Full Judgment
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT: THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE K.VINOD CHANDRAN WEDNESDAY, THE7H DAY OF JANUARY201517TH POUSHA, 1936 WP(C).No. 449 of 2015 (E) -------------------------- PETITIONER(S) : -------------------------- 1. K.KRISHNANKUTTY PANNAPARAMBU, VAYANATTUPURA, KADUKKAMKUNNAM P.O. PALAKKAD.
2. SWAMINATHAN A., MAMALA HOUSE, VIJAYA NAGAR, OLAVAKODE P.O. THANAVE, PALAKKAD.
3. K.P. RADHAKRISHNAN MECHERI HOUSE, SASTHAPURAM, KOTTAYI PALAKKAD.
4. K.N.KRISHNANKUTTY KUNDUMARAPURA, KANJIKODE, PALAKKAD-678 621.
5. C.K.RAJAN CHINKKANPURA HOUSE, KADUKKAMKUNNAM P.O., PALAKKAD.
6. V. MANIKKAN PALIYAMPADI HOUSE, THIRUVALATHUR, PALAKKAD.
7. A. RAGHAVAN PUVATHINGAL HOUSE, KADUMMAMKUNNAM P.O., PALAKKAD.
8. P.KRISHNAN VALIYAKKAD, PANDIPOTTA, ANAKKAL MALAMPUZHA, PALAKKAD.
9. A.K.HUSSAN KONNATH HOUSE, KANNODE, KANJIKODE PALAKKAD.
10. K.MOHAMMEDKUTTY NELLIKKAL HOUSE, SASTHA COLONY, MANTHAKKAD MALAMPUZHA, PALAKKAD. ...2/- WP(C).No. 449 of 2015 (E) -2- 11. E.UNNIKRISHNAN KULATHUR HOUSE, KUNIYANCHOLA, THADUKKASERY KERALASERY,PALAKKAD.
12. C.KERALA KUMARI KANJANAM, PANAYUR, ATHIKODE PALAKKAD.
13. C.SWAMINATHAN MANGOTTU HOUSE, SASTHA COLONY, MANTHAKKAD MALAMPUZHA, PALAKKAD.
14. ABDUL RAHIMAN M., VII-842, OPP. FANTASY PARK, GANDHI NAGAR MALAMPUZHA, PALAKKAD.
15. K.MANIKKAN SOWMYA NIVAS, MANTHAKKAD, MALAMPUZHA PALAKKAD.
16. V.K.T. MOHANDAS KAYANAT HOUSE, SRK NAGAR, PALAPPURAM PALAKKAD.
17. K.SUKUMARAN PK.CHALLA, EDUPUKULAM, KANJIKODE PALAKKAD-678 556.
18. MOHANDAS S., KANPILYKALAM, CHITTOOR.P.O., PALAKKAD.
19. V. KUTTAN10313, LAKSHAMVEEDU COLONY, MALAMPUZHA, PALAKKAD.
20. K.MOHANAN NANDANAM, CHEMMANKAD, KANNADI PALAKKAD.
21. K.VASU NJAVALINGAL HOUSE, THARUVAKURISHI, KANNADI PALAKKAD.
22. GOVINDHANKUTTY C., VRINDA SASTHA NAGAR, AKATHETHARA P.O., PALAKKAD.
23. A.SUNDARAN DILIP VIHAR, KADUKKAMKUNNAM P.O., PALAKKAD. ...3/- WP(C).No. 449 of 2015 (E) -3- 24. A.VASU THEYANKODE HOUSE, KANNANORE, COYALMANNAM PALAKKAD.
25. N.RAGHAVAN EACHANPURA, SASTHA COLONY, MALAMPUZHA.P.O. PALAKKAD.
26. M.VENUGOPALAN P-5 (A), PWD QUARTERS, MALAMPUZHA P.O., PALAKKAD.
27. K.SHANMUGHAN CHINGANPURA, KADUKKAMKUNNAM P.O., PALAKKAD.
28. P. NATARAJAN DURGA NAGAR, CHERAD, MALAMPUZHA P.O. PALAKKAD.
29. GANGADHARAN U. PALAKKAMKALAM, PUDUNAGARAM P.O., PALAKKAD.
30. P.RADHAKRISHNAN KIDAPPARAMBIL HOUSE, EAST NADA, PERUNGOTUKARA THRIPRAYAR, THRISSUR.
31. V.K. JOHANNAN VALUPPARAMBIL HOUSE, MANTHACADU, MALAMPUZHA PALAKKAD.
32. AJITHA G.PILLAI OTTAPANAKKAL HOUSE, ANAPARAMBIL SOUTH P.O., THALAVADI ALAPPUZHA.
33. C.KANDAMUTHU LAKSHMI NIVAS, ALAMKODE, OLAVAKKOD P.O. PALAKKAD.
34. T. MADHAVAN GEETHAMADHAVAM, ERAMTHODE, VALAMPOOR ANKADIPPURAM, PERINTHALMANNA, MALAPPURAM.
35. C.K.SREEKUMARAN SREESATHYAM HOUSE, CHRIKALLINMALE, IKKALPARAMBU PALAPPURAM P.O., OTTAPALAM, PALAKKAD.
36. C.S.MOHANAN LALU LEENA VIHAR, KSHB COLONY, KALLEPPULLY PALAKKAD. ...4/- WP(C).No. 449 of 2015 (E) -4- 37. P.J.JOSE PULIKKOTTIL HOUSE, KULAPARATHI, MALAMPUZHA PALAKKAD.
38. K.R.RAMACHANDRAN KALARIKKAL HOUSE, PUTHUR, PALAKKAD.
39. G.SIMPSION SUN VILLA, SAKTHI NAGAR, CHERAD MALAMPUZHA, PALAKKAD.
40. P. KRISHNANKUTTY PALLATH HOUSE, PERUMADIYOOR, PATTAMBI PALAKKAD.
41. ARUMUGHAN K.P., KANAKUPARAMBIL, MUNDOOR, PALAKKAD.
42. K.SANKARAN KALARIKKAL HOUSE, PUTHUR, PALAKKAD.
43. M.MURUGHAN THOTTAPURA HOUSE, AKATHETHARA P.O., PALAKKAD-678 008. BY ADV. SRI.P.N.MOHANAN RESPONDENT(S) : ---------------------------- 1. UNION OF INDIA (UOI) REPRESENTED BY THE SECRETARY TO GOVT. OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LABOUR & DEPARTMENT OF EMPLOYMENT NEW DELHI-110 001.
2. REGIONAL PROVIDENT FUND COMMISSIONER EMPLOYEES PROVIDENT FUND ORGANISATION (EPFO) BHAVISHANIDHI BHAVAN, PATTOM PALACE THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, PIN-695 004.
3. ASSISTANT PROVIDENT FUND COMMISSIONER SUB REGIONAL OFFICE EMPLOYEES PROVIDENT FUND ORGANISATION (EPFO) BHAVISHANIDHI BHAVAN, ERANJIPALAM, KOZHIKODE-673 006. ...5/- WP(C).No. 449 of 2015 (E) -5- 4. KERALA CO-OPERATIVE MILK MARKETING FEDERATION LTD. REPRESENTED BY ITS MANAGING DIRECTOR, MILMA BHAVAN PATTAM PALACE.P.O., THIRUVANANTHAPURAM-4. R1 BY ADV. SRI.N.NAGARESH, ASSISTANT SOLICITOR GENERAL OF INDIA R2 BY ADVS. SMT.T.N.GIRIJA, SC SMT.LATHA KRISHNAN, SC THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON0701-2015, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: Mn ...6/- WP(C).No. 449 of 2015 (E) ------------------------------------- APPENDIX PETITIONERS' EXHIBITS : ------------------------------------- EXT. P1- A TRUE COPY OF THE CIRCULAR NO.PENSION/MISL/2005 ISSUED BY THE SECOND RESPONDENT. EXT. P2- A TRUE COPY OF THE LETTER NO.KR/TVM/PEN.CELL(4) KMML.KR/10315/2007 DATED202.2007. EXT. P3- A TRUE COPY OF THE JUDGMENT
DATED411.2011 IN W.P[C] NO.6643/2007. EXT. P4- A TRUE COPY OF THE JUDGMENT
DATED53.2013 IN WRIT APPEAL NO.1137/2012. EXT. P5- A TRUE COPY OF THE JUDGMENT
DATED43.2014 IN W.P[C] NO.2059/2014. EXT. P6- A TRUE COPY OF THE JUDGMENT
DATED56.2014 IN W.P.[C] NO.8298/2014. EXT. P7- A TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER
DATED3110.2013 OF THE ASST. P.F.COMMISSIONER. RESPONDENT(S)' EXHIBITS : NIL ------------------------------------------------------------ //TRUE COPY// P.S. TO JUDGE Mn K. VINOD CHANDRAN, J.
===================== W.P.(C) No.449 of 2015 - E ====================== Dated this the 7th day of January, 2015
JUDGMENT
I have heard the learned counsel appearing for the petitioners, the learned Standing Counsel appearing for the respondents 2, and 3, the learned Assistant Solicitor General appearing for the 1st respondent and the learned Standing Counsel appearing for the 4th respondent.
2. The petitioners in the Writ Petition are the retired employees of the 4th respondent. Admittedly, the petitioners are covered under the Employees Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952 and the Employees Pension Scheme, 1995. The petitioners had salary above Rs.6500/-, and are stated to have exercised an option under Section 26(6) of the Act. However, the Provident Fund Organization disputes the exercise of joint option by the employer and the employee; and asserts that it has not been W.P.(C) No.449 of 2015 - E2done.
3. Be that as it may, it is admitted that the contribution to the Provident Fund being 12% of the total salary deducted as employees contribution and the 12% paid by the employer, were remitted to the Organization. As per the provisions of the Pension Scheme 8.33% of the contribution from the employer, is to be deducted and credited to the Pension Fund. However, in making such deduction, the Provident Fund Organization limited it to 8.33% of the maximum salary provided, ie., Rs.6500/-. The balance contribution made by the employer for the salary in excess of Rs.6,500/-, was fully retained in the Provident Fund Account itself.
4. The petitioners contend that such a retention was made by the Organization without reference to the statute. The cut-off date prescribed being 01.12.2004 is also against the statutory provisions and does not have any nexus with the object sought to be achieved, is the argument. This W.P.(C) No.449 of 2015 - E3Court has by judgment in W.P.(C) Nos. 6643 & 9929 of 2007, dated 04.11.2011, held that the cut-off date prescribed is without jurisdiction and that the Organization could not have retained the 8.33% of the employer's contribution, proportionate to the salary in excess of Rs.6,500/- in the Provident Fund Account and that it ought to have been credited to the Pension Scheme. The aforesaid judgment, of a learned Single Judge was also confirmed in appeal. The amounts, being 8.33% contribution in excess of the earlier prescribed limit of Rs. 6,500/- in any event, have been retained with the Provident Fund Organization and what would be required to comply, with the judgments of this Court, is only book adjustments.
5. Following the binding precedents, this writ petition is also disposed of directing that the 8.33% of the employer's contribution, proportionate to the salary of the employee, in excess of Rs.6,500/-, shall now be credited to the Pension Scheme and orders passed in accordance with W.P.(C) No.449 of 2015 - E4law. Needless to say the interest accrued in the Provident Fund Account to that extent also will stand transferred to the Pension Account.
6. The retired employees shall also submit joint applications, along with their employer wherever the same has not been done. The directions above noted shall be complied within three months from the date of receipt of a certified copy of this judgment. The writ petition is allowed. No costs. Sd/- K. VINOD CHANDRAN, JUDGE SB // true copy // P.A To Judge.