Full Judgment
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT: THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE K.VINOD CHANDRAN MONDAY,THE30H DAY OF MARCH20159TH CHAITHRA, 1937 WP(C).No. 10243 of 2015 (E) ---------------------------- PETITIONERS : ----------------- 1. C.SUKUMARAN, AGED60YEARS, S/O.LATE K. KRISHNAN NAIR, ANASWARA, NEAR DISTRICT AYURVEDA HOSPITAL, PADANNAKKAD P.O., KASARGOD - 671328.
2. K.K. PRABHAKARAN, KUNNATHVALAPPIL HOUSE, KANDAKUTTY,VARADIYAM, AVANUR P.O. (VIA) MUNDUR, TRICHUR - 680541.
3. T.P.JANARDHANAN, S/O. ANANDAN T.P.,TAPASYA, CHALA12ANDY, THOTTADA P.O., EDAKKAD, KANNUR - 670007.
4. K.BABU, S/O.KUNJU PANICKER, EDAYATHU KIZHAKKATHIL, KANJAVALLY P.O., KOLLAM - 691602.
5. K. NARAYANAN, S/O.M. GOVINDAN NAIR, KUNNAVIL HOUSE, MUTHIYALAM, KOROM P.O., PAYANNUR - 670307 6. M.RAVINDRAN, S/O.LATE M. KANNAN, MANDALA HOUSE, (VALSALYAM) KAVUMBHAGAM P.O., THALASSERRY - 670110.
7. V.K.GEETHA, W/O.SADANANDAN P.V., SANGEETH, TALAP KANNUR - 670002.
8. N. NALINI, DEVARAGAM, KULAMKADAVU ROAD, MUZHAPPILANGAD KANNUR - 670662.
9. K.K. HEMALATHA, D/O.KUNHIKRISHNAN NAMBIAR, KRISHNA KRIPA, MAMBARAM POST, KANNUR - 670074.
10. K.KARUNAKARAN NAIR, S/O. N. RAGHAVAN NAIR, PRANAVAM, CHERUKKAVIL, PARAMBIL P.O. (VIA) MARIKUNNU, KOZHIKODE - 673012 11. K.C. POULOSE, KALARIKKAPARAMBIL HOUSE, IRIMPANAM P.O., TRIPUNITHURA, ERNAKULAM - 682309.
12. V. MOHANDAS, S/O. V.KRISHNAN, VETEKARAN PARAMBIL HOUSE, THEKKUMURY P.O., (VIA) KARALMANNA, PALAKKAD - 679506. WP(C).No. 10243 of 2015 (E) 13. A. KARUNAKARAN, S/O. P. GOVINDAN, PRANAVAM, KANNAMKULAM, (NEAR GEETHANJALI SCHOOL) P.O. CHERUVATHUR, KASARAGOD - 670313.
14. G. KRISHNANKUTTY, S/O. N. GOPALAN NAIR, MANNOOR HOUSE, SOORANAD NADUVIL, ANAYADI (POST) , KOLLAM - 690561.
15. K.KORAN, S/O.P.K.KUBHIRAMAN, KAKKAMANI HOUSE, KOOVERY,NJATTUVAYAL, KOTTAKKANAM P.O., KANNUR - 670 581.
16. A. NARAYANA NAIK, S/O. MALIZA NAIK ADKATHBAIL, KASARAGOD P.O., KASARAGOD - 670121.
17. K.NARAYANAN, S/O. RAMUNNI, POURNAMI, P.O., KANHILERY, VIA MATTANNUR, KANNUR - 670702.
18. K. RADHAKRISHNAN, S/O. GOVINDAN K.P., USHAS, NEAR KENOTHARA, PALLIKKARA, NEELEWARAM, KASARAGOD - 671 314.
19. K.S. MOHANDAS, S/O.P. SIVADASAN, KULANGARA HOUSE, JNRA235 JAWAHAR JUNCTION, PATTATHANAM, KOLLAM - 671 021.
20. M. ARUMUGHAM, S/O. MARIAPPAN CHETIYAR A- 60, SREE NANDANAM,AKSHARA NAGARKADAMKODE, KARINGARAPALLYPOST, PALAKKAD21 MATHEW JOHN, S/O. SRI. JOHN, PULLENKUNNEL HOUSE, PARAKKADAVU KOLARI P.O., THODUPUZHA, IDUKKI - 685608.
22. E.V.DAMODARAN, S/O. KARIMBAN, PAMAPURAM, EDAKAYATH VALAPPIL P.O. PATANGADI, KANNUR - 670303.
23. K.V. RAGHAVAN, S/O. SHANKARA VARRIYAR, PUTHEN WARRIAM, P.O. ,MULLURIKKARA, THRISSUR - 680583.
24. M.I. GOPI, S/O. M.K.ITTY, MANGALASSERY, MUNDAPPILLY, SOUHRUDA -131 KONNAMKUDY ROAD, ONNAM MILE, PERUMBVOR, ERNAKULAM - 683542.
25. M. BALASUBRAMANIAM, S/O. MADHAVAN NAIR, SANJEEVANI HOUSE, PANG SOUTH P.O., KOLATHUR (VIA) MALAPPURAM - 679338.
26. K.R.SUMOLE, W/O. RAJU P.K., POORATHUM KALAYIL HOUSE, KURUMULLOOR, KOTTAYAM - 686632.
27. RADHAKRISHNAN P.A. S/O. T.V. KUNHIRAMA KURUP ATHIRA, MUKUNDAN MASTER ROAD, NELLUNNI, MATTANNUR P.O. KANNUR - 670 702.
28. RAJESH T.T. S/O. T.P.KIRSHNAN, KRISHNA VILLA, P.O. PALLIKKUNNU, KANNUR - 670004. WP(C).No. 10243 of 2015 (E) 29. M.SURESHKUMAR, S/O.T. GOVINDAN NAIR, MATHRUCHAYA, PUTHIYARA P.O., KOZHIKKODE - 673004.
30. C. MUKUNDAN, S/O. C. MUKUNDAN, MANJEERAM, PARAKKADAV ANJAMPEEDIKA, KANNUR - 670331.
31. K.V.BHASKARAN, S/O. T. NARAYANAN, WEAVERS STREET, P.O. KARIVELLUR, KANNUR - 670521.
32. K. BALACHNDRAN, S/O. GOVINDA PODUVAL, SREEVALSAM, PARANTHATTA HOUSE, NEAR SS TEMPLE, PAYYANNUR P.O., KANNUR - 670307.
33. N. CHANDRAN, S/O. KUNHIRAMAN K.V.CHANDRAYALAYAM, P.O. KADAMBUR, VIA EDAKKAD, KANNUR - 670 663.
34. K. THAMBAN NAIR, S/O. KRISHNAN NAIR M. KEETHOL HOUSE, P.O. KANHANGAD SOUTH, KASARAGOD - 671 631. BY ADVS.SRI.TITUS MANI SRI.BINNY THOMAS SRI.P.A.JACOB RESPONDENTS : ---------------------- 1. THE REGIONAL PROVIDENT FUND COMMISSIONER (PENSION) EMPLOYEES PROVIDENT FUND ORGANISATION, REGIONAL OFFICE, 'BHAVISHYANIDHI BHAVAN' PATTOM, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - 695004.
2. THE ASSISTANT PROVIDENT FUND COMMISSIONER, EMPLOYEES' PROVIDENT FUND ORGANISATION (EPFO), SUB - REGIONAL OFFICE, VK COMPLEX, FORT ROAD, KANNUR -670001.
3. THE REGIONAL AGRO INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT CO-OPERATIVE OF KERALA LTD. (RAIDCO KERALA LTD), SPCA ROAD, KANNUR - 670 002. BY SMT.T.N.GIRIJA, SC, THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON3003-2015, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: bp WP(C).No. 10243 of 2015 (E) APPENDIX PETITIONER'S EXHIBITS : P1: COPY OF THE ACQUITTANCE REGISTER (RELEVANT PAGE OF THE1T PETITIONER FOR THE MONTH OF MAY2012. P2: COPY OF CIRULAR NO. PENSION/MISC/2015 P3: COPY OF JUDGMENT
DT411/2011 IN WPC66432007. P4: COPY OF LETTER K/KNR/PENSION/2012 DT38/2012 ADDRESSED TO THE1T PETITIONER. P5: COPY OF JUDGMENT
DT71/2015 OF THIS HON'BLE COURT IN WPC449OF2015 RESPONDENT'S EXHIBITS : NIL. //TRUE COPY// P.A. TO JUDGE bp K. VINOD CHANDRAN, J.
===================== W.P.(C) No.10243 of 2015 - E ====================== Dated this the 30th day of March, 2015
JUDGMENT
I have heard the learned counsel appearing for the petitioners, the learned Standing Counsel appearing for the respondents 1 and 2 and the learned Standing Counsel appearing for the 3rd 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 done. W.P.(C) No.10243 of 2015 - E23. 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 Court has by judgment in W.P.(C) Nos. 6643 & 9929 of 2007, dated 04.11.2011, held that the cut-off date W.P.(C) No.10243 of 2015 - E3prescribed 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 law. Needless to say the interest accrued in the Provident Fund Account to that extent also will stand transferred to the Pension Account. W.P.(C) No.10243 of 2015 - E46. 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