KOZHIKODE DISTRICT. - 47 HAREENDRAN.M., AGED 60 YEARS, S/O.KOMU NAMBIAR, SUHANYA, PAYAMBRA (P.O), VIA-KUNNAMANGALAM, KOZHIKODE DISTRICT-673 571. - 48 P.T.JAYADEVAN, AGED 60 YEARS, S/O.M.BALAKRISHNAN NAIR, JOSHNA, MARAKKATTU THAZHAM, KOTTOOLI (P.O), KOZHIKODE-673 016. - 49 K.MOHANAN, AGED 59 YEARS, S/O.SANKARAN.K., **W.A.No.1489 OF 2020** ## **-:6:-** ANASWARA, KATTUKULANGARA, NELLIKKODE (P.O), KOZHIKODE-673 016. - 50 P.V.DHARMAN, AGED 58 YEARS, S/O.SEKHARAN.P.V., PUTHEN VEETTIL HOUSE, VELLAYI (P.O), JOSEPH ROAD, C.K.PARAMBA, KOZHIKODE-673 302. - 51 SIDHARTHAN.T.V., AGED 59 YEARS, S/O. SAMI.T.V., RAM HOUSE, NAMBIDI PARAMBATH, MAKKADA (P.O), KAKKODI, KOZHIKODE-673 611. - 52 N.SASI, AGED 58 YEARS, S/O.DAMODARAN.N., NACHATTIL HOUSE, VALAMPURATH PARAMBA, KUTHIRAVATTOM (P.O), MYLAMPADY, KOZHIKODE-673 016. - 53 ASHOK KUMAR.T.K., AGED 59 YEARS, S/O.CHANDRAHASAN.T.K., 'THIRUVONAM', PUTHMANA PARAMBA, CHETTIKULAM, ELATHUR (P.O), KOZHIKODE-673 303. - 54 SUSHAMA KUMAR.P., AGED 60 YEARS, S/O.'CHATHUKUTTY.P., 'ACHUDAKSH', KAYYUNNIMMAL THAZHAM, KAKKODI, KOZHIKODE-673 611. - 55 VENUGOPALAN.N, AGED 59 YEARS, S/O. N.APPUTTY, VARADA, NEELAMKANDY PARAMBA, GOVINDAPURAM (P.O) , KOZHIKODE-673 016. - 56 RAJAN.T., AGED 60 YEARS, S/O. DAMODARAN.T., VANDANAM, VADAKKEKUNNANGANCHERY, KOVOOR, CHEVAYUR (P.O), KOZHIKODE-673 017. - 57 NANDAKUMAR.K., AGED 59 YEARS, S/O.K.M.PADMANABHAN NAIR, SUDHAMANI, HOUSE NO.1901-B, MERIKUNNU (P.O), KOZHIKODE-673 012. 58 V.K.SATHIANATHAN, AGED 62 YEARS, S/O.LATE KUTTIKRISHNAN NAIR, SIVAGANGA, MANKAVU, KOZHIKODE-673 007. - 59 CYRIAC MATHEW, AGED 60 YEARS, S/O. MATHAI, KAITHAMATTOM, MANTHAMKUNDU, THALIPARAMBU (P.O), KANNUR DISTRICT-670 141. - 60 NANDAKUMAR.P., AGED 59 YEARS, S/O.N.PADMANABHA PILLAI, SREEPADMAM, CHENNITHALA SOUTH (P.O), MAVELIKKARA, **W.A.No.1489 OF 2020** ## **-:7:-** ALAPPUZHA-690 105. 61 MOHANKUMAR.K., AGED 59 YEARS, S/O. KRISHNAN, AJITHA BHAVAN, A.K.GARDENS, ATHAZHAMANGALAM, NEYYATTINKARA (P.O), THIRUVANANTHAPURAM DISTRICT-695 121. 62 PARAMESWARA IYER.C.H., AGED 63 YEARS, S/O.C.P.HARIHARA IYER, HARI NIVAS, T.C.39/1771,WSRA-2, WEST STREET FORT, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM-695 023. 63 MATHRUBHUMI PRINTING AND PUBLISHING COMPANY LTD., K.P.KESAVAN MENON ROAD, KOZHIKODE-673001, REPRESENTED BY ITS MANAGING DIRECTOR. 64 UNION OF INDIA, REPRESENTED BY THE SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT, NEW DELHI-110001. BY ADVS. SRI.R.BINDU (SASTHAMANGALAM) SRI.U.K.RAMAKRISHNAN (SR.) R.PREMSANKAR, CGC SRI.PRINSUN PHILIP SMT.J.SURYA SRI.V.KRISHNA MENON **THIS WRIT APPEAL HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON** **18.09.2023, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:** **W.A.No.1489 OF 2020** ## **-:8:-** ## **J U D G M E N T** ## _**Dated this the 18[th] day of September, 2023**_ **Anu Sivaraman, J.** **This appeal is preferred by the Employees Provident Fund Organization, challenging the judgment of the learned Single Judge, directing the re-determination of the pension payable to the writ petitioners, that is the respondents in this appeal in the light of the directions given in the judgment of a Division Bench of this Court in P. Sasikumar and Others v. Union of India and Others [ILR 2019 (1) Ker. 614].** **2. It is submitted by the learned counsel appearing for the parties that, the issue now stands covered by the judgment of the Apex Court in Employees Provident Fund Organization and Another v. Sunil Kumar B. and Others [2022 (6) KLT 234 (SC)]. It is submitted that the Apex Court in Paragraph 44 of the said judgment has upheld the** **W.A.No.1489 OF 2020** ## **-:9:-** **notification dated 22.08.2014, as legal and valid and has also issued further directions with regard to options to be submitted by the employees. It is submitted that, the issue will now have to be considered on the basis of the directions of the Apex Court.** **3. In the above view of the matter and in the light of the judgment of the Apex Court, the judgment of the learned Single Judge shall stand set aside and the appellant shall consider the issue strictly in accordance with the directions issued by the Apex Court and taking note of the options, if any submitted by the employees.** ## **Sd/-** ## **ANU SIVARAMAN, JUDGE** **Sd/-** **C. JAYACHANDRAN,** **JUDGE** **TR** **W.A.No.1489 OF 2020** ## **-:10:-** ## **APPENDIX OF WA 1489/2020** ||**APPENDIX OF WA 1489/2020**| |---|---| |PETITIONER|ANNEXURES| |ANNEXURE 1|TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER PASSED BY THE| ||HON'BLE SUPREME COURT DATED 06.02.2020| ||IN W.P.(C)NO.233/2018 AND CONNECTED| ||CASES.| |ANNEXURE 2|TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER DATED 03.07.2020| ||IN W.P.(C)NO.2654 OF 2020.| |ANNEXURE 3|TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER DATED 14.01.2020| ||IN CWP-19985 OF 2018(O&M).| |ANNEXURE 4|TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER IN W.P(C)| ||NO.20572 OF 2018 DATED 03.03.2020.| |ANNEXURE 5|TRUE COPY OF THE ACTUARIAL REPORT DATED| ||27.12.2018.| |ANNEXURE 6|TRUE COPY OF THE EXPLANATORY STATEMENT| ||DATED 20.06.2019.|