Disposed

Mohanan P.K. v. State of Kerala

Kerala HC28 Mar 2022WP(C)/3078/2022

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Employees approached the Kerala High Court directing the employer and EPF authorities to remit the employers share of EPF contribution on arrears of wages. The court noted the welfare nature of the EPF Act and the role of enforcement officers.

What did the court decide?

Disposed of petitions with direction to take action on merits considering petitioners predicament strictly as per EPF Act provisions.

Mohanan P.K. Vs State of Kerala — Pension and Retirement Benefits | Kerala HC (2022)

¶1

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM

¶2

PRESENT

¶3

THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE AMIT RAWAL

¶4

MONDAY, THE 28^TH DAY OF MARCH 2022 / 7TH CHAITHRA, 1944

¶5

WP(C) NO. 2665 OF 2022

¶6

PETITIONERS:

¶7

1VIJAYAN K.R.
AGED 60 YEARS
S/O RAGHAVAN M. N., KOLLENTEPARAMBIL HOUSE,
MUPPATHADAM P. O., ALUVA, ERNAKULAM - 683 110.

¶8

2THOMAS C. J.
AGED 60 YEARS
S/O JACOB, CHIYEDATH HOUSE, ERUMATHALA P. O.,
ALUVA, ERNAKULAM - 683 112.

¶9

3SUNNY JOSEPH
AGED 60 YEARS
S/O JOSEPH A., ARACKAKUDIYIL HOUSE,
OORAMANA P. O., ERNAKULAM - 686 663.

¶10

4 MOHAMMED HABEEB AGED 60 YEARS S/O MOHAMMED K. M., KOLLIYIL HOUSE, MADAVANA P. O., KODUNGALLUR, THRISSUR - 680 666.

¶11

5HAMEED K. K.
AGED 60 YEARS
S/O KASIM M. K., KOOTTUNGAL HOUSE,
ERAMAM, MUPPATHADAM P. O.,
ALUVA, ERNAKULAM - 683 110.

¶12

6 SEBASTIAN P. V. AGED 60 YEARS S/O VARGHESE P. O., PALIMATTOM HOUSE, MOOKKANNOOR P. O., ANGAMALY, ERNAKULAM - 683 577.

¶13

7THILAKAN K.
AGED 60 YEARS
S/O. APPU, POLAKULANGARA NIKARTHIL HOUSE,
KALAVAMKODAM P. O., VAYALAR, CHERTHALA,
ALAPPUZHA - 688 524.

¶14

WP© Nos.2665/2022 & 3078/2022

¶15

2

¶16

8SAJEEV N. P.
AGED 60 YEARS
S/O PARAMESWARA PILLAI, RAJU SADAN,
PIPELINE ROAD, PALARIVATTOM P. O.,
ERNAKULAM - 682025.

¶17

9JOSHY T. D.
AGED 60 YEARS
S/O. DASAN T. K., THAIPARAMBIL HOUSE,
ELOOR NORTH, UDYOGAMANDAL P. O.,
ERNAKULAM - 683 501.

¶18

10ABDULKHADER V. K.
AGED 60 YEARS
S/O KUNJUMOHAMMED, PONJASSERY P. O.,
PERUMBAVOOR, ERNAKULAM - 683 547.

¶19

11CHACKO K. P.
AGED 60 YEARS
S/O PATHROSE, KODINJAMKUNNEL HOUSE,
PANAYIKULAM P. O., ALANGAD,
ERNAKULAM - 683 511.

¶20

12SAJI M. S.
AGED 60 YEARS
S/O SURENDRANATH, MATTAPPILLY HOUSE,
KODUVAZHAGA, NEERIKODE P. O.,
ERNAKULAM - 683 511.

¶21

13DEVARAJAN G.
AGED 60 YEARS
S/O GANGADHARAN, AMJITH NIVAS,
VALLIKUNNAM P. O., ALAPPUZHA - 690 501.

¶22

14RAVI C. Y.
AGED 60 YEARS
S/O YOGI C. M., ANAPATHY HOUSE,
NEAR D. M. CONVENT CHETTAPALAM,
MANANTHAVADY P. O., WAYANAD - 670 645.

¶23

15 PARAMESWARAN K. V. AGED 60 YEARS

¶24

WP© Nos.2665/2022 & 3078/2022

¶25

3

¶26

S/O VELAYUDHAN K. K., KANNAMKOTTALIL HOUSE,
MATTAKUZHI, VARIKOLI P. O.,
PUTHENCRUZ, ERNAKULAM - 682 308.

¶27

16ANTONY K. A.
AGED 60 YEARS
S/O ANTHAPPAN K. V., KOLARIKKAL HOUSE,
MUTTINAKAM, VARAPUZHA P. O.,
ERNAKULAM - 683 517.

¶28

17MURALI V. R.
AGED 60 YEARS
S/O. VIRUTHI PARAMBIL HOUSE, MAPRANAM,
MARADYIKONAM, THRISSUR - 680 712.

¶29

18THOMAS S. A.
AGED 60 YEARS
S/O ANTONY, SANKOORIKKAL HOUSE,
PIZHALA P. O., ERNAKULAM - 682 027.

¶30

19 DILEEP RAJ T. D. AGED 60 YEARS S/O DHARMARAJAN, THAIMURIYIL HOUSE, PALARIVATTOM P. O., ERNAKULAM - 682 025.

¶31

BY ADVS.
C.ANIL KUMAR
A.K.PREETHA

¶32

RESPONDENTS:

¶33

1STATE OF KERALA
REPRESENTED BY THE SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT,
INDUSTRIES DEPARTMENT, SECRETARIAT,
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - 695 001.

¶34

2THE TRAVANCORE - COCHIN CHEMICALS LIMITED
P. B. NO.4, UDYOGAMANDAL P. O.,
ERNAKULAM - 683 501,
REPRESENTED BY ITS MANAGING DIRECTOR.

¶35

WP© Nos.2665/2022 & 3078/2022

¶36

¶37

3 MANAGING DIRECTOR THE TRAVANCORE - COCHIN CHEMICAL LIMITED, PB NO.4, UDYOGAMANDAL P. O., ERNAKULAM - 683 501.

¶38

4 EMPLOYEES' PROVIDENT FUNDS ORGANISATION BHAVISHYANIDHI BHAVAN, SUB REGIONAL OFFICE, KALOOR P. O., ERNAKULAM - 682 017, REPRESENTED BY ITS REGIONAL PROVIDENT FUND COMMISSIONER.

¶39

BY ADVS.
M.GOPIKRISHNAN NAMBIAR
S.PRASANTH
K.JOHN MATHAI
JOSON MANAVALAN
KURYAN THOMAS
PAULOSE C. ABRAHAM
RAJA KANNAN

¶40

SRI.JUSTIN JACOB- SR, GP

¶41

THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION
ON 28.03.2022, ALONG WITH WP(C).3078/2022, THE COURT ON THE
SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:

¶42

¶43

WP© Nos.2665/2022 & 3078/2022

¶44

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM

¶45

PRESENT

¶46

THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE AMIT RAWAL

¶47

MONDAY, THE 28TH DAY OF MARCH 2022 / 7TH CHAITHRA, 1944

¶48

WP(C) NO. 3078 OF 2022

¶49

PETITIONERS:

¶50

1MOHANAN P.K.
AGED 60 YEARS
S/O. KRISHNAN KUTTY,
POOTHAPPILLY HOUSE,
EDATHALA NORTH P.O, ALUVA,
ERNAKULAM 683561

¶51

2ANIL KUMAR M.V
AGED 60 YEARS
S/O. VASUDEVAN NAIR,
SOUPARNIKA HOUSE,
EDATHALA NORTH P.O, ALUVA,
ERNAKULAM 683561

¶52

3SUDARSANAN N
AGED 60 YEARS, S/O NANU,
DARSHANA BHAVANAM, ADILNADU SOUTH,
KATTILAKADAVU P.O., KOLLAM 690 542

¶53

4MEEDHIYAN KUNJU K.K
AGED 60 YEARS
S/O. KADER, KONDAPPILLY,
PINARMUNDA, PERINGALA,
KUNNATHUNADU,
ERNAKULAM 683565

¶54

BY ADVS.
C.ANIL KUMAR
A.K.PREETHA

¶55

WP© Nos.2665/2022 & 3078/2022

¶56

6

¶57

RESPONDENTS:

¶58

1 STATE OF KERALA REPRESENTED BY THE SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT, INDUSTRIES DEPARTMENT, SECRETARIAT, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM 695 001

¶59

2 THE TRAVANCORE COCHIN CHEMICALS LIMITED P.B NO. 4, UDYOGAMANDAL P.O, ERNAKULAM 683501, REPRESENTED BY ITS MANAGING DIRECTOR

¶60

3 MANAGING DIRECTOR THE TRAVANCORE COCHIN CHEMICAL LIMITED, PB NO. 4, UDYOGAMANDAL P.O, ERNAKULAM 683501

¶61

4 EMPLOYEES PROVIDENT FUND ORGANISATION - EPFO BHAVISHYANIDHI BHAVAN, SUB REGIONAL OFFICE, KALOOR P.O, ERNAKULAM 682 017 REPRESENTED BY ITS REGIONAL PROVIDENT FUND COMMISSIONER

¶62

BY ADVS.
M.GOPIKRISHNAN NAMBIAR
SHRI.S.PRASANTH, SC, EMPLOYEES PROVIDENT FUND
ORGANISATION
K.JOHN MATHAI
JOSON MANAVALAN
KURYAN THOMAS
PAULOSE C. ABRAHAM
RAJA KANNAN

¶63

SRI.JUSTIN JACOB SR. GP

¶64

THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION
ON 28.03.2022, ALONG WITH WP(C).2665/2022, THE COURT ON THE
SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:

¶65

¶66

WP© Nos.2665/2022 & 3078/2022

¶67

JUDGMENT

¶68

[WP(C) Nos.2665/2022, 3078/2022]

¶69

The petitioners , in both writ petitions, have approached

¶70

this Court with the following prayers:

¶71

i) a writ of mandamus or any other writ, order or direction directing the 2^nd and 3^rd respondents to remit the employers share of EPF contribution on the arrears of wages payable to the petitioners consequent to Exhibit P-1 order;

¶72

ii) to hold that the stand taken by the 2^nd respondent not to remit the employer’s share of EPF contribution on arrears of wages payable to the employees retired from service on or after 01.04.2018 is illegal; and

¶73

iii) to issue such other writ, order or direction as are deemed just and proper on the facts and circumstances of the case.

¶74

2. It is strange that employees have approached this

¶75

Court for issuance of appropriate direction to the EPF

¶76

authorities for payment of the contribution. EPF Act is a

¶77

welfare legislation and the authorities are assigned the job to

¶78

¶79

¶80

recover the dues by sending the Enforcement Officers. Even after receipt of the notice of this application some action should have been taken, but no concrete and positive reply has been brought to the notice of this Court on behalf of the employer.

¶81

By treating the writ petitions as requests of the petitioners, these writ petitions are disposed of with a direction to take action considering the predicament of the petitioners strictly as per the provisions of the EPF Act.

Sd/-

AMIT RAWAL JUDGE

nak

APPENDIX OF WP(C) 3078/2022

¶88

PETITIONER EXHIBITS

¶89

Exhibit P1TRUE COPY OF THE FD RECEIPTS (2 NOS)
DATED 25-08-2015TRUE COPY OF THE
GOVERNMENT ORDER G.O(MS) NO. 113/2020/ID
DATED 28-12-2020 GRANTING APPROVAL FOR
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE WAGE REVISION AS
PER THE LONG TERM SETTLEMENT DATED 02-11-
2019

¶90

Exhibit P2TRUE COPY OF THE LETTER DATED 28-10-2021
SUBMITTED BY SRI VIJAYAN K.R TO THE
PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER OF THE 2ND
RESPONDENT
Exhibit P3TRUE COPY OF THE COVERING LETTER DATED
22-11-2021 AND THE INFORMATION FURNISHED
BY THE PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER OF THE
2ND RESPONDENT

¶91

¶92

¶93

APPENDIX OF WP(C) 2665/2022

¶94

PETITIONER EXHIBITS

¶95

Exhibit P1TRUE COPY OF THE GOVERNMENT ORDER G. O.
(MS) NO.113/2020/ID DATED 28.12.2020
GRANTING APPROVAL FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF
THE WAGE REVISION AS PER THE LONG TERM
SETTLEMENT DATED 02.11.2019.

¶96

Exhibit P2TRUE COPY OF THE REPRESENTATION DATED
28.09.2021 SUBMITTED BY THE 1ST
PETITIONER TO THE 3RD RESPONDENT.

¶97

Exhibit P3TRUE COPY OF THE LETTER DATED 28.10.2021
SUBMITTED BY THE 1ST PETITIONER TO THE
PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER OF THE 2ND
RESPONDENT.

¶98

Exhibit P4TRUE COPY OF THE COVERING LETTER DATED
22.11.2021 AND THE INFORMATION FURNISHED
BY THE PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER OF THE
2ND RESPONDENT.

¶99

Exhibit P5TRUE COPY OF SERVICE PARTICULARS OF THE
PETITIONERS.

Mohanan P.K. v. State of Kerala

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

Mohanan P.K. v. State of Kerala

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

What the court decided

A compact analysis

Issues for consideration

Parties & counsel

Coram

Case details

Similar cases

Kishore P. George Vs District Labour Officer

Sujith Vijayan Vs Union of India

Joseph K.V. Vs Kerala Motor Transport Worker Welfare Fund Board

Chittoor Sugars Vrs (Ssnp) Vs Tom Jose

Vijayan K.R. Vs State of Kerala

New India Assurance Company Ltd. Vs Molly