Kerala High Court
Santhosh A.B vs Union Of India on 17 August, 2020
Author: A.M.Badar
Bench: A.M.Badar
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM
PRESENT
THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE A.M.BADAR
MONDAY, THE 17TH DAY OF AUGUST 2020 / 26TH SRAVANA, 1942
WP(C).No.36422 OF 2017(C)
PETITIONERS:
1 SANTHOSH A.B
CHARGE HAND, FOREST INDUSTRIES (TRAVANCORE) LIMITED,
THAIKATTUKARA P.O., ALUVA-683106.
2 SAJU MATHEW
BANDSAW OPERATOR, FOREST INDUSTRIES (TRAVANCORE)
LIMITED, THAIKATTUKARA P.O., ALUVA-683106.
3 SURESHKUMAR M.G.
PURCHASE CO-ORDINATOR, FOREST INDUSTRIES (TRAVANCORE)
LIMITED, THAIKATTUKARA P.O., ALUVA-683106.
4 LAWRENCE M.A.
MARKER GRADE-I, FOREST INDUSTRIES (TRAVANCORE)
LIMITED, THAIKATTUKARA P.O., ALUVA-683106.
5 SANU K.P.
WORK CO-ORDINATOR GRADE-I, FOREST INDUSTRIES
(TRAVANCORE) LIMITED, THAIKATTUKARA P.O., ALUVA-
683106.
6 BAIJU T.P.
SENIOR MANAGER (PROJECTS), FOREST INDUSTRIES
(TRAVANCORE) LIMITED, THAIKATTUKARA P.O., ALUVA-
683106.
7 MYTHEEN P.M.
OPERATOR GRADE-II, FOREST INDUSTRIES (TRAVANCORE)
LIMITED, THAIKATTUKARA P.O., ALUVA-683106.
8 REMESAN M.R.
OPERATOR GRADE-II, FOREST INDUSTRIES (TRAVANCORE)
LIMITED, THAIKATTUKARA P.O., ALUVA-683106.
9 BABURAJ M.G.
OPERATOR GRADE-II, FOREST INDUSTRIES (TRAVANCORE)
LIMITED, THAIKATTUKARA P.O., ALUVA-683106.
10 SUDHAKARAN D.
OPERATOR GRADE-II, FOREST INDUSTRIES (TRAVANCORE)
LIMITED, THAIKATTUKARA P.O., ALUVA-683106.
WP(C).No.36422 OF 2017(C)
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11 JOY M.G.
SUPERVISOR GRADE-II, FOREST INDUSTRIES (TRAVANCORE)
LIMITED, THAIKATTUKARA P.O., ALUVA-683106.
12 MUHAMMED SHAFI P.M.
SUPERVISOR GRADE-II, FOREST INDUSTRIES (TRAVANCORE)
LIMITED, THAIKATTUKARA P.O., ALUVA-683106.
13 BEERAN M.M.
OPERATOR GRADE-II, FOREST INDUSTRIES (TRAVANCORE)
LIMITED, THAIKATTUKARA P.O., ALUVA-683106.
14 HASSANKUTTY K.V.
OPERATOR GRADE-II, FOREST INDUSTRIES (TRAVANCORE)
LIMITED, THAIKATTUKARA P.O., ALUVA-683106.
15 ANIRUDHAN N.K.
CARPENTER GRADE-I, FOREST INDUSTRIES (TRAVANCORE)
LIMITED, THAIKATTUKARA P.O., ALUVA-683106.
16 SURESHAN P.P.
OPERATOR GRADE-I, FOREST INDUSTRIES (TRAVANCORE)
LIMITED, THAIKATTUKARA P.O., ALUVA-683106.
17 PRASAD V.P.
OPERATOR GRADE-II, FOREST INDUSTRIES (TRAVANCORE)
LIMITED, THAIKATTUKARA P.O., ALUVA-683106.
18 SAINUDHEEN E.S.
OPERATOR GRADE-II, FOREST INDUSTRIES (TRAVANCORE)
LIMITED, THAIKATTUKARA P.O., ALUVA-683106.
19 RAJESH T.S.
SUPERVISOR GRADE-II, FOREST INDUSTRIES (TRAVANCORE)
LIMITED, THAIKATTUKARA P.O., ALUVA-683106.
20 HAMSA K.S.
CARPENTER GRADE-I, FOREST INDUSTRIES (TRAVANCORE)
LIMITED, THAIKATTUKARA P.O., ALUVA-683106.
21 BABU M.V.
OPERATOR GRADE-II, FOREST INDUSTRIES (TRAVANCORE)
LIMITED, THAIKATTUKARA P.O., ALUVA-683106.
22 SINDHU C.N.
CARPENTER GRADE-I, FOREST INDUSTRIES (TRAVANCORE)
LIMITED, THAIKATTUKARA P.O., ALUVA-683106.
WP(C).No.36422 OF 2017(C)
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23 ANILKUMAR C.G.
CARPENTER GRADE-I, FOREST INDUSTRIES (TRAVANCORE)
LIMITED, THAIKATTUKARA P.O., ALUVA-683106.
24 VINOD A.R.
CARPENTER GRADE-I, FOREST INDUSTRIES (TRAVANCORE)
LIMITED, THAIKATTUKARA P.O., ALUVA-683106.
25 ABDUL GAFOOR A.V.
WORK CO-ORDINATOR GRADE-I, FOREST INDUSTRIES
(TRAVANCORE) LIMITED, THAIKATTUKARA P.O., ALUVA-
683106.
26 ASHRAF P.A.
UPHOLSTERY CO-ORDINATOR GRADE-II, FOREST INDUSTRIES
(TRAVANCORE) LIMITED, THAIKATTUKARA P.O., ALUVA-
683106.
27 GEORGE M.JOSEPH
OPERATOR GRADE-I, FOREST INDUSTRIES (TRAVANCORE)
LIMITED, THAIKATTUKARA P.O., ALUVA-683106.
28 NANI K.A.
TYPIST, FOREST INDUSTRIES (TRAVANCORE) LIMITED,
THAIKATTUKARA P.O., ALUVA-683106.
29 ANILKUMAR P.N.
WORK CO-ORDINATOR GRADE-I, FOREST INDUSTRIES
(TRAVANCORE) LIMITED, THAIKATTUKARA P.O., ALUVA-
683106.
30 KASIM N.A.
OPERATOR GRADE-II, FOREST INDUSTRIES (TRAVANCORE)
LIMITED, THAIKATTUKARA P.O., ALUVA-683106.
31 RAJESH P.P.
JUNIOR EXECUTIVE, FOREST INDUSTRIES (TRAVANCORE)
LIMITED, THAIKATTUKARA P.O., ALUVA-683106.
32 REHANA ISMAIL
SYSTEM CO-ORDINATOR GRADE-II, FOREST INDUSTRIES
(TRAVANCORE) LIMITED, THAIKATTUKARA P.O., ALUVA-
683106.
33 SHAJI P.P.
PLANNING CO-ORDINATOR, FOREST INDUSTRIES
(TRAVANCORE) LIMITED, THAIKATTUKARA P.O., ALUVA-
683106.
WP(C).No.36422 OF 2017(C)
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34 BINDU K.V.
SALES CO-ORDINATOR, FOREST INDUSTRIES (TRAVANCORE)
LIMITED, THAIKATTUKARA P.O., ALUVA-683106.
35 LATHIKADEVI K.N.
SYSTEM CO-ORDINATOR GRADE-II, FOREST INDUSTRIES
(TRAVANCORE) LIMITED, THAIKATTUKARA P.O., ALUVA-
683106.
36 YOUSUF K.A.
OPERATOR GRADE-II, FOREST INDUSTRIES (TRAVANCORE)
LIMITED, THAIKATTUKARA P.O., ALUVA-683106.
37 HANSREE A.
REGISTERED OFFICE CO-ORDINATOR, FOREST INDUSTRIES
(TRAVANCORE) LIMITED, THAIKATTUKARA P.O., ALUVA-
683106.
38 TENNY K.JOSEPH
OPERATOR GRADE-I, FOREST INDUSTRIES (TRAVANCORE)
LIMITED, THAIKATTUKARA P.O., ALUVA-683106.
39 ABOOBACKER P.A.
OPERATOR GRADE-II, FOREST INDUSTRIES (TRAVANCORE)
LIMITED, THAIKATTUKARA P.O., ALUVA-683106.
40 REMES V.
DESIGN CO-ORDINATOR GRADE-I, FOREST INDUSTRIES
(TRAVANCORE) LIMITED, THAIKATTUKARA P.O., ALUVA-
683106.
41 JAYAN C.B.
OPERATOR GRADE-II, FOREST INDUSTRIES (TRAVANCORE)
LIMITED, THAIKATTUKARA P.O., ALUVA-683106.
42 GIREESHKUMAR G.N.
SECURITY SERGEANT, FOREST INDUSTRIES (TRAVANCORE)
LIMITED, THAIKATTUKARA P.O., ALUVA-683106.
43 LATHA L.B.
CARPENTER GRADE-I, FOREST INDUSTRIES (TRAVANCORE)
LIMITED, THAIKATTUKARA P.O., ALUVA-683106.
44 JAFAR K.M.
WORK CO-ORDINATOR GRADE-II, FOREST INDUSTRIES
(TRAVANCORE) LIMITED, THAIKATTUKARA P.O., ALUVA-
683106.
45 ITTIERA P.V.
WP(C).No.36422 OF 2017(C)
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CARPENTER GRADE-I, FOREST INDUSTRIES (TRAVANCORE)
LIMITED, THAIKATTUKARA P.O., ALUVA-683106.
46 SHIBUKUMAR P.S.
MANAGER (SALES & MARKETING), FOREST INDUSTRIES
(TRAVANCORE) LIMITED, THAIKATTUKARA P.O., ALUVA-
683106.
47 OMANAKUTTAN PILLAI R.
FIELD OFFICER, FOREST INDUSTRIES (TRAVANCORE)
LIMITED, THAIKATTUKARA P.O., ALUVA-683106.
48 VIMALKUMAR K.S.
GENERAL HELPER (SKILLED), FOREST INDUSTRIES
(TRAVANCORE) LIMITED, THAIKATTUKARA P.O., ALUVA-
683106.
49 RAVEENDRAN K.
R & D CO-ORDINATOR, FOREST INDUSTRIES (TRAVANCORE)
LIMITED, THAIKATTUKARA P.O., ALUVA-683106.
50 RAVEENDRAN M.G.
CHIEF MECHANIC, FOREST INDUSTRIES (TRAVANCORE)
LIMITED, THAIKATTUKARA P.O., ALUVA-683106.
51 AALIYAR A.P.
OPERATOR GRADE-II, FOREST INDUSTRIES (TRAVANCORE)
LIMITED, THAIKATTUKARA P.O., ALUVA-683106.
52 SASI P.C.
WORK CO-ORDINATOR GRADE-II, FOREST INDUSTRIES
(TRAVANCORE) LIMITED, THAIKATTUKARA P.O., ALUVA-
683106.
53 VIJAYAN V.C.
JUNIOR EXECUTIVE, FOREST INDUSTRIES (TRAVANCORE)
LIMITED, THAIKATTUKARA P.O., ALUVA-683106.
54 BABU A.V.
CARPENTER GRADE-I, FOREST INDUSTRIES (TRAVANCORE)
LIMITED, THAIKATTUKARA P.O., ALUVA-683106.
55 SANITHA S.NAICK
ACCOUNTS CLERK, FOREST INDUSTRIES (TRAVANCORE)
LIMITED, THAIKATTUKARA P.O., ALUVA-683106.
56 REMYA A.NAIR
MANAGER (PLANNING & PRODUCTION), FOREST INDUSTRIES
(TRAVANCORE) LIMITED, THAIKATTUKARA P.O., ALUVA-
WP(C).No.36422 OF 2017(C)
6
683106.
57 KRISHNADAS K.S.
CHIEF STORE KEEPER, FOREST INDUSTRIES (TRAVANCORE)
LIMITED, THAIKATTUKARA P.O., ALUVA-683106.
58 CHANDRASEKHARAN P.B.
OPERATOR GRADE-I, FOREST INDUSTRIES (TRAVANCORE)
LIMITED, THAIKATTUKARA P.O., ALUVA-683106.
59 SUKU KUMAR G.
DRIVER GRADE-II, FOREST INDUSTRIES (TRAVANCORE)
LIMITED, THAIKATTUKARA P.O., ALUVA-683106.
60 SHAJI P.
DRIVER GRADE-II, FOREST INDUSTRIES (TRAVANCORE)
LIMITED, THAIKATTUKARA P.O., ALUVA-683106.
61 SAJITHA N.V.
ACCOUNTS CLERK, FOREST INDUSTRIES (TRAVANCORE)
LIMITED, THAIKATTUKARA P.O., ALUVA-683106.
62 THOMAS T.G.
CARPENTER GRADE-I, FOREST INDUSTRIES (TRAVANCORE)
LIMITED, THAIKATTUKARA P.O., ALUVA-683106.
63 MICHEAL P.A.
CARPENTER GRADE-I, FOREST INDUSTRIES (TRAVANCORE)
LIMITED, THAIKATTUKARA P.O., ALUVA-683106.
64 JALALUDHEEN V.A.
OPERATOR GRADE-II, FOREST INDUSTRIES (TRAVANCORE)
LIMITED, THAIKATTUKARA P.O., ALUVA-683106.
65 NOUSHAD C.K.
OPERATOR GRADE-II, FOREST INDUSTRIES (TRAVANCORE)
LIMITED, THAIKATTUKARA P.O., ALUVA-683106.
BY ADVS.
SRI.P.RAMAKRISHNAN
SRI.C.ANIL KUMAR
SMT.ASHA K.SHENOY
SRI.S.K.HARISH
SMT.PREETHI RAMAKRISHNAN (P-212)
SRI.PRATAP ABRAHAM VARGHESE
WP(C).No.36422 OF 2017(C)
7
RESPONDENTS:
1 UNION OF INDIA
REPRESENTED BY THE SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF LABOUR
AND EMPLOYMENT, GOVERNMENT OF INDIA, SHRAM SAKTHI
BHAVAN, RAFI MARGH, NEW DELHI-110001.
2 THE CENTRAL EMPLOYEES PROVIDENT FUND COMMISSIONER
EMPLOYEES PROVIDENT FUND ORGANIZATION,
BHAVISHYANIDHI BHAVAN, 14-BHIKHAJI CAMA PLACE, NEW
DELHI-110066.
3 THE REGIONAL PROVIDENT FUND COMMISSIONER
EMPLOYEES PROVIDENT FUND ORGANIZATION, SUB REGIONAL
OFFICE, BHAVISHYANIDHI BHAVAN, KALOOR, KOCHI-
682017.
4 FOREST INDUSTRIES TRAVANCORE LIMITED
THAIKATTUKARA P.O., ALUVA-683106, REPRESENTED BY
ITS MANAGING DIRECTOR.
R1 BY SMT.MAHESWARY.G., CGC
R1 BY ADV. SMT.MAHESWARY.G. CGC
R3 BY ADV. SRI.S.PRASANTH
THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING BEEN FINALLY HEARD ON
17.08.2020, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:
WP(C).No.36422 OF 2017(C)
8
JUDGMENT
Dated this the 17th day of August 2020 Petitioners are employees of the 4th respondent - The Forest Industries Travencore Limited, working in various cadres and they are covered under the Employee's Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952. They are members of the Employees Pension Scheme, 1995 framed under the Employee's Provident Fund and Miscellaneous provisions Act 1952. Their contribution along with employer's contribution to the Provident Fund is made on the basis of the actual salary without limiting the contribution on the basis of fixed salary of Rs.6500/- per month.
2. Petitioners are praying for following reliefs in this petition.
(a) Issue a writ of certiorari or any other appropriate writ or order, quashing and setting aside paragraph 4 (a), (b), (c) ii, (d) and 5 of GSR 609 (E) published as per notification dated 22/08/2014 in Gazette of India Extraordinary dated 22/08/2014 as ultravires and unconstitutional.
(b) Issue a writ of mandamus or any other appropriate writ or order, commanding the respondents to retain the petitioners in Employees Pension Scheme 1995 and confer to them all the benefits envisaged under the said Scheme without reference to the Employees Pension (Amendment) Scheme, 2014.
WP(C).No.36422 OF 2017(C) 9
(c) Hold that paragraph 11(1), 11(2) First proviso to Paragraph 11 (4) and proviso to Paragraph 12 of Employees Pension Scheme 1995 amended as per GSR 609(E) in Ext. P-4 is not enforceable under law.
(d) Issue a writ of mandamus or any other appropriate writ or order, directing respondents 2 and 3 to transfer 8.33% of employer's contribution made by the 4th respondent under Section 6 of the EPF & MP Act 1952 in respect of the petitioners to the Employees Pension Fund envisaged under Section 6A of the EPF and MP Act, without any Ceiling limit with effect from the date of making such contribution.
(e) Hold that the petitioners are entitled to have 8.33% of the employer's contribution made by the 4th respondent under Section 6 of the EPF and MP Act 1952 remitted to the employees pension fund created under Section 6A of the EPF & MP Act 1952 without any ceiling limit, with effect from the date of such contribution and for consequential payment of pension without any restrictions on pensionable salary.
(f) Hold that the petitioners are entitled to have 8.33% of the employer's contribution paid on the salary succeeding the statutory limit prescribed under proviso to paragraph 3 (2) and paragraph 11 (3) of the Employees Pension Scheme 1995 remitted to the pension fund and have pensionable salary based on such higher salary.
3. It is argued by the learned counsel for the petitioners that the subject matter is covered by judgments of the Hon'ble Division Bench of this Court in Sankaranarayanan N.S Vs. Union of India and others decided on 12/10/2018, P.Sasikumar and Others Vs. Union of India WP(C).No.36422 OF 2017(C) 10 [ILR 2019 (1) Kerala 614], and in WP(C) No. 22087/2015 (G. Krishnan Vs. Union of India & Others) decided on 12/10/2018, and also the judgments of the learned Single Judge of this Court in WP(c) No. 10401/2015, (Jayachandran.E & Others Vs. Union of India) decided on 31.03.2015, and in WP(c) NO. 20557/2019, (Balchandran K.K. and Others Vs. the Employee's Provident Fund Organization and Others) decided on 24.06.2020. It is reported that judgment of this Court in the matter of P.Sasikumar's case (supra) is already confirmed by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in the Special Leave Petition filed by the Employees' Provident Fund Organization. With this, the learned counsel for the petitioners submitted that, as the issue is already covered by several judgments of this Court which are also confirmed by the Hon'ble Apex Court, the instant petition needs to be allowed.
4. As against this, the learned Standing Counsel for the Employees' Provident Fund Organization submitted that the review petition has already been filed before the Hon'ble Supreme Court. The Government of India has also preferred an SLP and it is directed to be fixed for hearing along with the Revision Petition. With this, it is argued by the learned Standing Counsel that the petition deserves to be WP(C).No.36422 OF 2017(C) 11 dismissed.
5. I have carefully considered the submission advanced and also perused judgments of this Court cited above. I am of the considered opinion that the issue raised in the instant petition is squarely covered by the above cited judgments. As of now, there are concluded judgments on the issue involved in the instant petition. Therefore, respondents are duty bound to initiate action for re-determination of the pension in the light of directions given in the aforesaid decisions. In this view of the matter, the petition stands allowed. Concerned respondents are directed to release all benefits envisaged under the Employee's Pension Scheme, 1995 without reference to the Employee's Pension (Amendment) Scheme, 2014.
Respondents are directed to do the needful within a period of four months. However, the consequent action shall be subject to any proceedings pending before the Hon'ble Supreme Court. The instant petition is accordingly disposed of.
sd/-
A.M.BADAR Nsd //true copy// JUDGE PA to Judge WP(C).No.36422 OF 2017(C) 12 APPENDIX OF WP(C) 36422/2017 PETITIONER'S/S EXHIBITS:
EXHIBIT P1- TRUE COPY OF DETAILS CONCERNING THE PETITIONERS, INCLUDING THEIR INDIVIDUAL ACCOUNT NUMBERS ISSUED BY THE EMPLOYEES PROVIDENT FUND DEPARTMENT.
EXHIBIT P2- TRUE COPY OF CIRCULAR NO.PENSION/MISC/2005 DATED NIL, ISSUED FROM THE OFFICE OF THE 3RD RESPONDENT.
EXHIBIT P3- TRUE COPY OF JUDGMENT DATED 04/11/2011 IN WP.(C)NO.9929/2007.
EXHIBIT P4- TRUE COPY OF NOTIFICATION DATED 22/08/2014 PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE OF INDIA OF MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT.