P.T. Varghese and others v. Central Provident Fund Commissioner Bhavishy Nidhi Bhawan, Regional Provident Fund Commissioner, and The Fertilizers and Chemicals Travancore Ltd.

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT: THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE K.VINOD CHANDRAN WEDNESDAY, THE 24TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER 2014/2ND ASWINA, 1936 WP(C).No. 23031 of 2014 (D) ---------------------------- PETITIONER(S): -------------------------- 1. P.T.VARGHESE S/O.MATHAI, PUTHUPARAMBIL HOUSE, AMBALAMEDU P.O. 682 303. 2. K.S.SHAMSUDEEN, S/O.SAIDALI, KIZHAKAYILAM HOUSE, MUPPATHADAM P.O., 683 110. 3. M.V.GOPI, S/O.VELAYUDHAN, MUTTATH PARAMBIL, KJUNDANOOR MARADU P.O., 682 304. 4. C.P.UGRASENAN, S/O.C.N.PURUSHOTHAMAN, CHOOTHAMPARAMBIL, PANAMBUKAD, VALLARPADAM P.O. ERNAKULAM. 5. P.PRAKASAN, PATTAYIL, S/O.LATE CHOZIKUTTY, PRADEV - EDALCHIRA KADALUNDI P.O. 6. C.A.KUNJAPPAN, S/O.AYYAPPAN, CHOOLAKUZHI HOUSE, BRAHMAPURAM P.O. 7. M.V. KURIACHAN, S/O.M.I.VARKEY, MOOAN HOUSE, OLAMAD - VARAPUZH P.O., PIN: 683 517. 8. MANUAL LURD P.X., S/O.XAVIER, PANAKKAL HOUSE, KOTHAD P.O. VIA CHETTOOR, ERNAKULAM. 9. P.K.KRISHNANKUTTY, S/O.KANNAN, PALAKKUZHY HOUSE, VELOORKARA, PUTHENKRUZ P.O. KARIMUGHAL. WP(C).No. 23031 of 2014 -2- 10. P.T.XAVIER, S/O.P.C.THOMAS, PULICKEL HOUSE, MANJUMMEL P.O. -683 501. 11. PAPPACHAN A.M., S/O.MICHAEL, ANTHIKATTE HOUSE, MANJUMMEL P.O. 12. K.V.MUHAMMED, S/O.K.K.VEERANKUTTYKOOTTUNGAL HOUSE, ELOOR EAST, UDYOGAMANDAL P.O. - 683 501. 13. P.J.ANTONY, S/O.JOSEPH, PUTHENVEETTIL, CHIRAYKAKAM VARAPPUZHA. 14. S.SASIKALADHARAN NAIR, S/O.AYYAPPAN PILLAI, CHIRACKAL VEEDU, THEKKUM BHAGAM NEAR GANGA OIL MILL, MARKET ROAD TRIPUNITHURA - 682 361. 15. JAMES MATHEW, S/O.MATHEW P.C., PULLIPADIL, LOVEJOY HOME MLA ROAD, UDAYAMPEROOR P.O. - 682 307. 16. E.A.MOHAMMED, S/O.ABUBAKER, URUPPAKOTTIL, KANNIKATTATHIL HOUSE, PERINGALA P.O. - 683 565. 17. K.K.PAREED, S/O.KOCHUNNI, KANNIMATTATHIL HOUSE, PERINGALA P.O., 683 565. 18. R.GEORGE, S/O.T.C.RAPHAEL, THACHETH HOUSE CHIRAKKAKOM - VARAPPUZHA P.O. - 683 517. 19. CHANDRASEKHARAN, S/O.KUNJUNNI NAIR, KOCHERIPADINJARA VEEDU MUPPATHADAM P.O. 20. M.R.BALACHANDRAN, S/O.RAGHAVA PANICKER, CHAITHRAM, VELOOR PUTHAIKUZH P.O. 21. A.T.SUREDRAN, S/O.A.A.THANKAPPAN, AMMANAMKUZHI HOUSE ELOOR NORTH UDYOGAMADAL P.O. - 683 501. WP(C).No. 23031 of 2014 -3- 22. K.C.PAUL, S/O.K.V.CHERIAN, KEERAMKUZHIYIL, EDATHALA P.O. 23. O.V.VARKEY, OLIPARAMBIL HOUSE, MEKKADAMBU P.O. MUVATTUPUZHA (VIA) - 682 316. 24. K.C.ITTAN, S/O.K.E.CHERIAN, KEERAMKUZHI HOUSE, KUMARAPURAM P.O., ERUMELY (KOVA) ERNAKULAM DISTRICT - 683 565. 25. K.K.PEETHAMBARAN, PARIPPIL HOUSE, KANJIRAMATTOM P.O., ERNAKULAM. 26. A.V.PAULOSE, S/O.VARKEY, ANNAMATTATHIL HOUSE, KARIMUGAL PUTHENCRUZ P.O. - 682 308 27. K.M.JOY, - S/O.MATHAI, KANNETH HOUSE, VADAVUCODE P.O. -682 310. 28. P.M.PAREEKUNJU, S/O.METHEAN, PUTHEN VEETIL HOUSE, PERINGALA P.O. KUMARAPURAM VIA - 683 565. 29. MAHADEVAN V.S., VISWANATHAN, ISWAVIHAR, IRIMBANAM P.O. (VIA), TRIPUNITHURA - 682 309. 30. KUTTAN N.P. S/O.PADMABABHAN, KALLUPURATH HOUSE, PARAYAKAD, NO.PARUR P.O. 683 513. 31. VARGHESE, A.B. S/O.BAVA, ANTHIKATTU HOUSE, MUPPATHADOM P.O. ALUVA - 683 110. 32. R.VENUGOPALAN NAIR, S/O.K.RAGHAVA MENON, USHUS, KUTTAMASSERY THOTTUMUGHAM P.O., ALUVA - 683 105. 33. VARGHESE T.C., S/O.T.V.CHERIYAN, THACHETH HOUSE, KOKKAPPILLY P.O. THIRUVANKULAM - 682 305. WP(C).No. 23031 of 2014 -4- ## 34. M.P.JAYRAMAN, MALAYANTAPARAMBATH, KEEZHAL P.O., BADAGARA - 673 104. ## 35. K.O.JOSEPH, KALATHIPARAMBIL HOUSE, KOONAMMAVU P.O., NORTH PARUR. 36. A.J.SAM, NO.24, K.K.P.NAGAR, U.C.COLLEGE P.O., ALUVA - 2. 37. M.P.ABUBAKKAR, VATTAVILA HOUSE, PERINGALA P.O., KUMARAPURAM. 38. RADHAKRISHNAN T.A., S/O.ACHUTHAN NAIR, SEETHA NIVAS, MUPPATHADAM P.O. ALUVA - 10. 39. RAVIKUMAR B.MENON, S/O.K.P.BHASKARA MENON, KAMALALAYAM, FRA-15 MANJUIMMEL P.O., UDYOGAMANDAL - 683 501. 40. SIVASANKARAN M.K., S/O.KRISHNAN NAIR, MUTHUKATTU HOUSE, KUMMANODU PATTIMATTOM P.O. 41. M.P.SATHI, S/O.M.A.PADMANABHAN, PJRA - 118, SRUTHILAYAM, P.J.ANTONY ROAD, PALARIVATTOM P.O. KOCHI 25. 42. M.SUNDARARAJAN, S/O.MALAISAMY, HTRA -20, LAKSHMI BHAVAN AKATHUPADAM ROAD, HILLVALLY GARDENS THIRUVANKULAM P.O., ERNAKULAM - 682 305. 43. P. THAMPI THOMAS, S/O.JACOB, PEKKAL HOUSE, IRUMPANAM P.O., ERNAKULAM. 44. V.KALIDOSS, - S/O.VAVATHARAGAN, 83/73 DOUBLE STREET, AGRAGAM KOLINGIVADE POST, DHARUPURAM, TRIPPUR. 45. NANDAKUMARAM T.M., S/O.R.MAHADEVA IYER, 4 9/179-F, SARATHY PUNNAKKAL, ELAMAKKARA, KOCHI ERNAKULAM 26. WP(C).No. 23031 of 2014 -5- 46. T.M.BABY, S/O.T.V.MATHAI, THELAKKATTU, VARIKKOLI P.O., PUTHENCRUZ, GKM. 47. T.P.JOSEPH, S/O.PAILY, THANNIKOTTU, PUTHENPALLY VARAPUZHA. 48. P.M.BEERAN, - S/O.P.MOHAMMED, KALAPURAKKAL (H), MUPPATHADAM P.O. ALUVA - 683 110. 49. M.V.SUDHAKARAN, S/O.VELAYUDHAN M.R., MACHINGATH (H), ASHTAMICHIRA - 680 731. 50. A.N.BALAKRISHNAN, S/O.A.G.NARAYANAN NAIR, EDAKKOTTIL HOUSE, KUZHIKKAD KARA, AMBALAMEDU P.O. 51. P.THAMPI, - S/O.V.PURUSHOTHAMAN, MERRA - 26, H.NO.49/2119-B PONNICHIRA ROAD, EDAPPALLY - 682 024. 52. A.U.KUTTAPPAN, S/O.UNNI, EDAYATH, KUZHIKKADU KARA, AMBALAMDEDU P.O. 53. K.G.SIVAN, S/O.GOVINDAN, KUZHIKKATTIL HOUSE, KADUNGAMANGALAM THIRUVANKULAM P.O. 54. LEELA MUKUNDAN M.K., - D/O.SUKUMARAN NAIR, D-2, SAIMUKUNDAM FACT NAGAR, TRIPUNITHURA - 682 301. 55. V.R.RADHAKRISHNAN, - S/O.V.K.RAMAKRISHNAN PILLAI, A 36, FACT TOWNSHIP UDYOGAMANDAL P.O. 683 501. BY ADVS.SRI.C.S.AJITH PRAKASH SRI.PAUL C THOMAS RESPONDENT(S): ---------------------------- 1. CENTRAL PROVIDENT FUND COMMISSIONER BHAVISHYA NIDHI BHAWAN, 14 - BHIKAIJI CAMA PLACE NEW DELHI - 110 066. WP(C).No. 23031 of 2014 -6- 2. REGIONAL PROVIDENT FUND COMMISSIONER, - 36/685 A, BHAVISHYA NIDHI BHAWAN, KALOOR PB NO.1895, KOCHI - 685 017. 3. THE FERTILIZERS AND CHEMICALS TRAVANCORE LTD., REPRESENTED BY ITS MANAGING DIRECTOR UDYOGAMANDAL - 683 501. BY SRI.M.GOPIKRISHNAN NAMBIAR BY SMT.T.N.GIRIJA, SC,EPF ORGANISATION THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING BEEN FINALLY HEARD ON 24-09-2014, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: WP(C).No. 23031 of 2014 (D) ---------------------------- ## APPENDIX PETITIONER(S)' EXHIBITS ------------------------------------- P1: A TRUE COPY OF THE OM. NO.96/4/2009-HRI-I DATED 03/08/2010. P2: A TRUE COPY OF THE SETTLEMENT DATED 14/8/2010 BETWEEN THE MANAGEMENT OF THE 3RD RESPONDENT COMPANY AND THE UNIONS REPRESENTING THE WORKMEN. P3: A TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER DATED 14/8/2010 OF THE 3RD RESPONDENT. P4:A TRUE COPY OF THE LETTER DATED 21/9/2010 OF THE 3RD RESPONDENT. P5:A TRUE COPY OF THE LETTER DATED 30/10/2010 OF THE 2ND RESPONDENT. P6:A TRUE COPY OF THE LETTER DATED 4/5/2011 OF THE 3RD RESPONDENT. P7:A TRUE COPY OF THE LETTER DATED 16/5/2011 OF THE 1ST RESPONDENT. P8:A TRUE COPY OF THE LETTER DATED 28/8/2011 OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE ALI INDIA EPF PENSIONERS ASSOCIATION. P9:A TRUE COPY OF THE LETTER DATED 14/8/2010 OF THE 3RD RESPONDENT. P10:A TRUE COPY OF THE LETTER DATED 28/10/2011 OF THE 2ND RESPONDENT. P11:A TRUE COPY OF THE LETTER DATED 31/10/2011 OF THE 2ND RESPONDENT. P12: A TRUE COPY OF THE LETTER DATED 05/12/2011 OF THE 2ND RESPONDENT. P13:A TRUE COPY OF THE LETTER DATED 16/01/2012 OF THE 3RD RESPONDENT. P14: A TRUE COPY OF THE LETTER DATED 09/03/2012 OF THE 2ND RESPONDENT. P15: A TRUE COPY OF THE LETTER DATED 12/03/2012 OF THE ALL INDIA EPF PENSIONER ASSOCIATION. P16: A TRUE COPY OF THE LETTER DATED 26/4/2012 OF THE 2ND RESPONDENT P17: A TRUE COPY OF THE LETTER DATED 03/05/2012 OF THE 3RD RESPONDENT. P18: A TRUE COPY OF THE COMMON JUDGMENT DATED 15/2/2013 IN WPC NO.10162/12. WP(C).No. 23031 of 2014 **==> picture [15 x 8] intentionally omitted <==** P19: A TRUE COPY OF THE JUDGMENT DATED 29/8/2013 IN WPC NO.18418/2013. P20: A TRUE COPY OF THEPROCEEDING NO.KR/KC/165/GAB(6)/2013 DATED 29/11/2013. //True Copy// P.A. To Judge ## **K.VINOD CHANDRAN, J** - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - W.P.(C).No. 23031 of 2014 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Dated 24[th] September, 2014 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ## **JUDGMENT** The petitioners were employees of the 3[rd] respondent Company, which is covered under the Employees Provident Fund and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952. The contributions with respect to the Provident Fund and Pension Scheme, 1995, as per the Act and Scheme are being remitted by the 3[rd] respondent to the 1[st] respondent. Pay was revised subsequent to their retirement; with retrospective effect. Request of the petitioners for reckoning revised pay for the purpose of computation of pension, has been declined by the Regional Provident Fund Commissioner. The petitioners are challenging the decision taken to the above effect. 2. The issue now stands covered by a decision **23031/14** 2 of the Honourable Supreme Court in **Prantiya Vidhyut Mandal Mazdoor Federation and Others v. Rajasthan State Electricity Board and others (1992 (2) SCC 723).** Dictum laid is to the effect that pension has to be recomputed on the basis of revised pay, even if the revision was effected only retrospectively. In the case at hand, it is evident that the employer had paid the difference in contribution, on the basis of retrospective revision of pay, to the Provident Fund Organization. Therefore there is no justification for the Provident Fund Organization in not reckoning the revision of pay for the purpose of fixation of pension. 3. It is noticed that this Court had disposed of a batch of identical cases by the judgment in WP (C).10162/2012 and connected cases dated 15.2.2013. Identical orders rejecting the claim issued by the Provident Fund Organization was set aside and the Provident Fund Organization was directed to **23031/14** 3 reconsider the issue in the light of the observations therein. Since the issue stands already covered by the decision of the Honourable Supreme Court and since the Regional Office of the Provident Fund Organization has already taken a favourable stand, this Court is of the opinion that the writ petition can be disposed of on identical terms . 4. Accordingly, the writ petition is allowed. Respondents 1 and 2 are directed to take fresh decision recomputing the quantum of pension based on the revision of pay effected retrospectively and to take a decision following the dictum laid down by the Honourable Supreme Court in **Prantiya's** case (cited above) and the judgment of this Court in WP (C).10162/12 and connected cases. A decision in this regard shall be taken after affording an opportunity of personal hearing to any one of the representatives of the petitioners. A decision in this regard shall be taken at the earliest, at any **23031/14** 4 rate, within a period of two months from the date of receipt of a copy of this judgment. Writ petition allowed. ## **Sd/-** **K.VINOD CHANDRAN Judge** Mrcs //True Copy//