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High Court of KeralaSingle JudgeWrit petitions disposed of with directions to p...

WP(C) Nos. 39513 & 40980 of 2023

Case / Petition Number:WP(C) Nos.39513/2023; 40980/2023

Case Details & Bench

Court
High Court of Kerala
Hon'ble Judges
  • Raja Vijayaraghavan V
Judgment Date
2024-01-30
Court Decision / Holding
There will be a direction to the concerned respondent to consider the Joint Option submitted by the petitioners and conclude the process in tune with the Sunil Kumar B (supra) expeditiously, in any event, within five months from the date of receipt of a copy of this judgment. The petitioners shall produce a copy of the writ petition along with this judgment before the concerned respondent to ensure compliance. These writ petitions are disposed of.
Final Disposition
Writ petitions disposed of with directions to process the Joint Option within five months; compliance to Sunil Kumar B directions.

Parties to the Case

Appellants / Petitioners

  • ViJOYA K
  • UDAYA BHANU V
  • P. VINOD
  • SUBHASHINI B
  • K. SIVADASAN
  • GEORGE P.P
  • BALAKRISHNAN T.K
  • MOHAN C
  • C. H. SALEEM
  • T. SURENDRAN
  • MOHANAN T.K
  • ARAVINDAKSHAN P.A
  • MADHAVAN V
  • AJITHAPRASADA K
  • CHANDRAN PALAKKADAN
  • VALSA RAJ P
  • VENUGOPALAN NAIR P
  • RAVEENDRAN C.P
  • OUSEPH A
  • USMAN C.V
  • PRAKASH P
  • SADANANDAN P.K
  • MOHANAN C
  • ABDUL JABBAR
  • APPUKUTTAN A
  • MATHAIV A
  • SUBRAMANIAN G
  • DASAPPAN P
  • EMILY JOSEPH
  • BABY A U
  • NARAYANAN K
  • RADHAKRISHNAN V
  • JACOB K J
  • DIVAKARAN K
  • PRABHAKARAN M
  • SIVASANKARAN K.V
  • KUTTUMANI K
  • SREEDHARAN K
  • MURUKESAN A
  • VIVEKANANDAN P
  • V RAMAKRISHNAN
  • RAJAN V P
  • VALSAKUMAR N
  • RADHAKRISHNAN K
  • SAMBU POTTIN V
  • SATHEESANK
  • BHASKARAN P P
  • SOMAN C
  • PETER K A
  • JAYAKUMAR M
  • ABOOB AKE R V
  • GANGADHARAN K
  • SIVANS
  • PRABHAKARAN P
  • MOHANKUMAR V
  • MATHEWS RAYIL
  • RAJEEVAN RAMBAN
  • JAMES MATHEW

Respondents

  • Union of India
  • Central Provident Fund Commissioner, Employees' Provident Fund Organisation
  • Regional Provident Fund Commissioner, Employees' Provident Fund Organisation
  • Assistant Provident Fund Commissioner, Bhavishya Vidhi Bhavan
  • The Kerala Co-Operative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd.

Legal Representation & Advocates

Counsels for Petitioners

  • • Ajith Prakash (Petitioners' Advocate)

Counsels for Respondents

  • • C. S. Ajith Prakash
  • • T. K. Devarajan
  • • Babum
  • • Ancy Thankachan
  • • Nidhin Raj Vetttikadan
  • • Akash Joshi

Case Synopsis & Summary

These writ petitions relate to pension revision under the Employees Pension Scheme, 1995 and its amendments. The petitioners (employees) assert that they attained superannuation on dates after 1 September 2014 and have, in terms of directions in the Supreme Court’s Sunil Kumar B judgment, submitted Joint Option Forms before the respondents. The core grievance is the inaction by the respondents in processing and revising their pension in accordance with the Sunil Kumar B directions. The petitions seek a directions to the 3rd respondent to revise the pension of the petitioners by applying the joint option as laid down by the apex court and as interpreted in the 2022 apex court judgment (SLP Nos. 8658/2019 and 8659/2019). The court heard counsel Ajith Prakash for the petitioners and the Standing Counsel for the respondents. After considering the facts and submissions, the High Court directed the respondents to consider the Joint Option submitted by the petitioners and to conclude the process in line with the Sunil Kumar B decision, expeditiously, and in any event within five months from the date of receipt of a copy of the judgment. The petitions are disposed of with this direction. Exhibits include the joint option, apex court judgment, and related documents.

Provisions of Law Cited

Employees Pension Scheme, 1995Employees Pension (Amendment) Scheme, 2014

Submissions & Arguments

Contentions of Appellants / Petitioners

The petitioners contended that they have retired under the Employees Pension Scheme, 1995 and its 2014 amendment and that, following the Supreme Court’s directions in Sunil Kumar B, they submitted Joint Option Forms before the respondents. They urge the respondents to revise their pension in accordance with the apex court directions and to process the joint option without further delay, emphasizing the need for expeditious action and compliance with Sunil Kumar B. They seek a mandamus or directions to ensure timely action and revision of pension.

Contentions of Respondents

The respondents argued that the petitioners’ Joint Options should be considered in light of the Supreme Court’s directions and the statutory framework; they contended that processing of joint options should be done in accordance with the applicable schemes and procedures, and that the court should ensure that any revision is carried out in conformity with law and within a reasonable time frame.

Cited Precedents (3)

Case NameCitationTreatmentExplanation
Employees' Provident Fund and Organisation and Another v. Sunil Kumar BSunil Kumar BPositiveThe Supreme Court directive in Sunil Kumar B was upheld and applied to direct revision of pension as per the joint option.
Apex Court judgement in SLP Nos. 8658/2019 and 8659/2019SLP Nos. 8658/2019 and 8659/2019PositiveApex Court decision cited to support the applicable law and directions relating to pension revision.
2022 (7) KHC 122022 (7) KHC 12Mentioned OnlyCited as a reference in the judgment, without explicit discussion of its ratio or particulars.

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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 MR. JUSTICE RAJA VIJAYARAGHAVAN V TUESDAY, THE 30[TH] DAY OF JANUARY 2024 / 10TH MAGHA, 1945`** ``` WP(C)NO.40980OF2023 ``` ``` PETITIONERS: ``` ``` 1RSURESHKUMAR, AGED61YEARS S/OARAMANNAIR,TC4/498(6),NAYANAM,HOUSENO 2,SREEVILASLANE,KOWDIYARPO,TRIVANDRUM-695003 PPONO.KR/TVM/00090822 2GOPINADHANPILLAIM AGED61YEARS S/OMADHAVANPILLAI,RAHULLAND,ADAYAMONPO, TRIVANDRUM-695614,PPONOKR/TVM/00091039, - PIN695614 3GOPALAKRISHNANN AGED61YEARS S/ONAGAPPAN,THADATHRIKATHAU,PUTHENVEEDU, KOLIYAKODE,NEYYARDAMPO,TRIVANDRUM-695572 - PPONOKR/TVM/00091040,PIN695572 4SWAYAPRAKASHS, AGED60YEARS,S/OSANKU,CHITHRAM,MANAMPOORPO, TRIVANDRUM-695611,PPONO.KR/TVM/00091511, - PIN695611 5AJITHAKUMARIR AGED63YEARS D/OCHANDRASEKHARANNAIR,SIVAKRIPA,PULIMOODU, CHIRAYANKEEZHUPO,TRIVANDRUM-695304 - PPONO.KR/TVM/00089030,PIN695304 6CSASI AGED60YEARS S/OCHELLAPPANNADAR,NITHEESHBHAVAN,MAILAKKARAPO, - TRIVANDRUM-695572PPONO.KR/TVM/00091396,PIN695572 ``` W.P.(C)Nos.39513 &.40980 of 2023 2 ``` 7MVASANTHAKUMAR AGED61YEARS S/OMADHAVAN,SARANYANIVAS,PALLIVETTA,ARYANADPO, TRIVANDRUM-695542,PPONO.KR/TVM/00091135, - PIN695542 8GSIVANKUTTY AGED59YEARS S/OGANGADHARANPILLAI,SHILPACOTTAGE,11/405, THITTAMANGALAM,KODUNGANOORPO,TRIVANDRUM-695013 - PPONO.KR/TVM/00093554,PIN695013 9MANIKANTANNAIRP AGED59YEARS S/OKRPADMANABHANNAIR,PATHMALAYAM,PUNCHAKKARI, THIRUVALLAMPO,TRIVANDRUM-695027 - PPONO.KR/TVM/00094437,PIN695027 10TOMYJOSEPHP AGED60YEARS S/OJOSEPH,PATTASSERY,TC4/2612(C),KAIRALINAGAR, KURAVANKONAM,KAWDIARPO,TRIVANDRUM-695003, - PPONO.KR/TVM/00092680,PIN595003 11MURALEEDHARANS AGED60YEARS S/OSUKUMARAN,SMRITHI,GSSNRA27(A),AMBALAMUKKU, PEROORKADAPO,TRIVANDRUM-695005, - PPONO.KR/TVM/00092648,PIN695005 12HEMANTHACHANDRANB AGED61YEARS S/OVBALAKRISHNAPILLAI,SAYANTHANAM,PLAVOOR, AMACHALPO,TRIVANDRUM-695572,PPONO - KR/TVM/00091027,PIN695572 ``` W.P.(C)Nos.39513 &.40980 of 2023 3 ``` 13SSHEELAKUMARI AGED61YEARS D/OPBHASKARAPILLAI,VAISHNAVAM,VAZHICHALPO, THRIVANDRUM-695125,PPONOKR/TVM/00091041, - PIN695125 14PONNAMMAGEORGE AGED60YEARS D/OPOGEORGE,KURMPELIL,CHENGAMANADUPO, KOTTARAKKARA,KOLLAM-691557,PPONO.KR/TVM/00097429, - PIN691557 15CHITRAL AGED61YEARS D/OKSIVASANKARAPILLAI,KAUSTHUBHAM,EVRA-368, ESWAIVILASAMROAD,JAGATHY,TRIVANDRUM-695014PPONO - KR/TVM/00091062,PIN695014 BYADVS. C.S.AJITHPRAKASH T.K.DEVARAJAN BABUM. ANCYTHANKACHAN NIDHINRAJVETTIKKADAN AKASHJOSHI ``` ## **`RESPONDENTS:`** - `1 UNION OF INDIA, REPRESENTED BY THE SECRETARY MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND -` - `EMPLOYMENT, NEW DELHI, PIN 110001` - `2 CENTRAL PROVIDENT FUND COMMISSIONER EMPLOYEES' PROVIDENT FUND ORGANIZATION,BHAVISHYA NIDHI -` - `BHAVAN,14, BHIKAJI CAMA PLACE, NEW DELHI, PIN 110066` - `3 REGIONAL PROVIDENT FUND COMMISSIONER EMPLOYEES PROVIDENT FUND ORGANIZATION, BHAVISHYA NIDHI BBHAVAN, POTTAKUZHY ROAD, PATTAM, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM,` W.P.(C)Nos.39513 &.40980 of 2023 4 ``` - PIN695004 ``` ``` 4THEKERALACO-OPERATIVEMILKMARKETINGFEDERATIONLTD PATTOMPALACEP.O,THIRUVANATHAPURAM-695004 - REPRESENTEDBYITSMANAGINGDIRECTOR,PIN695004 ``` ``` BYADVNITAN.S ``` ``` SRISMANU,DSGI, SMTNITANS,SCFOREPFO, SMTLATHAANAND,SCFORKERALACO-OPERATIVEMILK MARKETINGFEDERATIONLTD. ``` ``` THISWRITPETITION(CIVIL)HAVINGCOMEUPFORADMISSIONON 30.01.2024,ALONGWITHWP(C).39513/2023,THECOURTONTHESAME DAYDELIVEREDTHEFOLLOWING: ``` W.P.(C)Nos.39513 &.40980 of 2023 5 ## **`IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE RAJA VIJAYARAGHAVAN V TUESDAY, THE 30[TH] DAY OF JANUARY 2024 / 10TH MAGHA, 1945 WP(C) NO. 39513 OF 2023`** ## **`PETITIONERS:`** ``` 1VIJOYA.K AGED59YEARS S/OKURIANAC,RESIDINGATATTACHERIL, MOOCHIPPARATHA,EDAKKARAPO,KOZHIKODE,PPO - NO.KR/KKD/00076509,PIN679331 2UDAYABHANU.V AGED59YEARS S/OAPPUKUTTYPRESIDINGATVATTAKKATTUHOUSE, POOVANGALKOMMERIPO,KOZHIKODE,PPO - NO.KR/KKD/00076860,PIN673007 3P.VINOD AGED61YEARS S/OSAMIPRESIDINGATLAVANKA,39/1437-B,PAVANGAD, PUTHIYANGADIPO,KOZHIKODE,PPONO.KR/KKD/00071998, - PIN673021 4SUBHASHINI.B AGED60YEARS D/OTHANKAPPANNAIRRESIDINGATKIZHAKKETHADATHIL HOUSE,THENHIPALAMPO,MALAPPURAM,PPO - NO.KR/KKD/00073695,PIN673636 5K.SIVADASAN AGED60YEARS S/OSAMIRESIDINGATKARIKKOTHHOUSE,NADUVATTAM, NORTHBEYPUR,ARAKINARSOUTHPO,KOZHIKODE,PPO - NO.KR/KKD/00074552,PIN673028 6GEORGEP.P AGED59YEARS S/OPHILIPRESIDINGATPADAPPANANICKAL, ``` W.P.(C)Nos.39513 &.40980 of 2023 6 ``` KUPPAYAKODPO,KOZHIKODE,PPONO.KR/KKD/00078022, - PIN673580 7BALAKRISHNANT.K. AGED59YEARS S/ORAGHAVANNAIRRESIDINGATTHACHOTHKANDY, IYYADPO,SIVAPURAM,KOZHIKODE,PPO - NO.KR/KKD/00077266,PIN673574 8MOHANANC AGED59YEARS S/OARIYANRESIDINGATKALLARAMKATTIL,BALUSSERIPO, THYRUTHIYAD,KOZHIKODE,PPONO.KR/KKD/00077321, - PIN673612 9C.H.SALEEM AGED59YEARS S/OUSMANRESIDINGATCHERNOTH,KAKKAVAYALPO,MUTTIL SOUTH,WAYANAD-673122,PPONO.KR/KKD/00078020, - PIN673122 10T.SURENDRAN AGED61YEARS S/OBALAKRISHANANNAIR,RESIDINGATAYYAMADATHIL HOUSE,NADUVATTAM,BEYPURSOUTHPO,KOZHIKODE,PPO - NO.KR/KKD/00071734,PIN673015 11MOHANAN.T.K AGED59YEARS S/ORAGHAVANNAIRTK,RESIDINGATTHEVARKANDYHOUSE, NANMINDAPO,KOZHIKODE,PPONO.KR/KKD/00075350, - PIN673613 12ARAVINDAKSHANP.A AGED61YEARS S/OGOVINDANKUTTYPANICKER,RESIDINGAT KIZHAKKEULLERI,NADUVATTOMNORTH,BEYPOREPO, - KOZHIKODE,PPONO.KR/KKD/00073465,PIN673015 ``` W.P.(C)Nos.39513 &.40980 of 2023 7 ``` 13MADHAVAN.V AGED58YEARS S/OKEERAN,RESIDINGATVADAKKETHODIKAHOUSE, KALLURUTTYPO,OMASSERY,KOZHIKODE-673582,PPO - NO.KR/KKD/00079559,PIN673582 14AJITHAPRASADA.K AGED61YEARS S/OGOVINDAKURUP,RESIDINGATASARIKANDIYIL, PERINGOLAMPO,KUNNAMANGALAM,KOZHIKODE,PPO - NO.KR/KKD/00067343,PIN673571 15CHANDRANPALAKKADAN AGED61YEARS S/OCHERIYAKKANP,RESIDINGATPARAKKALHOUSE,MORAYUR - PO,MALAPPURAM,PPONO.KR/KKD/00073190,PIN673642 16VALSARAJC.P AGED60YEARS S/OBALANCP,RESIDINGATVARIYAMPARAMBIL,CIVIL STATIONPO,KOZHIKODE,PPONO.KR/KKD/00073724, - PIN673020 17VENUGOPALANNAIRP AGED64YEARS S/ONARAYANANNAIR,RESIDINGATTHANIKKATTUHOUSE, PERINGOLAMPO,KUNNAMANGALAM,KOZHIKODE,PPO - NO.KR/KKD/00067101,PIN673571 18RAVEENDRANC.P AGED65YEARS S/OGOPALANNAIR,RESIDINGATCHALAPURATHHOUSE, PERINGOLAMPO,KUNNAMANGALAM,KOZHIKODE,PPO - NO.KR/KKD/00058407,PIN673571 19OUSEPHP.A AGED59YEARS S/OABRAHAM,RESIDINGATPALLATHHOUSE,MURINGAMUNDA, KUNNUMMALPOTTYPO,EDAKKARA,MALAPPURAM,PPO - NO.KR/KKD/00077550,PIN679331 ``` W.P.(C)Nos.39513 &.40980 of 2023 8 ``` 20USMANC.V AGED60YEARS S/OKUNJALIHAJI,RESIDINGATCHURANGADANVEETIL HOUSE,KUNNAMANGALAMPO,PERINGOLAM,KOZHIKODE,PPO - NO.KR/KKD/00074354,PIN673571 21PRAKASHP.P AGED59YEARS S/OPADMANABHANPM,RESIDINGATPUTHANMADATHIL, EDAKKARA,KOWKKAD,THEYATHUMPADAMPO,MALAPPURAM,PPO - NO.KR/KKD/00080624,PIN679331 22SADANANDANP.K AGED61YEARS S/OKELAN,RESIDINGATNELLOOTICHALIL,KODUVALLY, - PUTHOORPO,KOZHIKODE,PPONO.KR/KKD/00072503,PIN 673582 23MOHANAN.C AGED64YEARS S/OSWAMIC,RESIDINGATPANIKKALHOUSE,P&TQUARTERS, AREEKKADPO,NALLALAM,KOZHIKODE,PPO - NO.KR/KKD/00067060,PIN673027 24ABDULJABBAR AGED68YEARS S/OIBRAHIMKUTTY,RESIDINGATNEELIKKADHOUSE, - OLAVAKKODPO,PALAKKAD,UANNO100071965513,PIN 678002 25APPUKUTTAN.A AGED61YEARS S/OAYYAPPAN,RESIDINGATRAMPARAMBUHOUSE, PALLANCHATHANURPO,PALAKKAD,PPONO.KR/KKD/00072476, - PIN678571 26MATHAIV.A AGED64YEARS S/OABRAHAMVM,RESIDINGATVALLODATHUMALIL, PATTAYAMPADAM,KORACHIRAPO,PALAKKAD,PPO ``` W.P.(C)Nos.39513 &.40980 of 2023 9 ``` - NO.KR/KKD/00064327,PIN678684 27SUBRAMANIAN.G AGED61YEARS S/OKOUSALYA,RESIDINGATSUJANAM,THEKKONI,KOTTEKKAD - PO,PALAKKAD,PPONO.KR/KKD/00072088,PIN678732 28DASAPPAN.P AGED58YEARS S/OBALAKRISHNAN,RESIDINGATPADINJAKKARAHOUSE, PARITHYPULLYPO,PALAKKAD,PPONO.KR/KKD/00080041, - PIN678573 29EMILYJOSEPH AGED65YEARS D/OJOSEPH,RESIDINGATEMMISHCOTTAGE,MANNATHKAVU, THANISSERYPO,PALAKKAD-678501,PPO - NO.KR/KKD/00064344,PIN678501 30BABYA.U AGED63YEARS S/OVARKEY,RESIDINGATARACKALHOUSE,KORANCHIRAPO, - PALAKKAD,PPONO.KR/KKD/00064832,PIN678684 31NARAYANANK AGED61YEARS S/OKUNJAYI,RESIDINGATKUNNANKADHOUSE, KAYARADIPO,PALAKKAD,PPONO.KR/KKD/00072001, - PIN678516 32RADHAKRISHNANV AGED62YEARS S/OVELAYUDHAN,RESIDINGATPARAYANPALLAMKALAM, KAYARADI,AYALOORPO,PALAKKAD,PPO - NO.KR/KKD/00072002,PIN678510 33JACOBK.J AGED62YEARS S/OGEORGE,RESIDINGATKOCHUKAITHAYILHOUSE, KURUMBALANGODEPO,MALAPPURAM,PPO ``` W.P.(C)Nos.39513 &.40980 of 2023 10 ``` - NO.KR/KKD/00068904,PIN679334 34DIVAKARAN.K AGED64YEARS S/OACHUTHAN,RESIDINGATKUTTIKKATTILHOUSE, KUTTIKKAD,PONNANIPO,MALAPPURAM,PPO - NO.KR/KKD/00062802,PIN679577 35PRABHAKARAN.M AGED63YEARS S/OCHANRASEKHARANNAIR,RESIDINGATATHIRANIVAS, VALIYAPADAM,CNPURAMPO,PALAKKAD,PPO - NO.KR/KKD/00065796,PIN678005 36SIVASANKARANK.V AGED62YEARS S/OVELAYUDHANNAIR,RESIDINGATKOTTEKKOTTUHOUSE, PARAKKAPADAM,POOKOTTUPADAMPO,MALAPPURAM,PPO - NO.KR/KKD/00068903,PIN679332 37KUTTUMANI.K AGED61YEARS S/OKUPPAN,RESIDINGATKALLANKADEHOUSE, PALLASSANAPO,PALAKKAD,PPONO.KR/KKD/00075076, - PIN678505 38SREEDHARANK AGED61YEARS S/OKUNJU,RESIDINGATPADATHUMPALLAHOUSE,VENGANNUR, ALATHURPO,PALAKKAD,PPONO.KR/KKD/00071999, - PIN678541 39MURUKESAN.A AGED68YEARS S/OARUMUGHAN,RESIDINGATTHANNASIAPPANHOUSE, MINUKKUMPARA,MUTHALAMADAPO,PALAKKAD, - UAN100239437761,PIN678507 ``` W.P.(C)Nos.39513 &.40980 of 2023 11 ``` 40VIVEKANANDAN.P AGED59YEARS S/OPALANIAPPAN,RESIDINGATUTHUVAKKADHOUSE, PALLATHERIPO,PALAKKAD,PPONO.KR/KKD/00077466, - PIN678007 41V.RAMAKRISHNAN AGED60YEARS S/OVASU,RESIDINGATPOOLAKKADHOUSE, CHERAMANGALAMPO,PALAKKAD,PPONO.KR/KKD/00075700, - PIN678703 42RAJANV.P AGED58YEARS S/OPALLI,RESIDINGATVELLIKULAMBU,KORANCHIRAPO, KIZHAKKANCHERY,PALAKKAD,PPONO.KR/KKD/00080115, - PIN678684 43VALSAKUMAR.N AGED62YEARS S/ONARAYANAPILLAI,RESIDINGATJOTHINIVAS, KALLEPPULLYPO,PALAKKAD,PPONO.KR/KKD/00072320, - PIN678005 44RADHAKRISHNAN.K AGED59YEARS S/OKELU,RESIDINGATCHATTIYODEHOUSE,POTHUNDYPO, NENMARA,PALAKKAD,PPONO.KR/KKD/00080119, - PIN678508 45SAMBUPOTTIN.V AGED67YEARS S/OVISHNUPOTTI,RESIDINGATNAROORMADAM,KUDAMALOOR - PO,KOTTAYAM,PPONO.KR/KKD/00054958,PIN686017 46SATHEESANK AGED61YEARS S/OKUNJAMBU,RESIDINGATHARISREEBHAVAN,NEARSN VAYANASALA,KURUVAKANDALEYPO,KANNUR,PPO - NO.KR/KNR/00066781,PIN670003 ``` W.P.(C)Nos.39513 &.40980 of 2023 12 ``` 47BHASKARANP.P AGED60YEARS S/OKUNJAMBU,RESIDINGATPUTHIYAPURAYIL,NADUVILPO, - KANNUR,PPONO.KR/KNR/00070978,PIN670582 48SOMAN.C AGED62YEARS S/OTHEYYON,RESIDINGATPILLAMBURATH,THAZHEKUNI, KOLLAMPO,KOYILANDY,KANNUR,PPONO.KR/KKD/00072215, - PIN673307 49PETERK.A AGED59YEARS S/OKJAUGUSTINE,RESIDINGATSWEETHOUSE, KOTTALIPO,PUZHATHI,KANNUR,UANNO100271331529, - PIN670005 50JAYAKUMAR.M AGED59YEARS S/OKKORAN,RESIDINGATPKCHOUSE,MANGATIDAM, - KANNUR,UANNO100173885073,PIN670643 51ABOOBAKER.V AGED61YEARS S/OABDULLA,RESIDINGATDHARUSSALAM,KARUVALAM, - PADANNAKKADPO,KANNUR,KR/KNR/0070099,PIN671314 52GANGADHARANK.K. AGED60YEARS S/OKUNJIRAMAN,RESIDINGATKANICHUKULANGARAHOUSE, KANAKAPPALLYPO,KASARGOD,KR/KNR/00070843, - PIN671533 53SIVANS AGED60YEARS S/OSUBBAN,RESIDINGATKAKKALAMHOUSE,BOMBARANAPO, - KASARGOD,KR/KNR/00070295,PIN671321 ``` W.P.(C)Nos.39513 &.40980 of 2023 13 ``` 54PRABHAKARAN.P AGED59YEARS S/OCHATHUNAIR,RESIDINGATPUKLATHHOUSE, PARAPPAPO,KASARGOD,UANNO100273439012, - PIN671533 55MOHANKUMARV AGED59YEARS S/OANANDANC,RESIDINGATVEMBIRINHANHOUSE, THAZHATHUVAYAL,PAYYANURPO,KANNUR,UANNO - 100229667687,PIN670307 56MATHEWSRAYIL AGED59YEARS S/OKURIANRESIDINGATKOZHIYODE,ARALAMPO,KANNUR, - UANNO.100224080186,PIN670704 57RAJEEVANARAMBAN AGED59YEARS S/OKANNANRESIDINGATSNEHADEEPAM,KUNNUMKAI, CHIRAKKALPO,KANNUR,UANNO100294141161, - PIN670011 58JAMESMATHEW AGED60YEARS S/OMATHEWRESIDINGATMADASSERYPUTHENPARAYIL, ALATTILPO,WAYANADU,UANNO100172079220, - PIN670644 BYADVS. C.S.AJITHPRAKASH T.K.DEVARAJAN BABUM. ANCYTHANKACHAN NIDHINRAJVETTIKKADAN AKASHJOSHI ``` W.P.(C)Nos.39513 &.40980 of 2023 14 ## **`RESPONDENTS:`** ``` 1UNIONOFINDIA REPRESENTEDBYTHESECRETARYTOGOVERNMENTOFINDIA, MINISTRYOFLABOURANDDEPARTMENTOFEMPLOYMENT, - NEWDELHI,PIN110001 2CENTRALPROVIDENTFUNDCOMMISSIONER EMPLOYEES'PROVIDENTFUNDORGANIZATIONBHAVISHYANIDHI - BHAVAN14,BHIKAJICAMAPLACE,NEWDELHI,PIN110066 3REGIONALPROVIDENTFUNDCOMMISSIONER BHAVISHYANIDHIBHAVAN,PBNO.1806,ERANHIPALAM, - KOZHIKODE,PIN673006 4ASSISTANTPROVIDENTFUNDCOMMISSIONER BHAVISHYANIDHIBHAVAN,PBNO.117,FORTROADVK - COMPLEX,KANNUR,PIN670001 5*THEKERALACO-OPERATIVEMILKMARKETINGFEDERATION LTD*(NAMEANDADDRESSSUBSTITUTED) MILMABHAVAN,PATTOMPALACEP.O, THIRUVANATHAPURAM,REPRESENTEDBYITSMANAGING DIRECTOR.,*NAMEANDADDRESSSUBSTITUTEDASMALABAR REGIONALCO-OPERATIVEMILKPRODUCERSUNIONLIMITED, - PERINGALAM,KUNNAMKULAMP.O.,KOZHIKODE,PIN673571, REPRESENTEDBYITSMANAGINGDIRECTOR(NAMEANDADDRESS OFTHE5THRESPONDENTISSUBSTITUTEDASPERORDER - DATED22-01-2024INIA1/2023),PIN695004 BYADVNITAN.S ``` ``` THISWRITPETITION(CIVIL)HAVINGCOMEUPFORADMISSIONON 30.01.2024,ALONGWITHWP(C).40980/2023,THECOURTONTHESAME DAYDELIVEREDTHEFOLLOWING: ``` W.P.(C)Nos.39513 &.40980 of 2023 15 ## **JUDGMENT** The petitioners in W.P.(C) No. 40980/2023 contend that they are employees in the service of the 4th respondent, and the petitioners in W.P.(C) No. 39513 /2023 contend that they are employees in the service of the 5th respondent in the above writ petitions. 2. The petitioners contend that they have all attained superannuation on various dates after 1.9.2014. The changes brought about by the Employees Pension (Amendment) Scheme, 2014, and the provisions of the Employees Pension Scheme, 1995 were the subject matter of consideration before the Hon’ble Supreme Court, and the same was upheld in **Employees’ Provident Fund and Organisation and Another v. Sunil Kumar B[1]** and certain directions were issued. The petitioners contend that in terms of the directions issued by the Apex Court, the petitioners have submitted their Joint Option Forms before the concerned respondents. Their grievance concerns the inaction on the part of the respondents in processing the application in an expeditious manner. It is on these assertions that these writ petitions are filed seeking directions to the > 1 [2022 (7) KHC 12] W.P.(C)Nos.39513 &.40980 of 2023 16 3rd respondent to revise the pension of the petitioners in view of the law laid down in **Sunil Kumar** by exercising the joint option. 3. I have heard Sri. Ajith Prakash, the learned counsel appearing for the petitioners, and the learned Standing Counsel appearing for respondents. 4. Having considered the facts and circumstances and the submissions made across the bar, there will be a direction to the concerned respondent to consider the Joint Option submitted by the petitioners and conclude the process in tune with the law laid down in **Sunilkumar** (supra) expeditiously, in any event, within five months from the date of receipt of a copy of this judgment. The petitioners shall produce a copy of the writ petition along with this judgment before the concerned respondent to ensure compliance. These writ petitions are disposed of. Sd/- **RAJA VIJAYARAGHAVAN V, JUDGE** IAP W.P.(C)Nos.39513 &.40980 of 2023 17 ## **`APPENDIX OF WP(C) 39513/2023`** ``` PETITIONERS’EXHIBITS: ``` ``` ExhibitP1 ``` ``` ATRUECOPYOFTHEPPONO.KRKKD00076509 DATEDNILISSUEDBYTHE3RDRESPONDENTTO THE1STPETITIONER ``` ``` ExhibitP2ATRUECOPYOFTHEAPEXCOURTJUDGEMENTIN S.L.PNOS.8658/2019AND8659/2019DATED 04.11.2022 ``` ``` ExhibitP3 ``` ``` ATRUECOPYOFTHEONLINEAPPLICATION ACK.NO.230330071054002186021DATED 11/05/2023SUBMITTEDBYTHE1STPETITIONER ``` ``` ExhibitP4ATRUECOPYOFTHECERTIFICATENO. MRCMPU/KKD/KR/KKD/1121/796DATED28.03.2023 ISSUEDBYTHE5THRESPONDENTINRESPECTOF THE1STPETITIONER ``` W.P.(C)Nos.39513 &.40980 of 2023 18 ## **`APPENDIX OF WP(C) 40980/2023`** ``` PETITIONERS’EXHIBITS: ``` ``` ExhibitP1 ``` ``` ATRUECOPYOFTHEPPONO.KR/TVM/00090822 DATED27.04.2021ISSUEDBYTHE3RD RESPONDENTTOTHE1STPETITIONER ``` ``` ExhibitP2 ``` ``` ATRUECOPYOFTHEAPEXCOURTJUDGEMENTIN S.L.PNOS8658/2019AND8659/2019DATED 04.11.2022 ``` ``` ExhibitP3 ``` ``` ATRUECOPYOFTHEONLINEAPPLICATION ACK.NO.230516122129014634671DATED 21/11/2023SUBMITTEDBYTHE1STPETITIONER ``` ``` ExhibitP4 ``` ``` ATRUECOPYOFTHECERTIFICATENO. TRCMPU/TVD/KR/1685/40DATED02.04.2023 ISSUEDBYTHE4THRESPONDENTINRESPECTOF THE1STPETITIONER ```