Kerala High Court
Sudheer Kumar vs M/S.Terumo Penpol Private Limited on 20 March, 2020
Author: V.G.Arun
Bench: V.G.Arun
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM
PRESENT
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE V.G.ARUN
FRIDAY, THE 20TH DAY OF MARCH 2020 / 30TH PHALGUNA, 1941
WP(C).No.505 OF 2018(K)
PETITIONER/S:
1 SUDHEER KUMAR
AGED 47 YEARS
SR. TECHNICIAN(ELECTRICIAL), TERUMO PENPOL PRIVATE
LIMITED, BLOOD BAG FACTORY PULIYARKONAM P.O,
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM.
2 O.M.SAVITHRI
CHARGEMAN-I(ELECTRICIAL), TERUMO PENPOL PRIVATE
LIMITED, BLOOD BAG FACTORY PULIYARKONAM P.O,
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM.
3 L. SHEELA
CHARGEMAN-I(ELECTRICIAL), TERUMO PENPOL PRIVATE
LIMITED, BLOOD BAG FACTORY PULIYARKONAM P.O,
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM.
4 K.S. HARIKUMAR
CHARGEMAN-I (ELECTRICIAL), TERUMO PENPOL PRIVATE
LIMITED, BLOOD BAG FACTORY PULIYARKONAM P.O,
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM.
5 A.GOPA KUMAR
CHARGEMAN-I (ELECTRICIAL), TERUMO PENPOL PRIVATE
LIMITED, BLOOD BAG FACTORY PULIYARKONAM P.O,
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM.
6 K. SURESH BABU
CHARGEMAN-I (ELECTRICIAL), TERUMO PENPOL PRIVATE
LIMITED, BLOOD BAG FACTORY PULIYARKONAM P.O,
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM.
7 P.M. ABDUL KHADAR
CHARGEMAN-I (ELECTRICIAL), TERUMO PENPOL PRIVATE
LIMITED, BLOOD BAG FACTORY PULIYARKONAM P.O,
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM.
8 V.K. SREE KUMARAN NAIR
CHARGEMAN-I (ELECTRICIAL), TERUMO PENPOL PRIVATE
LIMITED, BLOOD BAG FACTORY PULIYARKONAM P.O,
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM.
WP(C).505/18 2
9 G. KRISHNAN NAIR
CHARGEMAN-I (ELECTRICIAL), TERUMO PENPOL PRIVATE
LIMITED, BLOOD BAG FACTORY PULIYARKONAM P.O,
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM.
10 P.V.SREE KUMAR
CHARGEMAN-I (ELECTRICIAL), TERUMO PENPOL PRIVATE
LIMITED, BLOOD BAG FACTORY PULIYARKONAM P.O,
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM.
11 GEORGE VARGHESE
CHARGEMAN, TERUMO PENPOL PRIVATE LIMITED, BLOOD BAG
FACTORY PULIYARKONAM P.O, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM.
12 J.S. SHAJUDEEN
CHARGEMAN-I (ELECTRICIAL), TERUMO PENPOL PRIVATE
LIMITED, BLOOD BAG FACTORY PULIYARKONAM P.O,
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM.
13 K. PRATHAPAN
SR. TECHNICIAN-II(ELECTRICIAL), TERUMO PENPOL
PRIVATE LIMITED, BLOOD BAG FACTORY PULIYARKONAM
P.O, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM.
14 M.ASOKA KUMAR
SR. TECHNICIAN-II(ELECTRICIAL), TERUMO PENPOL
PRIVATE LIMITED, BLOOD BAG FACTORY PULIYARKONAM
P.O, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM.
15 M.S. SOBHA KUMAR
SR. TECHNICIAN-II(ELECTRICIAL), TERUMO PENPOL
PRIVATE LIMITED, BLOOD BAG FACTORY PULIYARKONAM
P.O, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM.
16 THULASEEDHARAN
SR. TECHNICIAN-I(ELECTRICIAL), TERUMO PENPOL
PRIVATE LIMITED, BLOOD BAG FACTORY PULIYARKONAM
P.O, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM.
17 K.C.SASI KUMAR
SR. TECHNICIAN-II(ELECTRICIAL), TERUMO PENPOL
PRIVATE LIMITED, BLOOD BAG FACTORY PULIYARKONAM
P.O, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM.
18 B.SURESH KUMAR
SR. TECHNICIAN-I(ELECTRICIAL), TERUMO PENPOL
PRIVATE LIMITED, BLOOD BAG FACTORY PULIYARKONAM
P.O, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM.
19 B.SAJI KUMAR
WP(C).505/18 3
SR. TECHNICIAN-I(ELECTRICIAL), TERUMO PENPOL
PRIVATE LIMITED, BLOOD BAG FACTORY PULIYARKONAM
P.O, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM.
20 B.KISHORE KUMAR
SR. TECHNICIAN-I(ELECTRICIAL), TERUMO PENPOL
PRIVATE LIMITED, BLOOD BAG FACTORY PULIYARKONAM
P.O, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM.
21 M. ANIL KUMAR
SR. TECHNICIAN-I(ELECTRICIAL), TERUMO PENPOL
PRIVATE LIMITED, BLOOD BAG FACTORY PULIYARKONAM
P.O, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM.
22 K. ASOKAN
SR. TECHNICIAN TERUMO PENPOL PRIVATE LIMITED, BLOOD
BAG FACTORY PULIYARKONAM P.O, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM.
23 NIYAS. S
SR. TECHNICIAN, TERUMO PENPOL PRIVATE LIMITED,
BLOOD BAG FACTORY PULIYARKONAM P.O,
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM.
24 SREENATH K.S
SR. TECHNICIAN, TERUMO PENPOL PRIVATE LIMITED,
BLOOD BAG FACTORY PULIYARKONAM P.O,
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM.
25 AJAYACHANDRAN. C.A
SR. TECHNICIAN, TERUMO PENPOL PRIVATE LIMITED,
BLOOD BAG FACTORY PULIYARKONAM P.O,
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM.
26 BAIJU.S
SR. TECHNICIAN, TERUMO PENPOL PRIVATE LIMITED,
BLOOD BAG FACTORY PULIYARKONAM P.O,
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM.
27 DEEPESH. T.N
SR. TECHNICIAN, TERUMO PENPOL PRIVATE LIMITED,
BLOOD BAG FACTORY PULIYARKONAM P.O,
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM.
28 SUDHEESH KUMAR. S
SR. TECHNICIAN, TERUMO PENPOL PRIVATE LIMITED,
BLOOD BAG FACTORY PULIYARKONAM P.O,
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM.
29 SANTHOSH KUMAR. S
SR. TECHNICIAN, TERUMO PENPOL PRIVATE LIMITED,
BLOOD BAG FACTORY PULIYARKONAM P.O,
WP(C).505/18 4
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM.
30 ARUNNATH G.R
SR. TECHNICIAN, TERUMO PENPOL PRIVATE LIMITED,
BLOOD BAG FACTORY PULIYARKONAM P.O,
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM.
31 KRISHNA KUMAR P.S
SR. TECHNICIAN, TERUMO PENPOL PRIVATE LIMITED,
BLOOD BAG FACTORY PULIYARKONAM P.O,
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM.
32 ARUN SAKTHI. S
SR. TECHNICIAN, TERUMO PENPOL PRIVATE LIMITED,
BLOOD BAG FACTORY PULIYARKONAM P.O,
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM.
33 KIRAN M.G
SR. TECHNICIAN, TERUMO PENPOL PRIVATE LIMITED,
BLOOD BAG FACTORY PULIYARKONAM P.O,
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM.
34 SABU.G
SR. TECHNICIAN, TERUMO PENPOL PRIVATE LIMITED,
BLOOD BAG FACTORY PULIYARKONAM P.O,
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM.
35 MIDHUN M.S
SR. TECHNICIAN, TERUMO PENPOL PRIVATE LIMITED,
BLOOD BAG FACTORY PULIYARKONAM P.O,
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM.
36 VINI DAVID
SR. TECHNICIAN, TERUMO PENPOL PRIVATE LIMITED,
BLOOD BAG FACTORY PULIYARKONAM P.O,
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM.
37 ANISH BABU. V.K
SR. TECHNICIAN, TERUMO PENPOL PRIVATE LIMITED,
BLOOD BAG FACTORY PULIYARKONAM P.O,
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM.
38 RAJESH. S
SR. TECHNICIAN, TERUMO PENPOL PRIVATE LIMITED,
BLOOD BAG FACTORY PULIYARKONAM P.O,
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM.
39 DEEPAK M.S
SR. TECHNICIAN, TERUMO PENPOL PRIVATE LIMITED,
BLOOD BAG FACTORY PULIYARKONAM P.O,
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM.
WP(C).505/18 5
40 MURALI KRISHNAN A
SR. TECHNICIAN, TERUMO PENPOL PRIVATE LIMITED,
BLOOD BAG FACTORY PULIYARKONAM P.O,
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM.
41 GANESH .G.S
SR. TECHNICIAN, TERUMO PENPOL PRIVATE LIMITED,
BLOOD BAG FACTORY PULIYARKONAM P.O,
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM.
42 UMESH BABU B.U
SR. TECHNICIAN, TERUMO PENPOL PRIVATE LIMITED,
BLOOD BAG FACTORY PULIYARKONAM P.O,
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM.
43 S. AJITH KUMAR
SR. TECHNICIAN, TERUMO PENPOL PRIVATE LIMITED,
BLOOD BAG FACTORY PULIYARKONAM P.O,
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM.
44 KIRANKUMAR. R.S
SR. TECHNICIAN, TERUMO PENPOL PRIVATE LIMITED,
BLOOD BAG FACTORY PULIYARKONAM P.O,
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM.
45 C.M. JOSHY
SR. TECHNICIAN, TERUMO PENPOL PRIVATE LIMITED,
BLOOD BAG FACTORY PULIYARKONAM P.O,
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM.
BY ADV. SMT.A.K.PREETHA
RESPONDENT/S:
1 M/S.TERUMO PENPOL PRIVATE LIMITED
BLOOD BAG FACTORY PULIYARKONAM P.O,
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM,REPRESENTED BY ITS MANAGING
DIRECTOR-695 573.
2 UNION OF INDIA
REPRESENTED BY THE SECRETARY,MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND
EMPLOYMENT,GOVERNMENT OF INDIA,SHRAM SAKTHI
BHAVAN,RAFI MARGH, NEW DELHI-110 001.
3 THE CENTRAL EMPLOYEES PROVIDENT FUND COMMISSIONER
EMPLOYEES PROVIDENT FUND
ORGANIZATION,BHAVISHYANIDHI BHAVAN, 14-BHIKHAJI
CAMA PLACE,NEW DELHI-110 066.
WP(C).505/18 6
4 REGIONAL PROVIDENT FUND COMMISSIONER
EMPLOYEES PROVIDENT FUND ORGANIZATION,REGIONAL
OFFICE, BHAVISHYANIDHI BHAVAN,PATTOM,
THRIVUVANANTHAPURAM-695 004.
R1 BY ADV. SMT.O.M.SHALINA CGC
R2 BY ADV. SMT.O.M.SHALINA, CGC
OTHER PRESENT:
SC NITA N.S.;
ASG P.VIJAYAKUMAR
THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING BEEN FINALLY HEARD ON
20.03.2020, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:
WP(C).505/18 7
V.G.ARUN, J.
-----------------------------------------------
W.P(C).No. 505 of 2018
-----------------------------------------------
Dated this the 20th day of March, 2020
JUDGMENT
The petitioners are employees of the 1st respondent establishment and members of the Employees Provident Fund Scheme as well as the Employees' Pension Scheme constituted under the Employees Provident Fund and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952. The petitioners are remitting the provident fund contribution under the Act on their actual salary, without limiting it to the ceiling of Rs.6,500/- provided in the Act and the Scheme. The limit of contribution has now been enhanced to Rs.15,000/- as per Exhibit P3 notification. As per the amendment to paragraph 11(3), the maximum pensionable salary is Rs.15,000/-, but the provision for reckoning a higher pensionable salary, based on higher contribution, stands deleted. It is the contention of the petitioners that the petitioners are entitled to have 8.33% of the employees' contribution paid under Section 6 of the Act remitted to the pension fund without any ceiling limit and their pensionable salary reckoned based on such remittance. It is contended that paragraphs 11(1), 11(2) and 11(4) and the proviso thereto of the Pension Scheme as amended by GSR 609(E) and the deletion of proviso 8 to sub paragraph 3 of paragraph 11 as well as proviso to WP(C).505/18 8 paragraph 12(2) are ultra vires and liable to be struck down.
2. The challenge against the aforementioned provisions was upheld by a Division Bench of this Court in Sasikumar P. v. Union of India and others [ILR 2019(1) Ker. 614]. The matter has attained finality on the SLP filed by the Provident Fund Organisation against the Division Bench judgment being dismissed. The learned counsel submits that an identical prayer with respect to the employees of the same establishment was considered and allowed as per the judgment in W.P(C).No.1948 of 2018.
3. Heard the learned Standing Counsel for the Provident Fund Organisation also.
4. In view of the Division Bench judgment in Sasikumar's case (supra), and the judgment in W.P(C).No.1948 of 2018, the writ petition is allowed on the following terms:
i) Paragraph 4(a), (b), (c) ii, (d) and 5 of GSR.609(E) published as per notification dated 22.8.2014 in Gazette of India Extraordinary dated 22.8.2014 is set aside.
ii) All consequential orders and proceedings issued by the Provident Fund authorities/respondents on the basis of the impugned amendments shall also stand set aside.
iii) The various proceedings issued by the Employees WP(C).505/18 9 Provident Fund Organization, declining to grant opportunities to the petitioners to exercise a joint option along with other employees to remit contributions to the Employees Pension Scheme on the basis of the actual salaries drawn by them are set aside.
iv) The employees shall be entitled to exercise the option stipulated by paragraph 26 of the EPF Scheme without being restricted in doing so by the insistence on a date.
Sd/-
V.G.ARUN, JUDGE vgs20.3 WP(C).505/18 10 APPENDIX PETITIONER'S/S EXHIBITS:
EXHIBIT P1 TRUE COPY OF IRCULAR NO.PENSION/MISC/2005 DATED NIL, ISSUED FROM THE OFFICE OF THE 3RD RESPONDENT.
EXHIBIT P2 TRUE COPY OF JUDGMENT DATED 4.11.2011 IN WPC NO. 9929/2007.
EXHIBIT P3 TRUE COPY OF NOTIFICATIONS DATED 22/8/2014 PUBLISHED IN GAZETTE OF INDIA, MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT.