N. Padmanabhan and others v Union of India and others

## **`IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM`** ## **`PRESENT`** ## **`THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE MURALI PURUSHOTHAMAN`** ``` TUESDAY, THE 22[ND] DAY OF AUGUST 2023 / 31ST SRAVANA, 1945 WP(C) NO. 14669 OF 2020 ``` ## **`PETITIONERS:`** ``` 1N. PADMANABHAN AGED 58 YEARS S/O. C.M.KUNHIRAMAN ADIYODI, C-2/5 P AND T QUARTERS, POOTHOOL P.O., THRISSUR - 680 004 EPF A/C NO.KR/KKD/00011761/000/000052. ``` - **`2 P. ASSAIN PARAPURATH HOUSE, KARANTHUR P.O., KUNNAMANGALAM, KOZHIKODE - 673 571 EPF A/C NO.KR/KKD/0011761/000/0000020 P.P.O.NO.KR/KKD/00046936.`** - **`3 P.MANOHARAN S/O. P.KUMARAN, SREEPUTHUKUDY, VELLARANILAM, POLUR, KONOT P.O., KOZHIKODE- 673 571 EPF A/C NO.KR/KKD/0011761/000/0000081 P.P.O.NO.KR/KKD/00060713.`** - **`4 DIVAKARAN B.K. VARADANAM BHAGAVATHI KAVIL, EDAKKAD P.O., WESTHILL, KOZHIKODE - 673 005 EPF A/C NO.KR/KKD/0011761/000/0000522, P.P.O.NO.KR/KKD/00057886.`** - **`5 DEVADASAN M.T. S/O. VANAJA C.U., MELEDATHTHAZATH, PAYAMBRA, KUNNAMANGALAM, KOZHIKODE - 673 571 EPF A/C NO.KR/KKD/0011761/000/0000501 P.P.O.NO.KR/KKD/00062662.`** - **`6 MUHAMED JALEEL V.T. S/O. KUNHI MOIDEEN V.T., VANIYAMTHODI HOUSE, EXPRESS VILLAS MUDUMMALKUNNU, CHELAVOOR P.O., KOZHIKODE - 673 571 EPF A/C NO.KR/KKD/0011761/000/0000118 P.P.O.NO.KR/KKD/00070272.`** - **`7 ASHOKAN U. SREENIDHI 8/112, PUTTUMANNIL THAZHAM, PAYAMBRA, KOZHIKODE - 673 571 EPF A/C NO.KR/KKD/0011761/0000/0000526 P.P.O.NO.KR/KKD/00043681.`** - **`8 SAJU K.C. KARACKAL HOUSE, A R CAMP ROAD, MARIKUNNU P.O., KOZHIKODE - 673012 EPF A/C NO.KR/KKD/.0011761/000/0000496`** ``` WP(C).No.14669 OF 2020 ``` ``` 2 ``` ``` P.P.O.NO.KR/KKD/00063141. ``` ``` 9A.P.VELAYUDHAN THACHAMPALLY THAZHM VEEDU, MYTHRI, MERIKUNNU P.O., KOZHIKODE - 673 012 EPF A/C NO.KR/KKD/0011761/000/00084 P.P.O.NO.KR/KKD/00042904. ``` ``` 10P.P. VISWANATHAN VINAYAKAM, EASTHILL ROAD, WESTHILL P.O., KOZHIKODE - 673005 EPF A/C NO.KR/KKD/0011761/000/0000082 P.P.O.NO.KR/KKD/00067650. ``` ``` 11K. BABURAJ RHYTHM, MAKKADA P.O., KAKKODI, KOZHIKODE - 673 611 EPF A/C NO.KR/KKD/0011761/000/0000026 P.P.O.NO.KR/KKD/00070489. ``` - **`12 ABDUL MAJEED K.P. S/O. SUBAIDA E., KUNDONA PARAMBA, ERANHIKKAL P.O., KANDANKULANGARA, KOZHIKODE - 673 303 EPF A/C NO.KR/KKD/0011761/000/0000257 P.P.O.NO.KR/KKD/00060208.`** - **`13 ABDUL RASHEED T.K. THANAL HOUSE, THAMARASSERY P.O., KOZHIKODE - 673 573 EPF A/C NO.KR/KKD/0011761/000/0000149 P.P.O.NO.KR/KKD/00065376.`** ``` 14K. ABDUL MAJEED KANNANCHERRY HOUSE, KODIYATHOOR P.O., MUKKAM, KOZHIKODE - 673 602 KR/KKD/0011761/000/0000257 P.P.O.NO.KR/KKD/00068745. ``` - **`15 A.E. NAZEER AGED 59 YEARS S/O.ALI IBRAHIM KUNJU, “HIS GRACE”, MERIKUNNU P.O., MERIKUNNU, KOZHIKODE - 673 012 EPF A/C NO.KR/KKD/0011761/000/0000002 P.P.O.NO.KR/KKD/00068544.`** ``` 16M.K.ABDUL RAZAQ S/O. MUHAMMED KUTTY M.K., UMMUMPURATH HOUSE, CHENNAMANGALLUR P.O., MUKKAM, KOZHIKODE - 673 602 EPF A/C NO.KR/KKD/0011761/000/0000016 P.P.O.NO.KR/KKD/00055942. ``` ``` WP(C).No.14669 OF 2020 ``` ``` 3 ``` ``` 17ABDU RAHIMAN K. S/O. HYDROSE, KODALIYIL HOUSE, MUTHUTHALA P.O., PATTAMBI, PALAKKAD - 679 303, EPF A/C NO.KR/KKD/0011761/000/0000011 P.P.O.NO.KR/KKD/00064874. ``` ``` 18C.K. ABDUL JABBAR NEJAH, NEAR ARATHIL JUMA MASJID, PAPPINISSERY P.O., KANNUR – 670 561 EPF A/C NO.KR/KKD/0011761/000/0000057 P.P.O.NO.KR/KKD/00064206. 19MOIDEEN KUTTY K.P. S/O. ALVI HAJI K.P., SILVER HILL SIGMA BUILDING, VELLIMADUKUNNU, KOZHIKODE - 673 012 EPF A/C NO.KR/KKD/0011761/000/0000096 P.P.O.NO.KR/KKD/00068543. ``` - **`20 BABU M.J. MALLANVELIHYIL HOUSE, HONAI NAGAR, MUDAVOOR P. O., ERNAKULAM- 686 669 EPF A/C NO.KR/KKD/0011761/000/0000176 P.P.O.NO.KR/KCH/00111636.`** - **`21 ABDUL RAZACK P.A. S/O. ABDUL KHADER M.S., FIRDOWS, VELOOR P.O., KOTTAYAM – 686 003 EPF A/C NO.KR/KKD/0011761/000/0000048 P.P.O.NO.KR/KCH/00108089.`** - **`22 T.V. CHANDRASEKHARAN GOKULAM, MANAPULLIKAVU, KUNNATHURMDU P.O., PALAKKAD - 678 013 EPF A/C NO.KR/KKD/0011761/000/0000051 P.P.O.NO.KR/KKD/00070240.`** - **`23 M. SURESH KUMAR S/O. MADHAVAN T.K., SREE SAILAM, BHARATH NAGAR 57, KAVANAD P.O., KOLLAM - 691 003 EPF A/C NO.KR/KKD/0011761/000/0000038 P.P.O.NO.KR/KKD/00064935.`** - **`24 M.M. YOOSUF MANNARTHOTTATHIL, ALAPRA P.O., KOTTAYAM - 686 544 EPF A/C NO.KR/KKD/0011761/000/0000146 P.P.O.NO.KR/TVM/00083751.`** - **`25 ZUBAIR K.V. S/O. MAMMU K.M., KOYASSAN VEEDU, WEST KALLAI, KALLAI P.O.,`** ``` WP(C).No.14669 OF 2020 ``` ``` 4 ``` ``` KOZHIKODE - 673 003 EPF A/C NO.KR/KKD/0011761/000/0000010 P.P.O.NO.KR/KKD/00064187. 26A.P.ABUBACKER ARAMBRATH PARAMBIL, PADANILAM P.O., KUNNAMANGALAM, KOZHIKODE - 673 571 EPF A/C NO.KR/KKD/0011761/000/0000028 P.P.O.NO.KR/KKD/00068536. 27ABDUSSAMAD Y. S/O. SAFIYA M., ATTUPURAM HOUSE, POKKUNNU P.O., KINASSERY, KOZHIKODE - 673 013 EPF A/C NO.KR/KKD/0011761/000/0000015 P.P.O.NO.KR/KKD/00062661. 28MOHAMMED ASRAFF K.P. CHERUVATTA KANDIYIL HOUSE, PARQAMBIL P.O., KOZHIKODE - 673012 EPF A/C NO.KR/KKD/0011761/0000530. 29PRADEEP KUMAR C.P. POOKKATT HOUSE, MARIKKUNNU P.O., KOZHIKODE - 673012. EPF A/C NO.KR/KKD/001176/0000210. ``` ``` BY ADVS. V.V.NANDAGOPAL NAMBIAR SMT.SMITHA (EZHUPUNNA) SRI.DHEERAJ KRISHNAN PEROT SMT.CHITRA JOHNSON ``` ## **`RESPONDENTS:`** - **`1 UNION OF INDIA, REPRESENTED BY THE SECRETARY TO THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA, MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT, SHRAM SAKTHI BHAVAN, RAFFI MARGH, NEW DELHI - 110 001.`** - **`2 THE CENTRAL PROVIDENT FUND COMMISSIONER EMPLOYEES PROVIDENT FUND ORGANIZATION, BHAVISHYANIDHI BHAVAN, NEW DELHI - 110 066.`** - **`3 THE ASSISTANT PROVIDENT FUND COMMISSIONER EMPLOYEES PROVIDENT FUND ORGANIZATION, SUB REGIONAL OFFICE, KOCHI- 682 017.`** - **`4 THE ASSISTANT PROVIDENT FUND COMMISSIONER EMPLOYEES PROVIDENT FUND ORGANIZATION, SUB REGIONAL OFFICE, TRIVANDRUM - 695 004.`** ``` WP(C).No.14669 OF 2020 ``` ``` 5 ``` |**`5`**|**`THE ASSISTANT PROVIDENT FUND COMMISSIONER`**| |---|---| ||**`EMPLOYEES PROVIDENT FUND ORGANIZATION,`**| ||**`SUB REGIONAL OFFICE, KOZHIKODE – 673 006.`**| |**`6`**|**`MADHYAMAM DAILY (IDEAL PUBLICATION TRUST)`**| ||**`VELLUMADUKUNU, KOZHIKODE - 673 012.`**| ``` BY ADVS. SRI .B.PRAMOD, CGC DR.ABRAHAM P.MEACHINKARA, SC, EPF ORG. SRI.BALRAM S.A. ``` ``` THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 22.08.2023, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: ``` ``` WP(C).No.14669 OF 2020 ``` ``` 6 ``` ## **`JUDGMENT`** ## This writ petition is filed seeking the following ## reliefs:- “a) a writ of mandamus or any other appropriate writ or order directing respondents 2 to 5 to recalculate and re-fix the pension payable to the petitioners by determining pensionable salary taking into account average monthly pay drawn during the contributory period of service in the span of 12 months preceding the date of exit from the employees pension fund and by taking Into account 8 1/3% of the full contribution made in relation to the petitioners by the 6[th] respondent establishment without imposing any artificial wage ceiling. b) a writ of mandamus or any other appropriate writ or order directing the respondents 2 to 5 to pay forthwith the arrears of pension and the revised pension payable to the petitioners after re-fixation of the pension payable to petitioners, reckoning pensionable salary in terms of pre-amended paragraph 11 of the pension scheme and taking into account 8 1/3% of the full contribution made in relation to the petitioners by the 6[th] respondent establishment. c) to hold that the petitioners are entitled to the benefits conferred by Ext P2 judgment.” 2. The petitioners are retired employees of the 6[th] respondent establishment. They are subscribers ``` WP(C).No.14669 OF 2020 ``` ``` 7 ``` of Employees’ 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. Dr.Abraham P.Meachinkara, 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.14669 OF 2020 ``` ``` 8 ``` 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.14669 OF 2020 ``` ``` 9 ``` ## **`APPENDIX`** ## **`PETITIONER’S EXHIBITS:-`** ``` EXHIBIT P1A TRUE COPY OF THE AMENDMENT AS PER GSR NO.609(E) DATED 22/08/2014. EXHIBIT P2TRUE COPY OF THE JUDGMENT DATED 12/10/2018INWP(C)NO.13120/2015 REPORTED IN ILR 2019(1) KERALA 614. ``` ## **`RESPONDENTS EXHIBITS:`** - **`ANNEXURE R5(A) TRUE COPY OF ESTIMATION OF THE ACTUARIAL REPORT DATED 27.12.2018 PREPARED BY M/S/ K.A.PANDIT, CONSULTANT AND ACTUARIES FOR EPFO.`** - **`ANNEXURE R5(B) TRUE COPY OF ESTIMATION OF LIABILITY OF EPS 1995 AS ON 31.03.2017 PREPARED BY M/S/K.A PANDIT, CONSULTANT AND ACTUARIES FOR EPFO DATED 27.12.2018.`** - **`ANNEXURE R5(C) TRUE COPY OF EXPLANATORY STATEMENT DATED 20.06.2019 PREPARED BY M/S/K.A PANDIT, CONSULTANT AND ACTUARIES FOR EPFO.`** - **`ANNEXURE R5(D) TRUE COPY OF A MODEL CALCULATION OF A RETIRED EMPLOYEE ON HIGHER CONTRIBUTION OF SALARY.`** - **`ANNEXURE R5(E) TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER DATED 12.07.2019 HON’BLE SUPREME COURT IN SLP(CIVIL) DIARY NO.11023/2019.`** - **`ANNEXURE R5(F) TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER DATED 06.02.2020 IN CONMT PET.(C) NO.1917-1918/2018 IN CA NO.10013-10014/2016 PENDING BEFORE HON’BLE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA.`** - **`ANNEXURE R5(G) TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER OF THIS HON’BLE COURT IN CONTEMPT CASE (C) NO.1007 OF 2020 DATED 19.08.2020.`** - **`ANNEXURE R5(H) TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER DATED 03.07.2020 IN W.P.(C) NO.2654 OF 2020 OF THIS HON’BLE COURT.`** - **`ANNEXURE R5(I) TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER OF THE HON’BLE`** ``` WP(C).No.14669 OF 2020 ``` ``` 10 ``` ``` HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA BY ORDER DATED 14.01.2020 IN CWP NO.19985 OF 2018. ``` ``` ANNEXURE R5(J) ``` ``` TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER OF THE HON’BLE INDORE BENCH OF HIGH COURT OF MADHYA PRADESH BY ORDER DATED 03.03.2020 IN WP NO.20572 OF 2018. ```