Disposed

P.K. Pushpan v. Union of India (Uoi)

Kerala HC14 Mar 2024WP(C)/5120/2020

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Retired employees sought higher EPF pension based on actual salary per Clause 11(3) proviso of the pension scheme. The court noted Supreme Court guidance in Sunil Kumar B. but no contribution had been paid on higher salaries and no option filed; it directed the competent authority to lawfully consider claims within five months without opining on merits.

What the court decided

AI extract

P.K. Pushpan Vs Union of India (Uoi) — Pension and Retirement Benefits | Kerala HC (2024)

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM

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PRESENT

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THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE GOPINATH P.

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THURSDAY, THE 14^TH DAY OF MARCH 2024 / 24TH PHALGUNA, 1945

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WP(C) NO. 5120 OF 2020

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PETITIONER/S:

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1 P.K. PUSHPAN AGED 65 YEARS CHAKKALA VEEDU, THANDIRIKKAL P.O., MUPPATHADAM, ERNAKULAM, PF A/C.NO.KR/KCH/0002743/000/0000189, P.P.O.NO.KR/KCH/00088820.

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2 K.K.CHANDRAN,

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KUNNAPPILLY MANA, PULIYANAM P.O., ANGAMALY, ERNAKULAM, PF A/C.NO.KR/KCH/0002743/000/0000186, P.P.O.NO.KR/KCH/00111883.

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3 MADHUSOODENAN NAIR.V, LEKSHMY NIVAS, MUPPATHADOM P.O., ERNAKULAM, PF A/C NO.KR/KCH/0002743/000/0000273,

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P.P.O.NO.KR/KCH/00101276.

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4 AZEEZ P.V., MUTHIRAKKALA VEEDU, PUTHUVAL PARAMBU, ERAMAM, MUPPATHADAM P.O., ERNAKULAM, PF A/C.NO.KR/KCH/002743/000/0000283, P.P.O.NO.KR/KCH/00101036.

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5 MUHAMMED SHAREEF, AZIZ MANZIL, KUMARANALLOOR P.O., KOTTAYAM, PF A/C NO.KR/KCH/0002743/000/0000314, P.P.O.NO.KR/KCH/00102433.

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6 M.K.HASAINAR,

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MANAKKEPARAMBIL HOUSE, VATTEKKUNNAM, EDAPPALLY NORTH P.O., ERNAKULAM, PF A/C.NO.KR/KCH/0002743/000/0000239, P.P.O.NO.KR/KCH/00092970.

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7 MAJEED K.M., KAINAKKAL HOUSE, THANDIRICKAL ROAD, MUPPATHADAM P.O., ERNAKULAM, PF A/C NO.KR/KCH/0002743/000/0000209, P.P.O.NO.KR/KCH/00105193.

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W.P (C) No.5120/2020

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8 DERAR T.E., KARINGANAM, KODATH, THANDIRIKAL, MUPPATHADAM, ERNAKULAM, PF A/C NO.KR/KCH/0002743/000/0000234, P.P.O.NO.KR/KCH/00090178.

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9 ABDUL HAMEED K.M., KATTIPARAMBIL HOUSE, MUPPATHADAM P.O., MILLUPADY, ERNAKULAM, PF A/C NO.KR/KCH/0002743/000/0000275, P.P.O.NO.KR/KCH/00107341.

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10 JAMAL T.I., THALIYATH HOUSE, MUPPATHADOM, ALUVA, ERNAKULAM, PF A/C NO.KR/KCH/0002743/000/0000312, P.P.O.NO.KR/KCH/00104223.

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11 MOHANAN T.R, THANDIRIKKAL COLONY, MUPPATHADAM P.O., ALUVA, ERNAKULAM, PF A/C NO.KR/KCH/0002743/000/0000281, UAN.NO.100230062024.

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12 MUHAMMED SALI P.A., PATHUVANA HOUSE, KAYANTIKKARA, MUPPATHADAM, ERNAKULAM, PF A/C NO.KR/KCH/0002743/000/0000240, P.P.O.NO.KR/KCH/00109746.

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BY ADVS.

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P.N.MOHANAN SRI.C.P.SABARI SRI.H.MAHADEVAN SMT.AMRUTHA SURESH

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RESPONDENT/S:

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1 UNION OF INDIA (UOI), REPRESENTED BY THE SECRETARY TO GOVT. OF INDIA, MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND DEPARTMENT OF EMPLOYMENT, NEW DELHI-110001.

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2 REGIONAL PROVIDENT FUND COMMISSIONER, EMPLOYEES PROVIDENT FUND ORGANISATION (EPFO), BHAVISHANIDHI BHAVAN, PATTOM PALACE, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, PIN-695004.

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W.P (C) No.5120/2020

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3 ASSISTANT PROVIDENT FUND COMMISSIONER, SUB REGIONAL OFFICER, EMPLOYEES PROVIDENT FUND ORGANISATION (EPFO), BHAVISHANIDHI BHAVAN, KALOOR, ERNAKULAM-682017.

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4 EMPLOYEES PROVIDENT FUND TRUSTEE, REPRESENTED BY MANAGING TRUSTEE, EMPLOYEES PROVIDENT FUND OFFICE, BHAVISHYA NIDHI BHAVAN, WAZIRPUR, NEW DELHI-110052.

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5 PROVIDENT FUND COMMISSIONER-1 (PENSION), BHAVISHYA NITHI BHAVAN, 14-BHIKAJI CAMA PALACE, NEW DELHI-110066.

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6 PERIYAR CHEMICAL, MANAGING DIRECTOR, BINANIPURAM, EDAYAR, ALUVA, ERNAKULAM-683502.

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BY ADVS. SRI.S.SUJIN, SC NITA N.S

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OTHER PRESENT:

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SRI. S. MANU, DSGI

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THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 14.03.2024, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:

W.P (C) No.5120/2020

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J U D G M E N T

The petitioners have approached this court seeking the following

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reliefs:-

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“(i) Issue a Writ of Mandamus or any appropriate writ, order or direction, directing the second, third and sixth respondents to collect pension contribution towards the E.P.F Pension Scheme of the petitioners on the basis of actual salary drawn by them, in terms of proviso to Cl.11(3) of the pension scheme, from the date of joining the pension Scheme.

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(ii) Declare that petitioners are entitled to get pension contribution towards the E.P.F Pension Scheme of the petitioners on the basis of actual salary drawn by them, in terms of proviso to Cl.11(3) of the pension scheme, from the date of joining the pension Scheme as declared in the Ext. P4 Judgment.”

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When this matter is taken up for consideration today it is not disputed before me that the issue stands covered by the judgment of the Supreme Court in The Employees Provident Fund Organization and another. v. Sunil Kumar B. & Others; 2022 (6) KLT 234 (SC) .

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The learned Standing Counsel appearing for the Provident Fund Organisation submitted that this is a case where no contribution has been paid on the higher salary either by the employer or by the employee and therefore the petitioners may not be entitled to any higher pension. It is also pointed out that no option has been filed in the matter.

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Taking into consideration of the above submission, this writ petition will stand disposed of directing the competent authority to consider the claim of the petitioners in accordance with the law and keeping in mind

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W.P (C) No.5120/2020

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the directions issued by the Supreme Court in Sunil Kumar (supra).

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I make it clear that I have not expressed any opinion on the merits of

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the claim raised by the petitioners. A decision shall be taken within a period

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of 5 months from the date of receipt of a certified copy of this judgment.

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Sd/- GOPINATH P. JUDGE

AMG

W.P (C) No.5120/2020

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APPENDIX OF WP(C) 5120/2020

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PETITIONER EXHIBITS

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EXHIBIT	P1 A TRUE COPY OF THE	JUDGMENT DATED 04.11.2011 IN
	WP(C)NO.6643/2007.

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EXHIBIT	P2 A TRUE COPY OF THE JUDGMENT DATED 31.03.2016 IN SLP NO.7074/2014.
EXHIBIT	P3 TRUE COPY OF THE PROCEEDINGS DATED 20.02.2007 ISSUED BY THE SECOND RESPONDENT.
EXHIBIT	P4 A TRUE COPY OF THE JUDGMENT DATED 12.10.2018 IN W.P.
	(C)NO.13120/2015 AS REPORTED IN ILR 2019(1)KER 614.

P.K. Pushpan v. Union of India (Uoi)

Case brief

What is this about?

What the court decided

P.K. Pushpan v. Union of India (Uoi)

Case brief

What is this about?

What the court decided

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