Thomas Abraham and Others v. Regional Provident Fund Commissioner, EPFO and Others

## **`IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM`** ## **`PRESENT`** ## **`THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE BASANT BALAJI`** ## **`WEDNESDAY, THE 25[TH] DAY OF OCTOBER 2023 / 3RD KARTHIKA, 1945`** ## **`WP(C) NO. 33235 OF 2023`** ## **`PETITIONER/S:`** ``` 1THOMAS ABRAHAM AGED 60 YEARS 28/161-A, PUTHUMANA, DMC ROAD, KOONAMTHAI, EDAPPALLY, ERANAKULAM P.P.O.NO.KR/KCH/00127887., PIN - 682024 2JOSE.C.KURIAN AGED 61 YEARS AMBALATHARA HOUSE, NEW ROAD, CHANGAMPUZHA NAGAR P.O, THRIKKAKKARA NORTH, COCHIN. P.P.O.NO.KR/KCH/0012038., PIN - 682033 3HEMANDKUMAR.M, AGED 60 YEARS MALIYEKKAL HOUSE, PERINJANAM P.O, THRISSUR P.P.O.NO.KR/KCH/00128533, PIN - 680686 4SUNNY T.A AGED 61 YEARS THAYYIL (H) KATTAPANA SOUTH P.P.O.NO.KR/KTM/00046855, PIN - 685515 5P.P SULAIMAN AGED 61 YEARS PUTTINGLAL (H) , PUTHUPALLIPURAM, CHENGHAMPUZHA NAGAR P.O., ERNAKULAM P.P.O.NO.KR/KCH/00120359, PIN - 682033 6A.J. GEORGE AGED 60 YEARS AYMANATHIL (H) THALANAD P.O., TEEKOY ,KOTTAYAM P.P.O.NO.KR/KTM 00051026, PIN - 686580 7MATHEW .K. ISSAC AGED 60 YEARS KANNETH (H), KOZHIPPILLY P.O.,P.P.O.NO.KR/KCH/00125430, PIN - 686691 8TOME THOMAS AGED 60 YEARS THEKKEL (H), KUMMANNOOR P.O., KOTTAYAM PPO NO. KR/KTM 00050499, PIN - 686572 9THOMAS P.T, AGED 60 YEARS PULLATTU (H) PUNNATHURA WEST P.O., ETTUMANUR P.P.O.NO.KR/KCH/00128943, PIN - 686631 10SYAMALA M.T, AGED 60 YEARS PALAKUNNEL (H) NJAYAPILLY P.O., CHELAD P.P.O.NO.KR/KCH/00129878, PIN - 686681 11OMANA N.K, ``` ``` WP(C) No.33235 of 2023 ``` ``` 2 ``` - `AGED 59 YEARS CHERUPPILLIL (H) AIMURIKKARA P.O., PERUMBAVOOR UAN NO. 100245470113, PIN - 683544` - `12 MOLY SUNNY , AGED 59 YEARS VADAKEVEETTIL (H) KANJIRAPILLY P.O., CHALAKKUDY UAN NO. 100231210993, PIN - 680721` - `13 SATHYAN I.K. AGED 61 YEARS ILLATHUPARAMBIL (H) OLIYAPPURAM ,. KOOTTATHUKULAM P.P.O.NO.KR/KCH/00120794, PIN - 686662` - `14 GIRISH .N .PHADKE AGED 58 YEARS 36 BLOSSOM ROAD ,ELAMAKKARA , KOCHI UAN NO. 100141169114, PIN - 682026` - `15 BALACHANDRAN .K.N AGED 61 YEARS KAKANATTU (H),THEKKUMMURY, PULIYANNOOR P.O.,PALA, KOTTAYAM P.P.O.NO.KR/KCH/00132979, PIN - 686573` - `16 JAMES ABRAHAM AGED 61 YEARS THAZHUTHEKUDY (H) KEEZHILLAM P.O., ERNAKULAM P.P.O.NO.KR/KCH/00129259, PIN - 683541` - `17 RAMACHANDRAN NAIR PRATAPA CHANDRAN AGED 60 YEARS RAMKRIPA ,ELAMANA ROAD ,39\448,NF.GATE TRIPPUNITHURA P.P.O.NO.KR/KCH/00128648, PIN - 682301` - `18 A.L PAULOSE AGED 62 YEARS ATTUKARAN HOUSE, AYATHUPADY KOOVAPPADY P.O., PERUMBAVOOR P.P.O.NO.KR/KCH/00120266, PIN - 683544` - `19 THOMAS U.C AGED 60 YEARS UDUMIAPLLIAL (H) VELLAYAMKUDI P.O., IDUKKI. PPO NO. KR/KTM 00051038, PIN - 685551` - `20 K.V. SOMAN NAIR AGED 63 YEARS KANNATHUSSERIL (H) KOCHARA P.O. IDUKKI PPO NO. KR/KTM 00046764, PIN - 685551` - `21 LOKESH M.S AGED 59 YEARS 4202\10 7TH MAIN B CROSS VIVEKANDANDA BADAVANA DEVANAGERE, KARNATAKA UAN NO.100206565681, KNSHG 00033588., PIN - 577004` - `22 N.V. KARTHIKEYAN AGED 64 YEARS THURUTHEL HOUSE EROOR (S) P.P.O.NO.KR/KCH/00119643, PIN - 682306` - `23 THANKAMONY C.S AGED 62 YEARS` ``` WP(C) No.33235 of 2023 ``` ``` 3 ``` - `THUNDIYIL (H) THRIPUNITHURA ,EROOR P.P.O.NO.KR/KCH/00119739, PIN - 682306` - `24 RAJAMMA N.A AGED 62 YEARS NJANAMTHURUTHEL (H) NEAR CHOICE SCHOOL ,NADMA ,TRIPUNITHURA P.P.O.NO.KR/KCH/00120513, PIN - 682301` - `25 K. MADHUSUDHANA AGED 60 YEARS 1-54\4 KAUSTHUBHA PADAVINANGADIP.O., MANGALORE KNMLR 00122483, PIN - 575008` - `26 SHIVASHANKARA B.R AGED 60 YEARS NO.23/17TH WARD, SRI KRISHNADHAM MENUKUMCHAL ROAD , 14TH MILE ,VALARA P.O PPO NO. KR/KTM00050585, PIN - 685561` - `27 RAJMENON AGED 58 YEARS THACHAPILLY , MANJALIPARAMBU ,PUYHIYA ROAD CHOWARA P.O , ERNAKULAM UAN - 100292494089, PIN - 683571` - `28 K.M MANUEAL AGED 63 YEARS KANJAMPURATH (H) CHALAKKUDY P.O., THRISSUR P.P.O.NO.KR/KCH/00120501, PIN - 680307` - `29 ANIL KUMAR T.V AGED 59 YEARS THALIYAPARAMBIL (H) CHENGALOOR P.O., THRISSUR UAN 100084977936, PIN - 690312` - `30 SAJU JOSEPH AGED 60 YEARS MULLANKUZHI (H) MARAICKAL ,KANNARA P.O., THRISSUR P.P.O.NO.KR/KCH/00126126, PIN - 680652` - `31 JOSHY P.K. AGED 61 YEARS PANICKASSERY (H) PALISSERY ,PADUVAPURAM P.O P.P.O.NO.KR/KCH/ 00120265, PIN - 683576` - `32 K.S. HARIHARAN AGED 60 YEARS KIZHAKKEMADOM (H) THRIKKARIYOOR P.O., KOTHAMANGALAM P.P.O.NO.KR/KCH/00132774, PIN - 686692` - `33 DEVASY M.O AGED 58 YEARS MANJALY (H) THABOR P.O., POOTHEMKUTTY UAN NO. 100133896591, PIN - 683577` - `34 ASHOKUMAR C.B AGED 60 YEARS CARAPPILLY (H) CHERUVATHERY ,CHEVOOR P.O., THRISSUR P.P.O.NO.KR/KCH/00132760, PIN - 680027` - `35 SASIDHARANA K M AGED 60 YEARS MANAMKANDATH (H) KADAVALLURP.O., THRISSUR` ``` WP(C) No.33235 of 2023 ``` ``` 4 ``` - `P.P.O.NO.KR/KCH/00127347, PIN - 680543` - `36 ABDUL VAHAB K.M AGED 60 YEARS KINARAMAKKAL (H) KALTHOTTY ,NEAR SAWMILL, CHELAKODE P.O., THRISSUR P.P.O.NO.KR/KCH/00126121, PIN - 680587` - `37 P.G.USHA, AGED 64 YEARS PULLOOTTIPARAMBIL HOUSE, PAMBOOR, KUTTOOR P.O, THRISSUR P.P.O.NO.KR/KCH/00108973., PIN - 680013` - `38 VARGHESE C.P AGED 64 YEARS CHUNKAN HOUSE, PARIYARAM P.O, THRISSUR . P.P.O.NO.KR/KCH/00105708, PIN - 680721` - `39 K.NARAYANAN AGED 63 YEARS KARUMUTHIL HOUSE, 'HARICHANDANAM', KANIMANGALAM P.O, THRISSUR P.P.O.NO.KR/KCH/00107364, PIN - 680027` - `40 A.MURALI AGED 62 YEARS AMMATH HOUSE, PUZHAKKAL P.O, THRISSUR P.P.O.NO.KR/KCH/00120301., PIN - 680553` - `41 N.NARAYANANKUTTY AGED 64 YEARS AMBAKATTU HOUSE, CHETTUPUZHA P.O, THRISSUR P.P.O.NO.KR/KCH/00109176., PIN - 680012` - `42 A.R.SANKARANARAYANAN AGED 66 YEARS ADASSERIVALAPPIL HOUSE, CHOORAKKATTUKARA, P.O AMALA, THRISSUR P.P.O.NO.KR/KCH/00093788, PIN - 680555` - `43 P.K.RAJEEV, AGED 60 YEARS PANANGATT HOUSE, P.O.PANANGAD, THRISSUR P.P.O.NO.KR/KCH/00127436., PIN - 680665` - `44 NARAYANAN.D.PANICKER AGED 59 YEARS PAZHVOOR MADHAM, PEECHANIKADU, PULIYANAM P.O, ANGAMALI, ERNAKULAM UAN NO.100250465336., PIN - 683572` - `45 ANTONY HEXIL DSOUZA AGED 61 YEARS HY-LI-COTTAGE, VAT ROAD, EDAKOCHI, EDAKOCHI SO, ERNAKULAM P.P.O.NO.KR/KCH/00120267, PIN - 682010` - `46 REMADEVI.C.V AGED 60 YEARS MANAYATH HOUSE, VALAYANCHIRANGARA P.O, PERUMBAVOOR, ERNAKULAM P.P.O.NO.KR/KCH/00125712, PIN - 683556` - `47 DR.BANWARI LAL AGED 59 YEARS ARORAS, KUBER COLONY, BHADRAKALI MANDIR JHANSA ROAD, THANESAR, KURUKSHETRA, HARYANA UAN.NO.100898936774., PIN - 136118` ``` WP(C) No.33235 of 2023 ``` ``` 5 ``` - `48 T.V.GEEVARGHIS AGED 60 YEARS THEKKEKARA HOUSE, PLOT NO.61, NEHRU NAGAR, KURIACHIRA, THRISSUR UAN NO.100152790320., PIN - 680006` - `49 DR.M.MURALEEDHARA DAS, AGED 62 YEARS MAANASA, NORTH GATE, ETTUMANOOR P.O, KOTTAYAM P.P.O.NO.KR/KTM/00046471., PIN - 686631` - `50 DR.GEORGE THOMAS AGED 62 YEARS BETHLEHEM, UTRA 60, UNICHIRA, THAIKKAVU, CHANGAMPUZHA NAGAR P.O, KALAMASSERY, ERNAKULAM P.P.O.NO.KR/KCH/00120738., PIN - 682033` - `51 ALEX SEBASTIAN, AGED 60 YEARS KARATTILLATHU HOUSE, RAJENDRA PRASAD COLONY, MUNDAKAYAM, KOTTAYAM P.P.O.NO.KR/KCH/00129331., PIN - 686513` - `52 SOMAN.C.K. AGED 66 YEARS CHULLIKKATTIL HOUSE, KAREYATTUKARA, ELTHURUTH P.O, THRISSUR P.P.O.NO.KR/KCH/00091766., PIN - 680611` - `53 RAJAN.P.S, AGED 63 YEARS PANDEERAYIL HOUSE, PUZHAKKAL P.O, THRISSUR P.P.O.NO.KR/KCH/00120442., PIN - 680553` - `54 BABU VARGHESE AGED 59 YEARS 6F, SANTHI, KARTHEDATH AVENUE APARTMENT, VADAKKEKOTTA, TRIPUNITHURA, ERNAKULAM P.P.O.NO.KR/KCH/00127198, PIN - 682301` - `55 K.R.BABU AGED 58 YEARS KONATH HOUSE, CHOTTANIKKARA P.O, ERNAKULAM UAN NO.100104414805, PIN - 682312` - `56 ANILKUMAR.S, AGED 58 YEARS KAITHOLATH HOUSE, COCHIN UNIVERSITY P.O, ERNAKULAM UAN NO.100959964221, PIN - 682022` - `57 ANTO A.P, AGED 65 YEARS AKKARAPATTIAKAL HOUSE, P.O PURANATTUKARA, THRISSUR P.P.O. NO.KR/KCH/00095915, PIN - 680551` - `58 JAYASREE.L AGED 60 YEARS KAUSTHUBHAM, THURAVOOR P.O, CHERTHALA, ALAPPUZHA UAN NO.100174667851., PIN - 688532` - `59 SREEKANTHA.K.K, AGED 59 YEARS FLAT NO.A-604, VARAVASUNDARA APARTMENT, BANASANKARI VI STAGE, UTTARAHAL I HOBLI, BANGALORE SOUTH UAN` ``` WP(C) No.33235 of 2023 ``` ``` 6 ``` ``` NO.100361598301, PIN - 560061 BY ADVS. P.N.MOHANAN C.P.SABARI AMRUTHA SURESH GILROY ROZARIO ``` ## **`RESPONDENT/S:`** |`1`|`REGIONAL PROVIDENT FUND COMMISSIONER`| |---|---| ||`EMPLOYEES PROVIDENT FUND ORGANISATION (EPFO),`| ||`BHAVISHANIDHI BHAVAN, PATTOM PALACE, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM.,`| ||`PIN - 695004`| |`2`|`REGIONAL PROVIDENT FUND COMMISSIONER`| ||`SUB REGIONAL OFFICE, EMPLOYEES PROVIDENT FUND ORGANISATION`| ||`(EPFO), BHAVISHANIDHI BHAVAN, KALOOR, ERNAKULAM, PIN -`| ||`682017`| |`3`|`REGIONAL PROVIDENT FUND COMMISSIONER`| ||`EMPLOYEES PROVIDENT FUND ORGANISATION, SUB REGIONAL`| ||`OFFICE, ADITYA SABARI TOWER, POST OFFICE ROAD,`| ||`THIRUNNAKKARA, KOTTAYAM, PIN - 686001`| |`4`|`CENTRAL PROVIDENT FUND COMMISSIONER-1`| ||`(PENSION), EPFO HEAD OFFICE, MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND`| ||`EMPLOYMENT, GOVERNMENT OF INDIA, BHAVISHYA NITHI BHAVAN,`| ||`14- BHIKAJI CAMA PALACE, NEW DELHI, PIN - 110066`| |`5`|`KERALA CO-OPERATIVE MILK MARKETING FEDERATION LTD`| ||`REPRESENTED BY ITS MANAGING DIRECTOR, MILMA BHAVAN, PATTAM`| ||`PALACE P.O., THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, PIN - 695004`| |`6`|`ERNAKULAM REGIONAL CO-OPERATIVE MILK PRODUCERS`| ||`UNION LTD, REPRESENTED BY ITS MANAGING DIRECTOR, EDAPPALLY`| ||`P.O, ERNAKULAM, PIN - 682024`| ||`BY ADV LATHA ANAND`| ## **`OTHER PRESENT:`** ``` SAJEEV KUMAR K. GOPAL SC. ``` ``` THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 25.10.2023, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: ``` ``` WP(C) No.33235 of 2023 ``` ``` 7 ``` ## **`J U D G M E N T`** ## `(Dated this the 25[th] day of October,2023)` ``` The petitioner has approached this Court with the following prayers:- ``` ``` “i)issue a writ of mandamus or any other appropriate writ order or direction directing the respondents 1 to 4 to disburse higher pension in the light of Ext.P2 Judgment in R.C.Gupta's case and in the light of direction contained in para 44 (ix) of Ext.P5 Judgment. ``` ``` ii) declare that all the petitioners are entitled to get higher pension in the light of para 44 (ix) of Ext.P5 Judgment within the time frame fixed by this Hon'ble Court. ``` ``` iii) declare that the Ext.P9 and similar options submitted by the fifth and sixth respondents employer which was acknowledged by the EPFO, is sufficient option as the petitioners and their employer remitted the PF contribution on actual salary along with administrative charge and it was accepted by the EPFO then and there and it is deemed to be exercised in time in the light of Ext.P6 & P8. ``` ``` iv. Grant such other relief as this Hon'ble Court may deem fit and proper in the circumstances of the case.” ``` ``` 2.The validity of the Employees' Provident ``` ``` Scheme as amended in 2014 was upheld by the Apex Court in Employees' Provident Fund Organisation and Another v. Sunil Kumar B. and others [2022(7)KHC 12]. In tune with the said judgment, petitioners have submitted joint options, online.Therefore, I deem it appropriate to dispose of the writ petition as follows:- ``` ``` WP(C) No.33235 of 2023 ``` ``` 8 ``` ``` If the petitioners are entitled for higher pension in the light of the amended scheme, the respondents 1 t0 4 shall pass orders as expeditiously as possible, at any rate, within four months from the date of receipt of a copy of this judgment. ``` Sd/- ``` BASANT BALAJI, JUDGE ``` ``` SM ``` ``` WP(C) No.33235 of 2023 ``` ``` 9 ``` ## **`APPENDIX OF WP(C) 33235/2023`** |`PETITIONER EXHIBITS`|| |---|---| |`Exhibit P1`|`TRUE COPY OF THE JUDGMENT DATED 12.10.2018 IN`| ||`W.P.(C).NO.13120/2015 OF THE DIVISION BENCH OF`| ||`THE HIGH COURT IN SASIKUMAR P. AND OTHERS V\S`| ||`UNION OF INDIA AND OTHERS REPORTED IN ILR 2019`| ||`(1) KER 614`| |`Exhibit P2`|`TRUE COPY OF THE JUDGMENT DATED 04.10.2016 OF`| ||`R.C.GUPTA VS. REGIONAL PF COMMISSIONER AS`| ||`REPORTED IN 2018 (14) SC 809`| |`Exhibit P3`|`TRUE COPY OF THE DECREE DATED 04.10.2016 IN`| ||`EXT.P2 JUDGMENT`| |`Exhibit P4`|`TRUE COPY OF THE LETTER DATED 22.08.2016 OF THE`| ||`SECOND RESPONDENT`| |`Exhibit P5`|`TRUE COPY OF THE JUDGMENT DATED 04.11.2022 IN`| ||`EMPLOYEES PROVIDENT FUND ORGANISATION AND`| ||`ANOTHER V. SUNIL KUMAR B AND OTHERS AS REPORTED`| ||`IN 2022 (7) KHC 12 (SC)`| |`Exhibit P6`|`TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER DATED 22.01.2019 ISSUED`| ||`BY THE ADDITIONAL CENTRAL PROVIDENT FUND`| ||`COMMISSIONER`| |`Exhibit P7`|`TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER DATED 07.02.2019 OF THE`| ||`ADDITIONAL CENTRAL PF COMMISSIONER`| |`Exhibit P8`|`TRUE COPY OF THE CIRCULAR DATED 22.11.2006 OF`| ||`THE ADDITIONAL CENTRAL PF COMMISSIONER`| |`Exhibit P9`|`TRUE COPY OF THE JOINT OPTION DATED 14.12.2022`| ||`AND DECLARATION OF THE EMPLOYER DATED`| ||`20.02.2022 ALONG WITH COVERING LETTER DATED`| ||`22.12.2022 OF THE SIXTH RESPONDENT`| |`Exhibit P10`|`TRUE COPY OF THE CERTIFICATE DATED 23.03.2023`| ||`ISSUED BY THE SIXTH RESPONDENT`| |`Exhibit P11`|`TRUE COPY OF THE JUDGMENT DATED 11.09.2023 IN`| ||`W.P.(C).NO.17572/2023`| ## **`RESPONDENTS' EXHIBITS:NIL`** ## **`P.A.TO JUDGE`** ``` TRUE COPY ```