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High Court of KeralaDivision BenchDisposed of; RP 774/2019 disposed of with clari...

R.P. No. 774/2019 in W.A. No. 2506/2015 (High Court of Kerala)

Case / Petition Number:RP.No.774/2019 in WA.2506/2015
Neutral Citation:/

Case Details & Bench

Court
High Court of Kerala
Hon'ble Judges
  • P.V. Asha
  • Shircy V.
Judgment Date
2020-10-19
Court Decision / Holding
RP disposed of; WA 2506/2015 judgment would be subject to the orders passed by the Supreme Court in the aforesaid SLPs and Review Petitions.
Final Disposition
Disposed of; RP 774/2019 disposed of with clarification that WA 2506/2015 is subject to the Apex Court's orders in the pending SLPs/Reviews.

Parties to the Case

Appellants / Petitioners

  • Union of India represented by Secretary to Government of India, Ministry of Labour and Employment, Department of Employment, New Delhi-110 001
  • Central Provident Fund Commissioner , Employees Provident Fund Organisation, Head Office, Bhavishyanidhi Bhavan, New Delhi-110066
  • Regional Provident Fund Commissioner, Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), Bhavishyanidhi Bhavan, Pattom Palace, Thiruvananthapuram-695004

Respondents

  • Kannappan G. S/O.Govindan, Lab Attender, Kerala Co-Operative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd., Cattle Feed Plant, Pattankad P.O., Cherthala-688531
  • Usha K., D/O.Karunakaran, Semi Skilled Worker, Kerala Co-Operative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd., Cattle Feed Plant, Pattankad P.O., Cherthala-688531
  • Sherief V.I., S/O.Ibrahim, Special Grade Technician, Kerala Co-Operative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd., Cattle Feed Plant, Pattankad P.O., Cherthala-688531
  • Abbas P.M., S/O.Ali, Store Attender, Kerala Co-Operative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd., Cattle Feed Plant, Pattankad P.O., Cherthala-688531
  • Noushad P.K., S/O.Abdulkareem, S.W.(Store Attender), Kerala Co-Operative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd., Cattle Feed Plant, Pattankad P.O., Cherthala-688531
  • Pathrose K., S/O.Kunjachan, Semi Skilled Worker, Kerala Co-Operative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd., Cattle Feed Plant, Pattankad P.O., Cherthala-688531
  • Chandrababu N.T., S/O.Thangappan, Semi Skilled Worker, Kerala Co-Operative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd., Cattle Feed Plant, Pattankad P.O., Cherthala-688531
  • Reghu B., S/O.Balan, Semi Skilled Worker, Kerala Co-Operative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd., Cattle Feed Plant, Pattankad P.O., Cherthala-688531
  • Sivankutty K., S/O.Kunjayyan, Worker, Kerala Co-Operative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd., Cattle Feed Plant, Pattankad P.O., Cherthala-688531
  • Gopalakrishnan Kurup R.K., S/O.Krishna Kurup, Semi Skilled Worker, Kerala Co-Operative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd., Cattle Feed Plant, Pattankad P.O., Cherthala-688531
  • Sugathan K., S/O.Kalidasan, Semi Skilled Worker, Kerala Co-Operative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd., Cattle Feed Plant, Pattankad P.O., Cherthala-688531
  • Liji K.P., D/O.Prabhakaran, Lab Technician, Kerala Co-Operative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd., Cattle Feed Plant, Pattankad P.O., Cherthala-688531
  • Babu V.P., S/O.Palani, Semi Skilled Worker, Kerala Co-Operative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd., Cattle Feed Plant, Pattankad P.O., Cherthala-688531
  • Radhakrishnan Panicker C.S., S/O.Sreedharan Pillai, Semi Skilled Worker, Kerala Co-Operative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd., Cattle Feed Plant, Pattankad P.O., Cherthala-688531
  • Kunjumon Varghese, S/O.Avirav Varghese, Semi Skilled Worker, Kerala Co-Operative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd., Cattle Feed Plant, Pattankad P.O., Cherthala-688531
  • Sivadhas P.R., S/O.Raghavan, Semi Skilled Worker, Kerala Co-Operative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd., Cattle Feed Plant, Pattankad P.O., Cherthala-688531
  • Ramesh Babu P.C., S/O.Chandradeve, Worker, Kerala Co-Operative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd., Cattle Feed Plant, Pattankad P.O., Cherthala-688531
  • Mohanandan P.N., S/O.Narayanan, Semi Skilled Worker, Kerala Co-Operative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd., Cattle Feed Plant, Pattankad P.O., Cherthala-688531
  • Swayamvaran C.P., S/O.Padmanabhan, Semi Skilled Worker, Kerala Co-Operative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd., Cattle Feed Plant, Pattankad P.O., Cherthala-688531
  • Appukkuttan K., S/O.Kutty, Semi Skilled Worker, Kerala Co-Operative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd., Cattle Feed Plant, Pattankad P.O., Cherthala-688531
  • Sivadas K.P., S/O.Parameswaran, Worker, Kerala Co-Operative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd., Cattle Feed Plant, Pattankad P.O., Cherthala-688531
  • Shanmughan V.K., S/O.KumarAn, Worker, Kerala Co-Operative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd., Cattle Feed Plant, Pattankad P.O., Cherthala-688531
  • Chandrabose S., S/O.Sanakunny, Technician Worker, Kerala Co-Operative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd., Cattle Feed Plant, Pattankad P.O., Cherthala-688531
  • Rajendraprasad T., S/O.Thankappan, Semi Skilled Worker, Kerala Co-Operative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd., Cattle Feed Plant, Pattankad P.O., Cherthala-688531
  • Rajan Babu N.K., S/O.Velayudhan, Technician, Kerala Co-Operative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd., Cattle Feed Plant, Pattankad P.O., Cherthala-688531
  • Byju P., S/O.Padmanabhan, Technician, Kerala Co-Operative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd., Cattle Feed Plant, Pattankad P.O., Cherthala-688531
  • Asale tha G., D/O Govindakurup, Jr. Assistant, Worker, Kerala Co-Operative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd., Cattle Feed Plant, Pattankad P.O., Cherthala-688531
  • Syam Krish S., S/O.Sasidharan, Technician, Kerala Co-Operative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd., Cattle Feed Plant, Pattankad P.O., Cherthala-688531
  • Ranjini R., D/O.Sadanandan, Jr. Assistant, Kerala Co-Operative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd., Cattle Feed Plant, Pattankad P.O., Cherthala-688531
  • Abhilash B.K., S/O.Balakrishnan, Semi Skilled Worker, Kerala Co-Operative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd., Cattle Feed Plant, Pattankad P.O., Cherthala-688531
  • Surendan T.K., S/O.Kochuraman, Worker, Kerala Co-Operative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd., Cattle Feed Plant, Pattankad P.O., Cherthala-688531
  • Karthikeyan N.K., S/O.KumarAn, Semi Skilled Worker, Kerala Co-Operative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd., Cattle Feed Plant, Pattankad P.O., Cherthala-688531
  • Krishnan P., S/O.Poovan, Worker, Kerala Co-Operative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd., Cattle Feed Plant, Pattankad P.O., Cherthala-688531
  • Manoharan M., S/O.Manyan, Semi Skilled Worker, Kerala Co-Operative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd., Cattle Feed Plant, Pattankad P.O., Cherthala-688531
  • Sobhanan P.C., S/O.Karumban, Semi Skilled Worker, Kerala Co-Operative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd., Cattle Feed Plant, Pattankad P.O., Cherthala-688531
  • Kerala Co-Operative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd., Head Office, Milma Bhavan, Pattam, Thiruvananthapuram-695004, Represented by its Managing Director
  • Smt.Mariam­ma Kunjumon, W/O Late Kunjumon Varghese, Kochuveli House, Muhamma P.O., Alappuzha-688525

Legal Representation & Advocates

Counsels for Petitioners

  • • N. N. Sugunapalan (Sr.), SC, EPFO
  • • S. Sujin, SC, EPFO

Counsels for Respondents

  • • SC Latha Anand
  • • Adv. N.R.Chandrasekharan

Case Synopsis & Summary

This is a review petition filed by the Union of India and EPFO challenging the order in W.A. No. 2506 of 2015 before the Kerala High Court. The petitioners contend that the decision disposing of the writ appeal did not consider their contentions arising from amendments to the Employees’ Pension Scheme, 1995. The respondents counter that the amendment was set aside by this Court in Sasikumar.P and others v. Union of India (UOI) and others, ILR 2019 (1) Ker 614, and that related Special Leave Petitions (SLPs) Nos. 16721 and 16722 of 2019 filed by the Union of India are pending before the Supreme Court. It is also stated that as against the dismissal of SLPs against the judgment, RP Nos. 1430 and 1431 of 2019 are pending consideration, and that the directions in the judgment have already been complied with. The review petition was finally heard on 19 October 2020, and the court disposed of it by clarifying that WA 2506/2015 would be subject to any orders passed by the Supreme Court in the aforesaid SLPs and Review Petitions, effectively keeping the matter in abeyance pending apex court guidance. The bench comprised a Division Bench of Justices P.V. Asha and Shircy V.

Provisions of Law Cited

Employees' Pension Scheme, 1995 (as amended)

Submissions & Arguments

Contentions of Appellants / Petitioners

The appellants in the writ appeal have filed this Revision Petition pointing out that the contentions on the basis of the amendment to the Employees' Pension Scheme, 1995 were not considered while disposing of the Writ Appeals.

Contentions of Respondents

The respondents contend that the amendment was set aside by this Court in Sasikumar.P v. UOI and others (ILR 2019(1) Ker 614), and that SLP Nos. 16721-22 of 2019 filed by the Union of India are pending before the Supreme Court. They further submit that as against the dismissal of SLPs against the judgment, RP Nos. 1430 and 1431 of 2019 are pending consideration, and that the directions in the judgment have already been complied with.

Cited Precedents (1)

Case NameCitationTreatmentExplanation
Sasikumar.P and others v. Union of India (UOI) and othersILR 2019(1) Ker 614PositiveCited as the decision where the amendment to the Employees' Pension Scheme, 1995 was set aside. The present court relies on that ruling to support the stance that the amendment is not to be treated as having effect pending Supreme Court guidance.

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Extracted Judgment Text

Exact text extracted from official judgment records.

R.P.No.774/2019 in W.A.No.2506/2015 1 ## **IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM** ## **PRESENT** **THE HONOURABLE SMT. JUSTICE P.V.ASHA** **&** **THE HONOURABLE MRS. JUSTICE SHIRCY V.** **MONDAY, THE 19TH DAY OF OCTOBER 2020 / 27TH ASWINA, 1942** **RP.No.774 OF 2019 IN WA. 2506/2015** **AGAINST THE ORDER/JUDGMENT IN WA 2506/2015 OF HIGH COURT OF KERALA** ## **REVIEW PETITIONERS/APPELLANTS** - **1 UNION OF INDIA REPRESENTED BY THE SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT OF INDIA, MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT, DEPARTMENT OF EMPLOYMENT, NEW DELHI-110 001.** - **2 CENTRAL PROVIDENT FUND COMMISSIONER , EMPLOYEES PROVIDENT FUND ORGANIZATION, HEAD OFFICE, BHAVISHYANIDHI BHAVAN, NEW DELHI-110066.** - **3 REGIONAL PROVIDENT FUND COMMISSIONER, EMPLOYEES PROVIDENT FUND ORGANIZATION (EPFO), BHAVISHYANIDHI BHAVAN, PATTOM PALACE, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM-695004.** **BY ADVS. SRI.N.N.SUGUNAPALAN (SR.) SRI.S.SUJIN, SC, EPFO** ## **RESPONDENTS/RESPONDENTS** - **1 KANNAPPAN G. S/O.GOVINDAN, LAB ATTENDER, KERALA CO-OPERATIVE MILK MARKETING FEDERATION LTD., CATTLE FEED PLANT, PATTANAKAD.P.O., CHERTHALA-688 531.** - **2 USHA K.,** R.P.No.774/2019 in W.A.No.2506/2015 2 **D/O.KARUNAKARAN, SEMI SKILLED WORKER, KERALA COOPERATIVE MILK MARKETING FEDERATION LTD., CATTLE FEED PLANT, PATTANAKAD P.O., CHERTHALA-688531.** - **3 SHERIEF V.I., S/O.IBRAHIM, SPECIAL GRADE TECHNICIAN, KERALA COOPERATIVE MILK MARKETING FEDERATION LTD., CATTLE FEED PLANT, PATTANAKAD P.O., CHERTHALA-688531.** - **4 ABBAS P.M., S/O.ALI, STORE ATTENDER, KERALA CO-OPERATIVE MILK MARKETING FEDERATION LTD., CATTLE FEED PLANT, PATTANAKAD P.O., CHERTHALA-688531.** - **5 NOUSHAD P.K., S/O.ABDULKAREEM, S.W.(STORE ATTENDER), KERALA COOPERATIVE MILK MARKETING FEDERATION LTD., CATTLE FEED PLANT, PATTANAKAD P.O., CHERTHALA-688531.** - **6 PATHROSE K., S/O.KUNJACHAN, SEMI SKILLED WORKER, KERALA COOPERATIVE MILK MARKETING FEDERATION LTD., CATTLE FEED PLANT, PATTANAKAD P.O., CHERTHALA-688531.** - **7 CHANDRABABU N.T., S/O.THANGAPPAN, SEMI SKILLED WORKER, KERALA COOPERATIVE MILK MARKETING FEDERATION LTD., CATTLE FEED PLANT, PATTANAKAD P.O., CHERTHALA-688531.** - **8 REGHU B., S/O.BALAN, SEMI SKILLED WORKER, KERALA CO-OPERATIVE MILK MARKETING FEDERATION LTD., CATTLE FEED PLANT, PATTANAKAD P.O., CHERTHALA-688531.** - **9 SIVANKUTTY K., S/O.KUNJAYYAN, WORKER, KERALA CO-OPERATIVE MILK MARKETING FEDERATION LTD., CATTLE FEED PLANT, PATTANAKAD P.O., CHERTHALA-688531.** - **10 GOPALAKRISHNA KURUP R.K.,** - **S/O.KRISHNA KURUP, SEMI SKILLED WORKER, KERALA COOPERATIVE MILK MARKETING FEDERATION LTD., CATTLE FEED PLANT, PATTANAKAD P.O., CHERTHALA-688531.** R.P.No.774/2019 in W.A.No.2506/2015 3 - **11 SUGATHAN K.,** **S/O.KALIDASAN, SEMI SKILLED WORKER, KERALA COOPERATIVE MILK MARKETING FEDERATION LTD., CATTLE FEED PLANT, PATTANAKAD P.O., CHERTHALA-688531.** - **12 LIJI K.P.,** - **D/O.PRABHAKARAN, LAB TECHNICIAN, KERALA COOPERATIVE MILK MARKETING FEDERATION LTD., CATTLE FEED PLANT, PATTANAKAD P.O., CHERTHALA-688531.** - **13 BABU V.P., S/O.PALANI, SEMI SKILLED WORKER, KERALA COOPERATIVE MILK MARKETING FEDERATION LTD., CATTLE FEED PLANT, PATTANAKAD P.O., CHERTHALA-688531.** - **14 RADHAKRISHNA PANICKER C.S., S/O.SREEDHARAN PILLAI, SEMI SKILLED WORKER, KERALA CO-OPERATIVE MILK MARKETING FEDERATION LTD., CATTLE FEED PLANT, PATTANAKAD P.O., CHERTHALA-688531.** - **15 KUNJUMON VARGHESE, S/O.AVIRA VARGHESE, SEMI SKILLED WORKER, KERALA COOPERATIVE MILK MARKETING FEDERATION LTD., CATTLE FEED PLANT, PATTANAKAD P.O., CHERTHALA-688531.** - **16 SIVADAS P.R., S/O.RAGHAVAN, SEMI SKILLED WORKER, KERALA COOPERATIVE MILK MARKETING FEDERATION LTD., CATTLE FEED PLANT, PATTANAKAD P.O., CHERTHALA-688531.** - **17 RAMESHBABU P.C., S/O.CHANDRADEVE, WORKER, KERALA CO-OPERATIVE MILK MARKETING FEDERATION LTD., CATTLE FEED PLANT, PATTANAKAD P.O., CHERTHALA-688531.** - **18 MOHANAN P.N., S/O.NARAYANAN, SEMI SKILLED WORKER, KERALA COOPERATIVE MILK MARKETING FEDERATION LTD., CATTLE FEED PLANT, PATTANAKAD P.O., CHERTHALA-688531.** - **19 SWAYAMVARAN C.P.,** - **S/O.PADMANABHAN, SEMI SKILLED WORKER, KERALA COOPERATIVE MILK MARKETING FEDERATION LTD., CATTLE FEED PLANT, PATTANAKAD P.O., CHERTHALA-688531.** R.P.No.774/2019 in W.A.No.2506/2015 4 - **20 APPUKKUTTAN K.,** - **S/O.KUTTY, SEMI SKILLED WORKER, KERALA CO-OPERATIVE MILK MARKETING FEDERATION LTD., CATTLE FEED PLANT, PATTANAKAD P.O., CHERTHALA-688531.** - **21 SIVADAS K.P., S/O.PARAMESWARAN, WORKER, KERALA CO-OPERATIVE MILK MARKETING FEDERATION LTD., CATTLE FEED PLANT, PATTANAKAD P.O., CHERTHALA-688531.** - **22 SHANMUGHAN V.K., S/O.KUMARAN, WORKER, KERALA CO-OPERATIVE MILK MARKETING FEDERATION LTD., CATTLE FEED PLANT, PATTANAKAD P.O., CHERTHALA-688531.** - **23 CHANDRABOSE S., S/O.SANAKUNNY, TECHNICIAN WORKER, KERALA COOPERATIVE MILK MARKETING FEDERATION LTD., CATTLE FEED PLANT, PATTANAKAD P.O., CHERTHALA-688531.** - **24 RAJENDRAPRASAD T., S/O.THANKAPPAN, SEMI SKILLED WORKER, KERALA COOPERATIVE MILK MARKETING FEDERATION LTD., CATTLE FEED PLANT, PATTANAKAD P.O., CHERTHALA-688531.** - **25 RAJAN BABU N.K.,** - **S/O.VELAYUDHAN, TECHNICIAN, KERALA CO-OPERATIVE MILK MARKETING FEDERATION LTD., CATTLE FEED PLANT, PATTANAKAD P.O., CHERTHALA-688531.** - **26 BYJU P.,** - **S/O.PADMANABHAN, TECHNICIAN, KERALA CO-OPERATIVE MILK MARKETING FEDERATION LTD., CATTLE FEED PLANT, PATTANAKAD P.O., CHERTHALA-688531.** - **27 ASALETHA G.,** - **D/O.GOVINDAKURUP, JR. ASSISTANT, WORKER, KERALA COOPERATIVE MILK MARKETING FEDERATION LTD., CATTLE FEED PLANT, PATTANAKAD P.O., CHERTHALA-688531.** - **28 SYAM KRISH S.,** - **S/O.SASIDHARAN, TECHNICIAN, KERALA CO-OPERATIVE MILK MARKETING FEDERATION LTD., CATTLE FEED PLANT,** R.P.No.774/2019 in W.A.No.2506/2015 5 ## **PATTANAKAD P.O., CHERTHALA-688531.** - **29 RANJINI R.,** - **D/O.SADANANDAN, JR. ASSISTANT, KERALA CO-OPERATIVE MILK MARKETING FEDERATION LTD., CATTLE FEED PLANT, PATTANAKAD P.O., CHERTHALA-688531.** - **30 ABHILASH B.K.,** - **S/O.BALAKRISHNAN, SEMI SKILLED WORKER, KERALA COOPERATIVE MILK MARKETING FEDERATION LTD., CATTLE FEED PLANT, PATTANAKAD P.O., CHERTHALA-688531.** - **31 SURENDRAN T.K.,** - **S/O.KOCHURAMAN, WORKER, KERALA CO-OPERATIVE MILK MARKETING FEDERATION LTD., CATTLE FEED PLANT, PATTANAKAD P.O., CHERTHALA-688531.** - **32 KARTHIKEYAN N.K., S/O.KUMARAN, SEMI SKILLED WORKER, KERALA COOPERATIVE MILK MARKETING FEDERATION LTD., CATTLE FEED PLANT, PATTANAKAD P.O., CHERTHALA-688531.** - **33 KRISHNAN P., S/O.POOVAN, WORKER, KERALA CO-OPERATIVE MILK MARKETING FEDERATION LTD., CATTLE FEED PLANT, PATTANAKAD P.O., CHERTHALA-688531.** - **34 MANOHARAN M., S/O.MANYAN, SEMI SKILLED WORKER, KERALA COOPERATIVE MILK MARKETING FEDERATION LTD., CATTLE FEED PLANT, PATTANAKAD P.O., CHERTHALA-688531.** - **35 SOBHANAN P.C., S/O.KARUMBAN, SEMI SKILLED WORKER, KERALA COOPERATIVE MILK MARKETING FEDERATION LTD., CATTLE FEED PLANT, PATTANAKAD P.O., CHERTHALA-688531.** - **36 KERALA CO-OPERATIVE MILK MARKETING FEDERATION LTD., HEAD OFFICE, MILMA BHAVAN, PATTAM, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM-695004, REPRESENTED BY ITS MANAGING DIRECTOR.** - **37 SMT.MARIAMMA KUNJUMON,** - **W/O. LATE KUNJUMON VARGHESE, KOCHUVELI HOUSE,** R.P.No.774/2019 in W.A.No.2506/2015 6 ## **MUHAMMA P.O., ALAPPUZHA -688525.** ## **OTHER PRESENT:** **SC SMT.LATHA ANAND, ADV.N.R.CHANDRASEKHARAN** **THIS REVIEW PETITION HAVING BEEN FINALLY HEARD ON 19.10.2020, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY PASSED THE FOLLOWING:** R.P.No.774/2019 in W.A.No.2506/2015 7 ## **ORDER** Dated this the 19th day of October 2020 ## P.V.Asha, J The appellants in the Writ Appeal have filed this Revision Petition pointing out that the contentions on the basis of the amendment to the Employee's Pension Scheme, 1995 were not considered while disposing of the Writ Appeals. 2. It is submitted by the learned Counsel for respondents 2 and 3 that the amendment was set aside by this Court in the judgment reported in **Sasikumar.P and others v. Union of** **India (UOI) and others** [ILR 2019(1) Ker 614] and SLP Nos.16721 and 16722 of 2019 filed by the Union of India are pending before the Apex Court. 3. It is also submitted that as against the dismissal of SLPs filed by the Provident Fund Commissioner as against the judgment of this Court, R.P Nos.1430 and 1431 of 2019 are pending consideration. It is also stated that the directions in the R.P.No.774/2019 in W.A.No.2506/2015 8 judgment have already been complied with. Therefore the R.P is disposed of making it clear that the judgment in the Writ Appeal No.2506/2015 would be subject to the orders passed by the Apex Court in the aforesaid SLPs and Review Petitions. Sd/- **P.V.Asha Judge** Sd/- **Shircy V Judge** smm