K.K. Venugopalan and others v Union of India and others

## **`IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM`** ## **`PRESENT`** ``` THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE MURALI PURUSHOTHAMAN FRIDAY, THE 25[TH] DAY OF AUGUST 2023 / 3RD BHADRA, 1945 WP(C) NO. 10988 OF 2020 ``` ## **`PETITIONERS:`** |**`1`**|**`K.K.VENUGOPALAN`**| |---|---| ||**`KOLLAMTHADATHIL HOUSE,`**| ||**`NEAR GOVERNMENT HIGH SCHOOL GROUND,`**| ||**`MULAMTHURUTHY, ERNAKULAM DISTRICT,`**| ||**`PIN-682314`**| |**`2`**|**`V.K.SASIDHARAN`**| ||**`KOLLAMTHADATHIL HOUSE,`**| ||**`KULYATTIKKARA.P.O.,`**| ||**`ARAYANKAVU,`**| ||**`ERNAKULAM DISTRICT,`**| ||**`PIN-682317`**| |**`3`**|**`K.C.BABY`**| ||**`KAIPPILLIYIL HOUSE,`**| ||**`NEAR CHENKOTHUKUNNU KAPPOLA,`**| ||**`KONGARPPILLY.P.O.,`**| ||**`ERNAKULAM DISTRICT,`**| ||**`PIN-683518`**| |**`4`**|**`K.P.SAROJAM,`**| ||**`AALAYIL HOUSE,`**| ||**`KOTHAPARAMBU.P.O,`**| ||**`THRISSUR DISTRICT,`**| ||**`PIN-680668`**| |**`5`**|**`E.P.REMANAN,`**| ||**`EDAVETTATHU HOUSE,`**| ||**`PERUMPILLY.P.O,`**| ||**`MULANTHURUTHY,`**| ||**`ERNAKULAM DISTRICT,`**| ||**`PIN-682314`**| |**`6`**|**`LILLY.P.O`**| ||**`UPPUVEETTUNKAL HOUSE,`**| ||**`VADAKKATHARA ROAD,`**| ||**`POONITHURA.P.O,`**| ||**`ERNAKULAM DISTRICT,`**| ||**`PIN-682038`**| |**`7`**|**`M.MARIYAPUSHPA`**| ||**`THOTTAMVILAYIL HOUSE,`**| ||**`MUVATTUPUZHA.P.O.,`**| ||**`ERNAKULAM DISTRICT,`**| ||**`PIN-686673`**| |**`8`**|**`C.S.RAJAN`**| ||**`CHERUKUNNEL HOUSE,`**| ``` WP(C).No.10988 OF 2020 ``` ``` 2 ``` ||**`KUMARAKOM,`**| |---|---| ||**`KUMARAKOM.P.O,`**| ||**`PIN-686563`**| |**`9`**|**`SHAJI.M.THOMAS`**| ||**`MALATHUSSERY HOUSE,`**| ||**`CHINGAVANAM.P.O,`**| ||**`KOTTAYAM-686531`**| |**`10`**|**`INDIRA BAI.D`**| ||**`KOVILAKLOM, 99,`**| ||**`M.P.APPAN NAGAR,`**| ||**`VAZHUTHACAUD,`**| ||**`THIRUVANANTHAPURAM-695014`**| |**`11`**|**`T.M.SANKARAN,`**| ||**`KUNIYIL HOUSE,`**| ||**`SANGEETHIKA,`**| ||**`KOLARAD STREET,`**| ||**`CHOMBALA POST,`**| ||**`VATAKARA,`**| ||**`KOZHIKODE DISTRICGT,`**| ||**`PIN-673308`**| |**`12`**|**`P.VALSARAJ`**| ||**`PUTHENPURAYIL HOUSE,`**| ||**`POST MANIYUR,`**| ||**`VIA. PAYYOLI,`**| ||**`KOZHIKODE DISTRICT,`**| ||**`PIN-673523`**| |**`13`**|**`T.G.SANTHOSH KUMAR`**| ||**`ASWATHY BHAVAN,`**| ||**`ODANKUZHI ROAD,`**| ||**`THIRUMALA,`**| ||**`THIRUVANANTHAPURAM-695006`**| |**`14`**|**`K.S.SURENDRAN NAIR,`**| ||**`T.C.18/1110,`**| ||**`CHANDRA BHAVAN,`**| ||**`TAGORE ROAD,`**| ||**`THRIKKUNNAPURAM,`**| ||**`THIRUVANANTHAPURAM,`**| ||**`PIN-695032`**| |**`15`**|**`SANAL KUMAR K`**| ||**`SRUTHI, HOUSE NO.C55,`**| ||**`VELUTHAMPI NAGAR,`**| ||**`MANIKANDESWARAM.P.O,`**| ||**`THIRUVANANTHAPURAM-695013`**| |**`16`**|**`AISHA.P.V`**| ||**`PLACKAL HOUSE,`**| ||**`AYYAMPILLI.P.O.,`**| ||**`AYYAMPILLY,`**| ``` WP(C).No.10988 OF 2020 ``` ``` 3 ``` ``` NEAR PUNALIL SCHOOL, ERNAKULAM DISTRICT ``` - **`17 PRADEEP.P.K PATTATHANATHU HOUSE, MOOTHAKUNNAM.P.O, ERNAKULAM DISTRICT, PIN-683516`** - **`18 SELVI.P EBENEZER, PIRAYIL PEYAD.P.O, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM-695573`** - **`19 JACOB. M THOMAS MANIMALAPRAMBIL HOUSE, CHINGAVANAM.P.O, KOTTAYAM, PIN-686531`** ## **`BY ADVS. G.SUDHEER SRI.R.HARIKRISHNAN (H-308)`** ## **`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 ORGANIZATION (EPFO), BHAVISHANIDHI BHAVAN, PATTOM PALACE, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, PIN-695004`** - **`3 ASSISTNAT PROVIDENT FUND COMMISSIONER, SUB REGIONAL OFFICE, EMPLOYEES PROVIDENT FUND ORGANIZATION(EPFO), BHAVISHANIDHI BHAVAN, KOLLAM`** - **`4 ASSISTANT PROVIDENT FUND COMMISSIONER SUB REGIONAL OFFICE, EMPLOYEES PROVIDENT FUND ORGANIZATION (EPFO), BHAVISHANIDHI BHAVAN, KANNUR-670001`** - **`5 PROVIDENT FUND COMMISSIONER, SUB REGIONAL OFFICE, EMPLOYEES PROVIDENT FUND ORGANIZATION(EPFO), BHAVISHANIDHI BHAVAN, KALOOR, ERNAKULAM, PIN-682017`** - **`6 KERALA STATE HANDLOOM WEAVERS CO-OPERATIVE SOCEITY LTD, REPRESENTED BY MANAGING DIRECTOR,`** ``` WP(C).No.10988 OF 2020 ``` ``` 4 ``` ``` P. B NO.64, OOTTUKUZHI, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM-695001 ``` ``` BY ADVS. ``` ``` SRI.P.VIJAYAKUMAR, ASG OF INDIA SRI.N.RAGHURAJ SMT. NITHA N.S. - SC SRI. S. MANU - DSGI ``` ``` THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 25.08.2023, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: ``` ``` WP(C).No.10988 OF 2020 ``` ``` 5 ``` ## **`JUDGMENT`** ## This writ petition is filed seeking the following reliefs:- “i) declare that petitioners are entitled to enjoy the pensionary benefits as per the EP Scheme based on their actual pay exceeding the ceiling limit of Rs.5,000/- or Rs.6,500/as the case may be and to further declare that the action of the respondents in not permitting the petitioners to enjoy the pension scheme on the basis of their actual pay exceeding the ceiling limit is unconstitutional and is violative of the principles of proportionality, etc. ii) issue a writ of mandamus or any other appropriate writ, order or direction, directing the respondents 2 to 6 to permit the petitioners to enjoy the pensionary benefits as per the EP Scheme by computing the pensionary contribution on the basis of the petitioners' actual pay exceeding the ceiling limit, from time to time and permitting them to refund the contribution with interest to get higher pensionary benefits and to complete necessary steps in that regard within a time frame stipulated by this Honourable Court.” ## 2. The petitioners are retired employees of the ## 6[th] respondent. They are subscribers of Employees’ ``` WP(C).No.10988 OF 2020 ``` ``` 6 ``` Provident Fund. According to the petitioners, they are entitled for higher pension under the Employees’ Provident Funds and Miscellaneous 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. Smt.Nita N.S., 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 ``` WP(C).No.10988 OF 2020 ``` ``` 7 ``` 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 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.10988 OF 2020 ``` ``` 8 ``` ## **`APPENDIX`** ## **`PETITIONERS EXHIBITS :-`** ``` EXHIBIT P1TRUE COPY OF THE JUDGMENT DATED 4.11.2011 IN WP(C)NO.6643/2007 OF THIS HONOURABLE COURT. EXHIBIT P2TRUE COPY OF THE JUDGMENT DATED 5.3.2013 IN WRIT APPEAL NO.569/2012 PASSED BY THIS HONOURABLE COURT. EXHIBIT P3TRUE COPY OF THE JUDGMENT DATED 12.010.2018 IN WP(C)NO.32005/2016 OF THIS HONOURABLE COURT. EXHIBIT P4TRUE COPY OF THE LIST OF PETITIONERS CONTAINING THE UAN NUMBERS. ``` ## **`RESPONDENTS EXHIBITS: NIL.`**