High Court of KeralaDivision BenchWrit appeal allowed; Single Judge’s order set a...
WA 1674 of 2020
Case / Petition Number:WA 1674 of 2020
Case Details & Bench
- Court
- High Court of Kerala
- Hon'ble Judges
- Hon. Justice Anu Sivaraman
- Hon. Justice C. Jayachandran
- Judgment Date
- 2023-09-18
- Court Decision / Holding
- In result, the writ appeal is allowed. The judgment of the learned Single Judge is set aside. The appellants must consider the pension issue strictly in accordance with the Apex Court’s directions and taking into account any options submitted by the employees. The matter leaves open the question of those employees drawing higher pensions and the applicability of the circular dated 25 January 2023.
- Final Disposition
- Writ appeal allowed; Single Judge’s order set aside; pension issue to be decided in line with Apex Court directions and employee options; open questions on higher pension and circular 25.01.2023.
Parties to the Case
Appellants / Petitioners
- Regional Provident Fund Commissioner, Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), Bhavishanidhi Bhavan, Pattom, Palace, Thiruvananthapuram – 695 004
- Regional Provident Fund Commissioner-I, Office of the Regional Provident Fund Commissioner, EPFO, Bhavishanidhi Bhavan, Eranhipalam, Kozhikode – 673 006
- Regional Provident Fund Commissioner-1 (Pension), Bhavishya Nidhi Bhavan, 14 Bhikaji Cama Palace, New Delhi – 110 066
Respondents
- A.K.NALAN PROCUREMENT ASSISTANT, AMBALAVAYAL KSHEEROLPADAKA SAHAKARANA SANGAM LTD
- ABDUL KADAR C.P PROCUREMENT ASSISTANT, AMBALAVAYAL KSHEEROLPADAKA SAHAKARANA SANGAM LTD
- ABHIJITH MR DATA ENTRY OPERATOR, AMBALAVAYAL KSHEEROLPADAKA SAHAKARANA SANGAM LTD
- ANTONY K.J, MACHINIST, AMBALAVAYAL KSHEEROLPADAKA SAHAKARANA SANGAM LTD
- ASHADEVI C.M SECRETARY, AMBALAVAYAL KSHEEROLPADAKA SAHAKARANA SANGAM LTD
- DEVASSIA P.T PROCUREMENT ASSISTANT, AMBALAVAYAL KSHEEROLPADAKA SAHAKARANA SANGAM LTD
- BENOY AUGUSTINE, PROCUREMENT ASSISTANT, AMBALAVAYAL KSHEEROLPADAKA SAHAKARANA SANGAM LTD
- JISHA ANAND JUNIOR CLERK, AMBALAVAYAL KSHEEROLPADAKA SAHAKARANA SANGAM LTD
- JOM VARGHESE, PROCUREMENT ASSISTANT, AMBALAVAYAL KSHEEROLPADAKA SAHAKARANA SANGAM LTD
- LASAR A.K PROCUREMENT ASSISTANT, AMBALAVAYAL KSHEEROLPADAKA SAHAKARANA SANGAM LTD
- M.V THOMAS PROCUREMENT ASSISTANT, AMBALAVAYAL KSHEEROLPADAKA SAHAKARANA SANGAM LTD
- MANIKANDAN PROCUREMENT ASSISTANT, AMBALAVAYAL KSHEEROLPADAKA SAHAKARANA SANGAM LTD
- MANOJKUMAR M.K PROCUREMENT ASSISTANT, AMBALAVAYAL KSHEEROLPADAKA SAHAKARANA SANGAM LTD
- N. CHANDRAN, PROCUREMENT ASSISTANT, AMBALAVAYAL KSHEEROLPADAKA SAHAKARANA SANGAM LTD
- P.V BABU, PROCUREMENT ASSISTANT, AMBALAVAYAL KSHEEROLPADAKA SAHAKARANA SANGAM LTD
- SEBASTIAN C.J PROCUREMENT ASSISTANT, AMBALAVAYAL KSHEEROLPADAKA SAHAKARANA SANGAM LTD
- T.C. LUKOSE, PROCUREMENT ASSISTANT, AMBALAVAYAL KSHEEROLPADAKA SAHAKARANA SANGAM LTD
- THANKACHAN N.A TYPIST/JUNIOR CLERK, AMBALAVAYAL KSHEEROLPADAKA SAHAKARANA SANGAM LTD
- THOMAS C.T LAB ASSISTANT, AMBALAVAYAL KSHEEROLPADAKA SAHAKARANA SANGAM LTD
- UMMER K SENIOR CLERK, AMBALAVAYAL KSHEEROLPADAKA SAHAKARANA SANGAM LTD
- V.D. SHAJU JUNIOR CLERK, AMBALAVAYAL KSHEEROLPADAKA SAHAKARANA SANGAM LTD
- V.J SUNNY PROCUREMENT ASSISTANT, AMBALAVAYAL KSHEEROLPADAKA SAHAKARANA SANGAM LTD
- V.T. RAMAN PROCUREMENT ASSISTANT, AMBALAVAYAL KSHEEROLPADAKA SAHAKARANA SANGAM LTD
- VASANTHAKUMARI P.C. GREESHMAM, MEENANGADI, WAYANAD
- RAHIM N.M. EDAVILA, NARIKUNDU P.O, WAYANAD
- GEETHA GOPALAN DIVIYA NIVAS, AMBALAVAYAL, WAYANAD
- VASUDEVAN K.K. KUTTADANDIYIL, AMBALAVAYAL P.O, WAYANAD
- SCARIA K.J. KUTHUKALLINGAL, NELLARACHAL P.O, WAYANAD
- SASI M. G MAMPULLI, AMBALAVAYAL P.O, WAYANAD
- BABY M.V MOKKUVAMTHARA, KUMBALERY P.O, WAYANAD
- KUNHIRAMAN P.C. KAIKULATHIL, KUMBALERY P.O, WAYANAD
- UNION OF INDIA (UOI) REPRESENTED BY SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT OF INDIA, MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND DEPARTMENT OF EMPLOYMENT, NEW DELHI -110 001
- EMPLOYEES PROVIDENT FUND TRUSTEE, REPRESENTED BY MANAGING TRUSTEE, EMPLOYEES PROVIDENT FUND OFFICE, BHAVISHYA NIDHI BHAVAN, WAZIPUR, NEW DELHI-110 052
- AMBALAVAYAL KSHEEROLPADAKA SAHAKARANA SANGAM LTD, NO.D 1961(APCOS) REPRESENTED BY SECRETARY, P.O.VADUVANCHAL – 673 581, WAYANAD DISTRICT
Legal Representation & Advocates
Counsels for Petitioners
- • Sajeev Kumar K. Gopal
Case Synopsis & Summary
This writ appeal, filed by the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), challenges a learned Single Judge’s order in WP(C) 4667/2020 directing re-determination of pension payable to the writ petitioners (respondents 1 to 31 in this appeal). The Division Bench of this Court in P. Sasikumar and others v. Union of India and others (ILR 2019 (1) Ker. 614) had previously laid down directions that inform the scope of pension determinations under the Employees’ Provident Fund scheme. The respondents’ case further contends that the matter now stands governed by the Supreme Court’s decision in Employees Provident Fund Organization and Another v. Sunil Kumar B. and Others (2022 (6) KLT 234 (SC)), particularly Paragraph 44, which upheld the 22 August 2014 notification as legal and valid and provided directions regarding employees’ option submissions. The appellants contend that the issue should be resolved strictly in accordance with the Apex Court’s directions, taking into account any options submitted by employees, and that the earlier Division Bench framework remains the relevant backdrop. The High Court ultimately allows the appeal, setting aside the Single Judge’s order and directing computation in line with Apex Court directions, while leaving open the questions concerning higher pension petitions and the applicability of the circular dated 25 January 2023.
Submissions & Arguments
Contentions of Appellants / Petitioners
The EPFO contends that the central issue is already resolved by the Supreme Court in Sunil Kumar B. and Others (2022) and by prior Division Bench jurisprudence; Paragraph 44 of the Sunil Kumar B. decision upholds the 22 August 2014 notification as legal and valid and provides directions regarding employees’ option submissions. The issue, therefore, should be decided strictly on the basis of the Apex Court’s directions, with due regard to any options submitted by employees. The appeal argues for setting aside the Single Judge’s order which directed re-determination of pension and for applying the Apex Court’s directives to determine pension entitlement, while keeping open questions relating to higher pension claims and the 25 January 2023 circular.
Contentions of Respondents
The respondents petitioners contend for re-determination of pension in line with the Division Bench’s guidance in P. Sasikumar and others v. Union of India and others, ILR 2019 (1) Ker. 614, and seek adherence to the framework established there. They rely on the writ petition (WP(C) 4667/2020) and the earlier Division Bench’s directions to secure pension re-determination consistent with the statutory scheme. They emphasize that the notified rules and circulars should be applied to determine the pension, and that the Apex Court’s decision in Sunil Kumar B. does not alter their entitlement under the Division Bench framework.”},
Cited Precedents (2)
| Case Name | Citation | Treatment | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| P. Sasikumar and others v. Union of India and others | ILR 2019 (1) Ker. 614 | Mentioned Only | Cited as background Division Bench authority informing the earlier directions but not treated as the controlling rule; the court instead anchors on the Apex Court directions. |
| Employees Provident Fund Organization and Another v. Sunil Kumar B. and Others | 2022 (6) KLT 234 (SC) | Positive | Cited and relied upon to uphold the validity of the 22.08.2014 notification and to outline the Apex Court directions governing options and pension computation. |
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Extracted Judgment Text
Exact text extracted from official judgment records.
# **IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM**
# **PRESENT**
**THE HONOURABLE MRS. JUSTICE ANU SIVARAMAN**
**&**
**THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE C. JAYACHANDRAN**
**MONDAY, THE 18[TH] DAY OF SEPTEMBER 2023 / 27TH BHADRA, 1945**
**WA NO.1674 OF 2020**
**JUDGMENT IN WP(C) 4667/2020 OF HIGH COURT OF KERALA DATED 15.6.2020**
**--------------------**
## **- APPELLANTS/RESPONDENTS 2, 3 AND 5 IN WPC :**
1 REGIONAL PROVIDENT FUND COMMISSIONER EMPLOYEES PROVIDENT FUND ORGANISATION (EPFO), BHAVISHANIDHI BHAVAN, PATTOM, PALACE, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM – 695 004. 2 REGIONAL PROVIDENT FUND COMMISSIONER-I OFFICE OF THE REGIONAL PROVIDENT FUND COMMISSIONER, EMPLOYEES PROVIDENT FUND ORGANISATION (EPFO), BHAVISHANIDHI BHAVAN, ERANHIPALAM, KOZHIKODE – 673 006. 3 REGIONAL PROVIDENT FUND COMMISSIONER -1(PENSION) BHAVISHYA NITHI BHAVAN, 14 BHIKAJI CAMA PALACE, NEW DELHI – 110 066. BY ADV SAJEEV KUMAR K.GOPAL
## **- RESPONDENTS/PETITIONERS 1 TO 31/RESPONDENTS 1, 4 AND 6 :**
1 A.K.NALAN PROCUREMENT ASSISTANT, AMBALAVAYAL KSHEEROLPADAKA SAHAKARANA SANGAM LTD, NO. D 1961, (APCOS), P.O, VADUVANCHAL – 673 581, WAYANAD DISTRICT, UAN NO.100070732979. 2 ABDUL KADAR C.P PROCUREMENT ASSISTANT, AMBALAVAYAL KSHEEROLPADAKA SAHAKARANA SANGAM LTD, NO.D 1961(APCOS) P.O VADUVANCHAL – 673 581, WAYANAD DISTRICT, UAN NO.100120916900. 3 ABHIJITH MR DATA ENTRY OPERATOR, AMBALAVAYAL KSHEEROLPADAKA SAHAKARANA SANGAM LTD,
WA NO.1674 OF 2020
-: 2 :-
NO.D 1961(APCOS) P.O VADUVANCHAL – 673 581, WAYANAD DISTRICT, UAN NO.101280268385. 4 ANTONY K.J, MACHINIST, AMBALAVAYAL KSHEEROLPADAKA SAHAKARANA SANGAM LTD, NO.D 1961(APCOS) P.O VADUVANCHAL – 673 581, WAYANAD DISTRICT, UAN NO.100183453953. 5 ASHADEVI C.M SECRETARY, AMBALAVAYAL KSHEEROLPADAKA SAHAKARANA SANGAM LTD, NO.D 1961(APCOS) P.O VADUVANCHAL – 673 581, WAYANAD DISTRICT, UAN NO.100120846451. 6 DEVASSIA P.T PROCUREMENT ASSISTANT, AMBALAVAYAL KSHEEROLPADAKA SAHAKARANA SANGAM LTD, NO.D 1961(APCOS) P.O VADUVANCHAL – 673 581, WAYANAD DISTRICT, UAN NO.100264470356. 7 BENOY AUGUSTINE, PROCUREMENT ASSISTANT, AMBALAVAYAL KSHEEROLPADAKA SAHAKARANA SANGAM LTD, NO.D 1961(APCOS) P.O VADUVANCHAL – 673 581, WAYANAD DISTRICT, UAN NO.1001099441893. 8 JISHA ANAND JUNIOR CLERK, AMBALAVAYAL KSHEEROLPADAKA SAHAKARANA SANGAM LTD, NO.D 1961(APCOS) P.O VADUVANCHAL – 673 581, WAYANAD DISTRICT, UAN NO.100902037198. 9 JOM VARGHESE, PROCUREMENT ASSISTANT, AMBALAVAYAL KSHEEROLPADAKA SAHAKARANA SANGAM LTD, NO.D 1961(APCOS) P.O VADUVANCHAL – 673 581, WAYANAD DISTRICT, UAN NO.100178034524. 10 LASAR A.K PROCUREMENT ASSISTANT, AMBALAVAYAL KSHEEROLPADAKA SAHAKARANA SANGAM LTD, NO.D 1961(APCOS) P.O VADUVANCHAL – 673 581, WAYANAD DISTRICT, UAN NO.100070730111. 11 M.V THOMAS PROCUREMENT ASSISTANT, AMBALAVAYAL KSHEEROLPADAKA SAHAKARANA SANGAM LTD,
WA NO.1674 OF 2020
-: 3 :-
NO.D 1961(APCOS) P.O VADUVANCHAL – 673 581, WAYANAD DISTRICT, UAN NO.100211354790. 12 MANIKANDAN PROCUREMENT ASSISTANT, AMBALAVAYAL KSHEEROLPADAKA SAHAKARANA SANGAM LTD, NO.D 1961(APCOS) P.O VADUVANCHAL – 673 581, WAYANAD DISTRICT, UAN NO.100070732283. 13 MANOJKUMAR M.K PROCUREMENT ASSISTANT, AMBALAVAYAL KSHEEROLPADAKA SAHAKARANA SANGAM LTD, NO.D 1961(APCOS) P.O VADUVANCHAL – 673 581, WAYANAD DISTRICT, UAN NO.100222422573. 14 N. CHANDRAN, PROCUREMENT ASSISTANT, AMBALAVAYAL KSHEEROLPADAKA SAHAKARANA SANGAM LTD, NO.D 1961(APCOS) P.O VADUVANCHAL – 673 581, WAYANAD DISTRICT, UAN NO.100246391011. 15 P.V BABU, PROCUREMENT ASSISTANT, AMBALAVAYAL KSHEEROLPADAKA SAHAKARANA SANGAM LTD, NO.D 1961(APCOS) P.O VADUVANCHAL – 673 581, WAYANAD DISTRICT, UAN NO.100118312220. 16 SEBASTIAN C.J PROCUREMENT ASSISTANT, AMBALAVAYAL KSHEEROLPADAKA SAHAKARANA SANGAM LTD, NO.D 1961(APCOS) P.O VADUVANCHAL – 673 581, WAYANAD DISTRICT, UAN NO.100120783911. 17 T.C. LUKOSE, PROCUREMENT ASSISTANT, AMBALAVAYAL KSHEEROLPADAKA SAHAKARANA SANGAM LTD, NO.D 1961(APCOS) P.O VADUVANCHAL – 673 581, WAYANAD DISTRICT, UAN NO.100387699973. 18 THANKACHAN N.A TYPIST/JUNIOR CLERK, AMBALAVAYAL KSHEEROLPADAKA SAHAKARANA SANGAM LTD, NO.D 1961(APCOS) P.O VADUVANCHAL – 673 581, WAYANAD DISTRICT, UAN NO.100246312674. 19 THOMAS C.T LAB ASSISTANT, AMBALAVAYAL KSHEEROLPADAKA SAHAKARANA SANGAM LTD,
WA NO.1674 OF 2020
||-: 4 :-|
|---|---|
||NO.D 1961(APCOS) P.O VADUVANCHAL – 673 581,|
||WAYANAD DISTRICT, UAN NO.100121080234.|
|20|UMMER K|
||SENIOR CLERK,|
||AMBALAVAYAL KSHEEROLPADAKA SAHAKARANA SANGAM LTD,|
||NO.D 1961(APCOS) P.O VADUVANCHAL – 673 581,|
||WAYANAD DISTRICT, UAN NO.100184726669.|
|21|V.D. SHAJU|
||JUNIOR CLERK,|
||AMBALAVAYAL KSHEEROLPADAKA SAHAKARANA SANGAM LTD,|
||NO.D 1961(APCOS) P.O VADUVANCHAL – 673 581,|
||WAYANAD DISTRICT, UAN 100398318915.|
|22|V.J SUNNY|
||PROCUREMENT ASSISTANT,|
||AMBALAVAYAL KSHEEROLPADAKA SAHAKARANA SANGAM LTD,|
||NO.D 1961(APCOS) P.O VADUVANCHAL – 673 581,|
||WAYANAD DISTRICT, UAN 100398393383.|
|23|V.T. RAMAN|
||PROCUREMENT ASSISTANT,|
||AMBALAVAYAL KSHEEROLPADAKA SAHAKARANA SANGAM LTD,|
||NO.D 1961(APCOS) P.O VADUVANCHAL – 673 581,|
||WAYANAD DISTRICT, UAN 100398949699.|
|24|VASANTHAKUMARI P.C.|
||GREESHMAM, MEENANGADI, WAYANAD – 673 591|
||UAN NO.100263342590.|
|25|RAHIM N.M.|
||EDAVILA, NARIKUNDU P.O, WAYANAD – 673 593,|
||UAN NO.100246546350|
|26|GEETHA GOPALAN|
||DIVIYA NIVAS, AMBALAVAYAL, WAYANAD – 673 593,|
||UAN NO.100158865822.|
|27|VASUDEVAN K.K.|
||KUTTADANDIYIL, AMBALAVAYAL P.O, WAYANAD – 673 593,|
||UAN NO.100183526230.|
|28|SCARIA K.J.|
||KUTHUKALLINGAL, NELLARACHAL P.O, WAYANAD – 673 592,|
||UAN NO.100183457849.|
WA NO.1674 OF 2020
-: 5 :- 29 SASI M. G MAMPULLI, AMBALAVAYAL P.O, WAYANAD – 673 593, UAN NO.100209982350. 30 BABY M.V MOKKUVAMTHARA, KUMBALERY P.O, WAYANAD – 673 591, UAN.NO.100211335431. 31 KUNHIRAMAN P.C. KAIKULATHIL, KUMBALERY P.O, WAYANAD, UAN NO.100263338346. 32 UNION OF INDIA (UOI)REPRESENTED BY THE SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT OF INDIA, MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND DEPARTMENT OF EMPLOYMENT, NEW DELHI -110 001. 33 EMPLOYEES PROVIDENT FUND TRUSTEE, REPRESENTED BY MANAGING TRUSTEE, EMPLOYEES PROVIDENT FUND OFFICE, BHAVISHYA NIDHI BHAVAN, WAZIPUR, NEW DELHI-110 052. 34 AMBALAVAYAL KSHEEROLPADAKA SAHAKARANA SANGAM LTD, NO.D 1961(APCOS) REPRESENTED BY SECRETARY, P.O.VADUVANCHAL – 673 581, WAYANAD DISTRICT. SRI.P.N.MOHANAN SMT.PREMLATHA K. NAIR SRI.P.VIJAYAKUMAR, ASGI SRI.ABRAHAM P. MEACHINKARA SRI.NITA N.S. THIS WRIT APPEAL HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 18.09.2023, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:
WA NO.1674 OF 2020
-: 6 :-
## **JUDGMENT**
## **Dated this the 18th day of September, 2023**
## **Anu Sivaraman, J.**
This appeal is preferred by the Employees Provident Fund Organisation challenging the judgment of the learned Single Judge, directing re-determination of the pension payable to the writ petitioners, that is, respondents 1 to 31 in this appeal, in the light of the directions given in the judgment of a Division Bench of this Court in **P. Sasikumar and others** v. **Union of India and others** [ILR 2019 (1) Ker. 614]..
2. It is submitted by the learned counsel appearing for the parties that the issue now stands covered by the judgment of the Apex Court in **Employees Provident Fund Organization and Another** v. **Sunil Kumar B. and Others** [2022 (6) KLT 234 (SC)]. It is submitted that the Apex Court in Paragraph 44 of the said judgment has upheld the notification dated 22.08.2014 as legal and valid and has also issued further directions with regard to options to be submitted by the employees. It is submitted that the issue will now have to be considered on the basis of the directions of the Apex Court.
WA NO.1674 OF 2020
-: 7 :-
In the above view of the matter and in the light of the judgment of the Apex Court, this writ appeal is allowed. The judgment of the learned Single Judge shall stand set aside and the appellants shall consider the issue strictly in accordance with the directions issued by the Apex Court and taking note of the options, if any submitted by the employees. The contentions raised by the employees who are drawing higher pension and the applicability of circular dated 25.1.2023 is left open.
**Sd/ANU SIVARAMAN Sd/C. JAYACHANDRAN JUDGE**
**JUDGE**
Jvt/23.9.2023
WA NO.1674 OF 2020
-: 8 :-
## **APPENDIX OF WA 1674/2020**
PETITIONER ANNEXURES :-
|ANNEXURE|1|TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER PASSED BY THE HON'BLE|
|---|---|---|
|||SUPREME COURT DATED 06.02.2020 IN WP(C) NO.|
|||233/2018 AND CONNECTED CASES.|
|ANNEXURE|2|TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER DATED 03.07.2020 IN|
|||WP(C) NO. 2654/2020.|
|ANNEXURE|3|TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER DATED 14.01.2020 IN CWP-|
|||19985 OF 2018(O & M)|
|ANNEXURE|4|TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER IN W.P.NO.20572 OF 2018|
|||DATED 03.03.2020.|
|ANNEXURE|5|TRUE COPY OF THE ACTUARIAL REPORT DATED|
|||27.12.2018.|
|ANNEXURE|6|TRUE COPY OF THE EXPLANATORY STATEMENT DATED|
|||20.06.2019.|