High Court of KeralaSingle Judge2023-10-13Writ petition disposed of; direction to file an...

G. GOPAKUMAR and others v Union of India and others

Case / Petition Number:WP(C) No. 20745 of 2020

Case Details & Bench

Court: High Court of Kerala
Hon'ble Judges: Sathish Ninan
Judgment Date: 2023-10-13
Court Decision / Holding: Writ petition disposed of; petitioners are permitted to file appropriate applications seeking enhanced pension under the amended EPF Scheme, and such applications shall be considered by the appropriate EPFO authority without delay in accordance with the amended scheme and the Supreme Court’s directions.
Final Disposition: Writ petition disposed of; direction to file and decide enhanced pension applications under the amended scheme without delay.

Parties to the Case

Appellants / Petitioners

G. GOPAKUMAR
JOSELET MATHEW
R.S. SATHEESHKUMAR
A. PURUSHOTHAMAN
D. AROMALUNNI
VIVEKANANDAN K.K.
RAJAN K.G.
K.K. SIVARAMAN
P.N. MAJEED
MADHUSOODANAN P.
GEETHAKUMARI E.
MOHANAN PILLAI C.
SOBHANAKUMARY R.
STANLY R.
RADHAKRISHNAN S.
RAJAN M.Y.
AJI V.K.
ISMAIL P.
ABDUL AZEEZ H.
SALIM M.
O. RAJAN
MOHANAN NAIR G.
SARASWATHY AMMA K.
BAHULEYAN M.
SIVAKUMAR P.S.
N.G. PRASAD
SAMPATHKUMAR K.S.
REMADEVI P.L.
NANDAKUMARAN PILLAI V.
RAVEENDRAN M.
LEELAMANI G.
VIJAYAKUMARY K.
RAJUKUTTAN NAIR P.G.
BABURAJAN G.
PUSHPANGADAN P.K.
RAVEENDRAN K.
C. BABU

Respondents

UNION OF INDIA (UOI), represented by the Secretary to Government of India, Ministry of Labour and Department of Employment, New Delhi-110001
REGIONAL PROVIDENT FUND COMMISSIONER, EMPLOYEES PROVIDENT FUND ORGANISATION (EPFO), THIRUVANANTHAPURAM-695004
ASSISTANT PROVIDENT FUND COMMISSIONER, SUB REGIONAL OFFICE, EPFO, KOLLAM-691001
EMPLOYEES PROVIDENT FUND TRUSTEE, represented by Managing Trustee, EPFO, BHAVISHYA NIDHI BHAVAN, WAZIRPUR, NEW DELHI-110052
REGIONAL PROVIDENT FUND COMMISSIONER-1 (PENSION), EPFO, NEW DELHI-110066
KERALA STATE FARMING CORPORATION, represented by Managing Director, VETTITHITTA P.O., PUNALOOR, KOLLAM-689696

Legal Representation & Advocates

Counsels for Petitioners

• P.N. MOHANAN
• SRI C.P. SABARI
• SMT. AMRUTHA SURESH

Counsels for Respondents

• PIRAPPANCODE V.SUDHIR
• SRI DENIZEN KOMATH
• STATE FARMING CORPORATION OF KERALA LIMITED
• SRI P. VIJAYAKUMAR, ASGI

Case Synopsis & Summary

This writ petition (WP(C) No. 20745 of 2020) is filed by 37 EPF pensioners seeking higher pension under the Employees’ Provident Fund Scheme as amended in 2014. The petitioners rely on the amended scheme to obtain enhanced pension benefits. The respondents urge that the amended scheme’s validity has been upheld by the Supreme Court, and that petitioners should file fresh applications under the amended scheme which authorities are to consider in light of the Supreme Court’s directions. The Kerala High Court acknowledges the Supreme Court's decision (Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation and Another v. Sunil Kumar B.) and notes that, in view of that judgment, petitioners are entitled to seek enhanced pension by submitting proper applications under the amended scheme. The court disposes of the petition by permitting the petitioners to file appropriate applications for enhanced pension, which the relevant EPFO authorities must consider promptly without delay. The order effectively channels relief through the amended scheme rather than adjudicating merits in this petition itself. The Appendix lists petitioners (37 named individuals) and exhibits relating to prior judgments, amendments and pension-related documentation, providing the legal and factual backdrop for the court’s directions.”

Provisions of Law Cited

Employees' Provident Fund Scheme, 1952 (as amended by GSR 608(E) dated 22/08/2014)

Submissions & Arguments

Contentions of Appellants / Petitioners

The petitioners seek enhancement of pension under the amended Employees’ Provident Fund Scheme (EPF Scheme), 2014. They contend that the amended scheme provides for higher pension and should be invoked in their cases, in line with the Supreme Court’s validation of the amendment. They rely on the amended framework to obtain better pension benefits.

Contentions of Respondents

The respondents submit that, in light of the Supreme Court’s decision upholding the amended EPF Scheme, petitioners may file fresh applications under the amended scheme. Such applications are to be considered by the appropriate EPFO authorities in accordance with the scheme and the directions of the Supreme Court without delay.

Cited Precedents (1)

Case Name	Citation	Treatment	Explanation
Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation and Another v. Sunil Kumar.B.	2022(7)KHC 12	Positive	The judgment upheld the validity of the amended EPF Scheme, which the Kerala High Court cites to allow fresh applications for enhanced pension under the amended scheme.

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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 SATHISH NINAN FRIDAY, THE 13[TH] DAY OF OCTOBER 2023 / 21ST ASWINA, 1945 WP(C) NO. 20745 OF 2020** ## **PETITIONERS:** 1 G. GOPAKUMAR AGED 59 YEARS S/O. LAGE V. GOPALAPILLAI, NANDANAM, PRA-B.1/15, NEAR GURUMANDIRAM, AGASTHYACOD, ANCHAL P.O., KOLLAM691306. EPF A/C. NO.KR/KLM/3453/3258 PPO NO.KRKLM00111168. 2 JOSELET MATHEW AGED 61 YEARS S/O. MATHAI, MAMPUZHACKAL HOUSE, PARATHODU P.O., KANJIRAPPALLY, KOTTAYAM-686512. EPF A/C. NO.KR/KLM/3453/1032 PPO NO.KR/KTM/00037639 3 R.S. SATHEESHKUMAR AGED 60 YEARS S/O. K.RAGHAVAN, MANASA, NAMBI GARDENS NAGAR, A-71, KAMALESWARAM, MANACAUD P.O., THIRUVANANTHAPURAM695009. EPF A/C. NO.KR/KLM/3453/1029 PPO NO.KR/TVM/00083322. 4 A. PURUSHOTHAMAN AGED 61 YEARS S/O. ADICHAN, NIRAPUVILA VEEDU, MALOOR COLLEGE P.O., PATHANAPURAM, KOLLAM-689695. EPF A/C. NO.KR/KLM/3453/ 2999 PPO NO.KR/KLM/ 00102400. 5 D. AROMALUNNI, AGED 59 YEARS S/O. LATE K. DAMODARAN, UTHRADAM, PALAYAMKUNNU, VARKALA, TRIVANDRUM-695146. EPF A/C. NO.KR/KLM/3453/ 560 PPO NO.KR/TVM/00086974. 6 VIVEKANANDAN K.K. AGED 59 YEARS S/O. LATEKUNJUKRISHNAN, KOKKOTTU UDIVILA VEEDU, AYIRAKUZHY P.O., CHITHARA, KOLLAM DISTRICT, KERALA, PIN-691559. EPF A/C. NO.KR/KLM/3453/541 PPO NO.KR/KLM/ 00111109. Wpc no.20745 of 2020 -: 2 :- 7 RAJAN K.G. AGED 61 YEARS S/O. IDUKKULA GEORGE, KOCHUKALLIL VEEDU, AYIRANALLOOR P.O., EDAMO VIA, PUNALUR, KOLLAM DISTRICT-691307. EPF A/C. NO.KR/KLM/3453/ 2112 PPO NO.KR/KLM/00101466. 8 K.K. SIVARAMAN AGED 58 YEARS S/O. LATE KOCHUKANDAN, KALATHARA HOUSE, UDYOGAMANDAL P.O., ERNAKULAM DISTRICT-683501. EPF A/C. NO.KR/KLM/3453/ 2612 PPO NO.KR/KCH/00115307. 9 P.N. MAJEED AGED 59 YEARS S/O. NAGOOR MEERAN RAWTHER,VADAKKAKARA PUTHAN VEEDU, MANCODE P.O., KALANJOOR, PATHANAMTHITTA-689694. EPF A/C. NO.KR/KLM/3453/ 164 PPO NO.KR/KLM/ 00110700. 10 MADHUSOODANAN P. AGED 59 YEARS S/O. PURUSHOTHAMAN, PANCHAVADIYIL, CHANNAKKAMAN, KARAVOOR P.O., PIRAVANTHOOR VIA, PUNALUR, KOLLAM-689696. EPF A/C. NO.KR/KLM/3453/ 1627 PPO NO.KR/KLM/ 00111588. 11 GEETHAKUMARI E. AGED 63 YEARS W/O. BALACHANDRAN, EASWARY HOUSE, THOLICODU, PUNALUR, KOLLAM-691333. EPF A/C. NO.KR/KLM/3453/ 67 PPO NO.KR/KLM/ 00094503. 12 MOHANAN PILLAI C. AGED 61 YEARS S/O. OMMINI PILLAI, RENJU NIVAS, PUNUKKANNOOR, PERUMPUZHA P.O., KOLLAM-691504. EPF A/C. NO.KR/KLM/3453/ 3262 PPO NO.KR/KLM/ 00103471. 13 SOBHANAKUMARY R. AGED 59 YEARS W/O. R. SYAMNATH, RAJADHARA, MANAYIKULANGARA, THIRUMULLAVARAM P.O., KOLLAM-689695. EPF A/C. NO.KR/KLM/3453/3508 PPO NO.KR/KLM/ 00111110. Wpc no.20745 of 2020 -: 3 :- 14 STANLY R. AGED 61 YEARS S/O. RAJAPPAN, PREETHY BHAVANAM, THONDIYAMON, POONKULANJI P.O., PATHANAPURAM, KOLLAM-689695. EPF A/C. NO.KR/KLM/3453/ 115 PPO NO.KR/KLM/ 00095473. 15 RADHAKRISHNAN S. AGED 63 YEARS S/O. SUKUMARAN, REENA BHAVAN, CHACHIPUNNA, PUNNALA P.O., PIRAVANTHOOR VIA, KOLLAM DISTRICT-689696. EPF A/C. NO.KR/KLM/3453/121 PPO NO.KR/KLM/ 00094507. 16 RAJAN M.Y. AGED 63 YEARS S/O. YOHANNAN M., MARANGATTU, MANJAKKALA P.O., PARANKIMAMUKAL, KOLLAM DISTRICT-691508. EPF A/C. NO.KR/KLM/3453/ 1015 PPO NO.KR/KLM/ 00094489. 17 AJI V.K. AGED 61 YEARS W/O. LATE M.D. SOMAN, MEPPANATHU HOUSE, CHUTTUPADUKARA, EDAPPALLY P.O., ERNAKULAM682024. EPF A/C. NO.KR/KLM/3453/2613 PPO NO.KR/KCH/00103079. 18 ISMAIL P. AGED 63 YEARS S/O. PEERUMUHAMMED RAWTHER, ANSARY MANZIL, PATHIRIKKAL P.O., PATHANAPURAM, KOLLAM DISTRICT. EPF A/C. NO.KR/KLM/3453/ 139 PPO NO.KR/KLM/ 00094504. 19 ABDUL AZEEZ H. AGED 61 YEARS S/O. HANEEFA RAWTHER, SHAMEER MANZIL,THENKUDICHAL, MANCODE P.O., KALANJOOR, PIN-689694. EPF A/C. NO.KR/KLM/3453/110 PPO NO.KR/KLM/ 00103597. 20 SALIM M. AGED 63 YEARS S/O. MUHAMMED IBRAHIM, THONDIYAMON, PADINJATTEKARAYIL, POONKULANJI P.O., PATHANAPURAM, KOLLAM DISTRICT. EPF A/C. NO.KR/KLM/3453/133 PPO NO.KR/KLM/ 00094492. Wpc no.20745 of 2020 -: 4 :- 21 O. RAJAN, AGED 61 YEARS S/O. OONNUNNY, CHAKKALAYIL VEEDU, KALANJOOR P.O., PATHANAMTHITTA -689694. EPF A/C. NO.KR/KLM/3453/1019 PPO NO.KR/KLM/ 00103472. 22 MOHANAN NAIR G. AGED 61 YEARS S/O. GOPALAPILLAI, SIMI BHAVANAM, KARAVALOOR P.O., PUNALUR, KOLLAM-691333. EPF A/C. NO.KR/KLM/3453/1020 PPO NO.KR/KLM/ 00104282. 23 SARASWATHY AMMA K. AGED 60 YEARS D/O. GOPALA PILLAI, CHARUVILA PUYTHAN VEEDU, MATHRA P.O., ADUKKALMOOLA, KARAVALOOR PART, KOLLAM-691333. EPF A/C. NO.KR/KLM/3453/61 PPO NO.KR/KLM/ 00106772. 24 BAHULEYAN M. AGED 63 YEARS S/O. KUNJURAMAN VAIDYAR, SHANMUGHA VILASAM, PIRAMALA, PUNNALA P.O., PATHANAPURAM KOLLAM689696. EPF A/C. NO.KR/KLM/3453/76 PPO NO.KR/KLM/ 00094687. 25 SIVAKUMAR P.S. AGED 58 YEARS S/O. SREEDHARAN NAIR, RAJ BHAVAN, KP VI/770, PRAVACHAMBALAM, NEMOM P.O., THIRUVANANTHAPURAM-695020. EPF A/C. NO.KR/KLM/3453/ 2710. 26 N.G. PRASAD AGED 58 YEARS S/O. K. GOPALAN, ARYA BHAVAN, VETTITHITTA P.O., ALIMUKKU, KOLLAM-689696. EPF A/C. NO.KR/KLM/3453/ 1258. 27 SAMPATHKUMAR K.S. AGED 58 YEARS S/O. K. SIVAPRASAD, KALLUVARAMPIL, SHIVA AND PRASAD LAY OUT, VENPALAVATTOM, ANAYARA P.O., THIRUVANANTHAPURAM-29 EPF A/C. NO.KR/KLM/3453/3506. Wpc no.20745 of 2020 -: 5 :- 28 REMADEVI P.L. AGED 58 YEARS W/O. ANILKUMAR K.S., KRISHNANANTHE, THOLICODE P.O., PUNALUR, KOLLAM DISTRICT-691333. EPF A/C. NO.KR/KLM/3453/102. 29 NANDAKUMARAN PILLAI V., AGED 58 YEARS S/O. LATE S. VASUDEVAN PILLAI, THADATHIL VEEDU, POOMKULANJI P.O., PATHANAPURAM VIA, KOLLA-689695. EPF A/C. NO.KR/KLM/3453/158. 30 RAVEENDRAN M. AGED 58 YEARS S/O. MADHAVAN, PUTHAN VEEDU, CHANNAKKAMON, KARAVOOR P.O., PIRAVANTHOOR, KOLLAM-689696. EPF A/C. NO.KR/KLM/3453/210. 31 LEELAMANI G. AGED 58 YEARS W/O. LATE VASUDEVAN, GOVINDAM, MANNADI P.O. MANNADI, PATHANAMTHITTA DISTRICT-691530. EPF A/C. NO.KR/KLM/3453/3253. 32 VIJAYAKUMARY K. AGED 58 YEARS W/O. P.N. RAJASEKHARAN, RESHMA BHAVAN, LF2208, VRINDAVAN GARDENS, PATTOM P.O., THIRUVANANTHAPURAM DISTRICT-695004. EPF A/C. NO.KR/KLM/3453/3155. 33 RAJUKUTTAN NAIR P.G. AGED 58 YEARS S/O. LATE P. GOPALAN NAIR, RESHMI HAVAN, MANKOD P.O., PATHANAPURAM VIA, KOLLAM-689694. EPF A/C. NO.KR/KLM/3453/340. 34 BABURAJAN G. AGED 58 YEARS S/O. GANGADHARAN, SFCK, MULLUMALA, CHEMPANARUVI P.O., KOLLAM-689696. EPF A/C. NO.KR/KLM/3453/600. 35 PUSHPANGADAN P.K. AGED 60 YEARS S/O. LATE PRABHAKARAN, NEETHU BHAVAN, MANKOD P.O., PATHANAPURAM, KOLLAM DISTRICT-689694. EPF A/C. NO.KR/KLM/3453/443 PPO NO. KR/KLM/00106911. Wpc no.20745 of 2020 -: 6 :- 36 RAVEENDRAN K. AGED 61 YEARS S/O. KUNJACHAN, MANNARETHU VEEDU, THAMARAKULAM P.O., ALAPPUZHA DISTRICT-690530. EPF A/C. NO.KR/KLM/3453/794 PPO NO. KR/KCH/00102174. 37 C. BABU, AGED 60 YEARS S/O. LATE GEORGE, PADIPPURATHU HOUSE, IRAVON P.O., KONNI-689691, PATHANAMTHITTA DISTRICT. EPF A/C. NO.KR/KLM/3453/920 PPO NO. KR/TVM/00083091. BY ADVS. P.N.MOHANAN SRI.C.P.SABARI SMT.AMRUTHA SURESH ## **RESPONDENTS:** - 1 UNION OF INDIA (UOI), REPRESENTED BY THE SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT OF INDIA, MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND DEPARTMENT OF EMPLOYMENT, NEW DELHI-110001. - 2 REGIONAL PROVIDENT FUND COMMISSIONER, EMPLOYEES PROVIDENT FUND ORGANISATION (EPFO), BHAVISHANIDHI BHAVAN, PATTOM PALACE, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM-695004. - 3 ASSISTANT PROVIDENT FUND COMMISSIONER, SUB REGIONAL OFFICE, EMPLOYEES PROVIDENT FUND ORGANISATION (EPFO), BHAVISHANIDHI BHAVAN, KOLLAM-691001. - 4 EMPLOYTEES PROVIDENT FUND TRUSTEE, REPRESENTED BY MANAGING TRUSTEE, EMPLOYEES PROVIDENT FUND OFFICE, BHAVISHYA NIDHI BHAVAN, WAZIRPUR, NEW DELHI-110052. - 5 REGIONAL PROVIDENT FUND COMMISSIONER-1 (PENSION), BHAVISHYA NIDHI BHAVAN, 14-BHIKAJI CAMA PALACE, NEW DELHI-110066. - 6 THE KEALA STATE FARMING CORPORATION, REPRESENTED BY MANAGING DIRECTOR, VETTITHITTA P.O., PUNALOOR, KOLLAM-689696. Wpc no.20745 of 2020 -: 7 :- BY ADVS. SRI.PIRAPPANCODE V.S.SUDHIR SRI.DENIZEN KOMATH, SC, STATE FARMING CORPORATION OF KERALA LIMITED SRI.P.VIJAYAKUMAR,ASGI THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 13.10.2023, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: ## **Sathish Ninan, J. ============================== W.P(C) No.20745 of 2020 ========================== Dated this the 13[th] day of October, 2023** ## **JUDGMENT** The claim of the petitioners is for higher pension in terms of the Employees’ Provident Fund Scheme – 2014 amendment. The validity of the amended Employees’ Provident Fund Scheme was upheld by the Apex Court in _**Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation and Another v. Sunil Kumar.B. [2022(7)KHC 12]**_ . 2. The learned Standing counsel for the respondents points out that, in the light of the Supreme Court judgment, it is open for the petitioners to make a fresh application in terms of the amended scheme claiming higher pension, which could be considered in accordance with the scheme and the directions in the judgment. Resultantly, the writ petition is disposed of, permitting the writ petitioners to file appropriate application seeking enhanced pension in terms of the **W.P(C) No.20745 of 2020** **==> picture [34 x 9] intentionally omitted <==** amended scheme and the directions of the Supreme Court. If such an application is submitted, the same shall be considered by the appropriate authority of the Organization without delay. **Sathish Ninan, Judge** SVP ## **APPENDIX OF WP(C) 20745/2020** |PETITIONER EXHIBITS|| |---|---| |EXHIBIT P1|A TRUE COPY OF THE JUDGMENT DATED| ||04/11/2011 IN WPC NO. 6643/2007.| |EXHIBIT P2|TRUE COPY OF THE JUDGMENT DATED| ||31/03/2016 IN SLP NO.7074/2014.| |EXHIBIT P3|TRUE COPY OF THE PROCEEDINGS DATED| ||20/02/2007 ISSUED BY THE REGIONAL| ||PROVIDENT FUND COMMISSIONER,| ||THIRUVANANTHAPURAM.| |EXHIBIT P4|AMENDMENT IN EPF SCHEME BY GSR 608(E)| ||DATED 22/08/2014.| |EXHIBIT P5|TRUE COPY OF THE JUDGMENT 12/10/2018 IN| ||WPC NO.26406/2016.| |EXHIBIT P6|TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER DATED 01/04/2019| ||IN SLP NO.9610/2019.| |EXHIBIT P7|TRUE COPY OF THE DETAILS OF REMITTANCE| ||MADE IN THE CASE OF 1ST PETITIONER.| |EXHIBIT P8|TRUE COPY OF THE PENSION PAYMENT ORDER| ||ISSUED IN RESPECT OF THE 1ST PETITIONER.|