2025:KER:26568 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE MURALI PURUSHOTHAMAN THURSDAY, THE 27TH DAY OF MARCH 2025 / 6TH CHAITHRA, 1947 WP(C) NO. 12325 OF 2025 PETITIONERS: 1 SADASIVAN T.P. AGED 65 YEARS S/O. BHASKARAN PILLAI, RESIDING AT POKKOLIL HOUSE, SIVAPRASADAM, PANANGAD, KOCHI, PIN – 682 506. 2 SANTHOSH K AGED 57 YEARS S/O. KRISHNAN NAIR M.N, RESIDING AT MANAYACHUVATTIL HOUSE, OORAMANA P.O, RAMAMANGALAM, ERNAKULAM, PIN – 686 763. 3 P.N. SREEKRISHNAN AGED 68 YEARS S/O. P.M. NARAYNAN NAMBUDIRI, RESIDING AT PANIKKATHU MANA, KOTTAPPURAM, TRIPUNITHURA, KOCHI, PIN – 682 301. 4 AUGUSTINE VARGHESE AGED 68 YEARS S/O. VARKEY VARGHESE, RESIDING AT ERATTIYANICKAL HOUSE, KUMARAPURAM P.O, PALLIKKARA, ALUVA, PIN – 683 565. 5 BALAKRISHNAN C AGED 64 YEARS S/O. KUMARAN, RESIDING AT CHELOTH HOUSE, ERUVELI (W), CHOTTANIKKARA P.O, ERNAKULAM, PIN – 682 312. 6 RADHAKRISHNAN N AGED 62 YEARS S/O. NARAYANA PILLAI, RESIDING AT PUSHYARAGAM MALIACKAL, KANAYANNUR, CHOTTANIKKARA P.O, ERNAKULAM DISTRICT, PIN – 682 312. 7 M.P. SOMASUNDARAN M.P AGED 65 YEARS S/O. PRABHAKARA MENON, RESIDING AT MANNOORPLAVUNGAL, THEKKU BHAGOM, TRIPUNITHURA, KOCHI, PIN – 682 301. 2025:KER:26568 WP(C) NO.12325 OF 2025 2 8 THOMAS P.C AGED 65 YEARS S/O. CHERIYAN, RESIDING AT PERUMBAYIL HOUSE, KANNANKULANGARA, TRIPUNITHURA P.O, KOCHI, PIN – 682 301. 9 YOHANNAN V.S AGED 63 YEARS S/O. SCARIYA V.J, RESIDING AT VATTAPPARAMBIL, VENGOLA P.O, COMPANIPPADY, P.P. ROAD, PERUMBAVOOR, PIN – 683 556. 10 VARGHESE T.P AGED 65 YEARS S/O. POULOSE T.P, RESIDING AT THOZHUPADAN HOUSE, KANDANAD P.O, ERNAKULAM, PIN – 682 305. 11 SANANDANAN K.S AGED 61 YEARS S/O. SATHYADASAN PILAI, RESIDING AT KALAPURACKAL HOUSE, ELOOR NORTH, UDYOGAMANDAL P.O, KOCHI, PIN – 683 501. 12 C.J. MATHEW AGED 63 YEARS S/O. C.T. JACOB, RESIDING AT CHEMBAKASSERIYIL, HILL TOP HAVEN, RAHATH LANE, SIRAJ NAGAR, ONODIMOOLA, N.A.D P.O, ALUVA, PIN – 683 563. 13 SUBRAMANIAN R AGED 64 YEARS S/O. RAMAN, VAISHNAVAM, RESIDING AT PAZHANGATTU PARAMBU, KAITHARAM P.O, N. PARUR, ERNAKULAM DISTRICT, PIN – 683 519. 14 PADMAKUMAR K.M AGED 61 YEARS S/O. MADHAVAN PILLAI, RESIDING AT LATHA MANDIRAM, KADUNGALLUR, UDYOGAMANDAL P.O, KOCHI, PIN – 683 501. 15 JOB MATHEW A AGED 62 YEARS S/O. A.K. MATHEW, RESIDING AT NIVEDITA, ST. ANTONY'S ROAD, THYKOODAM, VYTTILA, KOCHI, PIN – 682 019. 2025:KER:26568 WP(C) NO.12325 OF 2025 3 16 N. MOHANAKUMAR AGED 63 YEARS S/O. N. NANOO, RESIDING AT MULLAMANGALATHU VEEDU, PERAYAM MULAVAM P.O, KOLLAM, PIN – 691 503. 17 V.S. SASINDRAN AGED 66 YEARS S/O. M.K. SIVARAMAN NAIR, RESIDING AT SANTHI, MALERIL HOUSE, IRIMPANAM P.O, ERNAKULAM DISTRICT, PIN – 682 309. 18 ROJI C. PAUL AGED 64 YEARS S/O. C.P. PAUL, RESIDING AT CHERUVATHOOR HOUSE, KOONAMTHAI, EDAPPALLY P.O, ERNAKULAM DISTRICT, PIN – 682 024. 19 C. RADHAKRISHNA PILLAI AGED 65 YEARS S/O. CHELLAPPAN PILLIAI R, RESIDING AT CHELLAM, 50/209-B, JAWAN CROSS ROAD, AIMS-PONEKKARA P.O, KOCHI, PIN – 682 041. 20 BASHEER T.A AGED 63 YEARS S/O. ABOOBACKER T.K, RESIDING AT THANDARIKKAL COLONY, MUPPATHADAM P.O, ALUVA, ERNAKULAM DISTRICT, PIN – 682 024. 21 A.G. MARY AGED 67 YEARS W/O. T.T. JOSEPH, RESIDING AT THAIPARMBIL HOUSE, EDAYAKUNNAM TEMPLE ROAD, SOUTH CHITTOOR, KOCHI, PIN – 682 027. 22 MOHANKUMAR V.K AGED 65 YEARS S/O. C.V. KRISHNANKUTTY NAIR, RESIDING AT RAGAM HOUSE, PANNIKUZHI, BANNARAKAVALA, PUTHENCRUS P.O, ERNAKULAM DISTRICT, PIN – 682 308. 23 M.K. AUGUSTINE AGED 64 YEARS S/O. KURIAN, RESIDING AT MANGATTUKATTIL HOUSE, CHUNANGAMVELY, ERUMATHALA P.O, ALUVA, PIN – 683 112. 2025:KER:26568 WP(C) NO.12325 OF 2025 4 24 DEVARAJAN B AGED 60 YEARS S/O. V. BALAKRISHNAN, RESIDING AT KADAMPATTU THARAYIL HOUSE, AIRAPURAM, VALAYANCHIRANGARA P.O, PERUMBAVOOR, ERNAKULAM DISTRICT, PIN – 683 556. 25 AVIRACHAN AGED 62 YEARS S/O. ULAHANNAN V.V, RESIDING AT VETTIYANKAL HOUSE, PUNNAKKAL P.O, VALAKOM, MUVATTUPUZHA, ERNAKULAM, PIN – 682 316. 26 JOSE T.P AGED 59 YEARS S/O. PETER T.J, RESIDING AT THOTTUNGAL HOUSE, P.F. ROAD, SOUTH KALOOR, KOCHI, PIN – 682 017. 27 N.M. PRABHAKARAN AGED 65 YEARS S/O. N.S. MADHAVAN, SAKTHI NIVAS, MARKET P.O, MUVATTUPUZHA, ERNAKULAM DISTRICT, PIN – 686 673. 28 ABRAHAM T.C AGED 60 YEARS S/O. T.J. CHACKO, RESIDING AT THADATHIL HOUSE, THAIKKATTUKARA P.O, ALUVA, PIN – 683 106. 29 ROSILY K.V AGED 63 YEARS W/O. JOSE MELBIN P.J, RESIDING AT PANDARAPARAMBIL, KONGORPILLY P.O, ERNAKULAM DISTRICT, PIN – 683 518. 30 N.B. REMADEVI AGED 66 YEARS D/O. T.K. BALAKRISHNAN NAIR, RESIDING AT NEDIYAMPARAMBATH, "SAYOOJYAM", PERUMPADANNA, N. PARUR, ERNAKULAM DISTRICT, PIN – 683 513. 31 MURALI V.S AGED 63 YEARS S/O. V.K. SADANANDAN, RESIDING AT VALLOORAKATHOOTTU HOUSE, KEEZHMAD, ERUMATHALA P.O, ALUVA, PIN – 683 112. 2025:KER:26568 WP(C) NO.12325 OF 2025 5 32 M.V. CHITHRALEKHA AGED 66 YEARS W/O. K.C. GOPALAKRISHNAN, RESIDING AT ELEMTHURUTHIL HOUSE, PERUMPADANNA, N. PARAVOOR, ERNAKULAM DISTRICT, PIN – 683 513. 33 M.G. GEEVARGHESE AGED 66 YEARS S/O. V. GEORGE, RESIDING AT MALAYIL HOUSE, CONVENT ROAD, MANJUMMEL, KOCHI, PIN – 683 501. 34 P.M. JOHNY AGED 66 YEARS S/O. MATHAI, RESIDING AT PALAMITTIL HOUSE, ELOOR, UDYOGAMANDAL P.O, KOCHI, PIN – 683 501. 35 V.K. ARAVINDAKSHAN AGED 65 YEARS S/O. V.K. KOCHAPPAN, RESIDING AT VATTATHARA HOUSE, NEAR AMBEDKAR STADIUM EAST, ERNAKULAM, PIN – 682 035. 36 P. RAGHUNATHAN AGED 65 YEARS S/O. N. PARAMESWARAN NAIR, RESIDING AT RAGASUDHA, NORTH GATE, VAIKOM, KOTTAYAM DISTRICT, PIN – 686 141. 37 DASAN M.K AGED 58 YEARS S/O. KRISHNAN, RESIDING AT MUTHUVAYALIL, MUTTOM, THAIKKATTUKARA P.O, ALUVA, KOCHI, PIN – 683 106. 38 NAZAR K.A AGED 62 YEARS S/O. ABOOBACKER KUTTY K.A, RESIDING AT KALATHIPARAMBIL, SURYA LANE, BEERANKUTTY ROAD, KOONAMTHAI, EDAPPALLY P.O, KOCHI, PIN – 682 024. 39 IVY JOHNY ZACHARIA AGED 63 YEARS W/O. JOHNY ZACHARIA, RESIDING AT ANTA RIVER VALLEY, APARTMENT NO.3H, MANJILIPADAM, EROOR WEST, TRIPUNITHURA, PIN – 682 306. 40 SANTHAKUMARI V.K AGED 67 YEARS W/O. VALSALAN K.K, RESIDING AT KOOVALAKKATTU HOUSE, CLRA-39, S.N. JUNCTION, TRIPUNITHURA, KOCHI, PIN – 682 301. 2025:KER:26568 WP(C) NO.12325 OF 2025 6 41 T. HARIDASAN AGED 64 YEARS S/O. VELAYUDHAN, RESIDING AT THAZHATHAYIL HOUSE, VALLIKUNNU P.O, MALAPPURAM DISTRICT, PIN – 673 314. 42 RAMAMOHANAN N AGED 64 YEARS S/O. V. GOPALAKRISHNAN, RESIDING AT THULASI, MEENADATHUR POST, TONALUR, TIRUR, MALAPPURAM DISTRICT, PIN – 676 307. 43 VISWANATHAN P AGED 68 YEARS S/O. SANKARAN NAIR, RESIDING AT RAJEEVAM, KULANGARATHODI, NALLUR, P.O FEROKE, KOZHIKODE DISTRICT, PIN – 673 631. 44 ALI P.P AGED 62 YEARS S/O. MUHAMMED, RESIDING AT KITCHANADATHIL HOUSE, KADUKATTUPARA, THENJIPPALAM, MALAPPURAM, PIN – 673 636. 45 JOY M.V AGED 61 YEARS S/O. VARGHESE M.T, RESIDING AT MARIYATHU HOUSE, KUMARAPURAM P.O, PALLIKKARA, ERNAKULAM DISTRICT, PIN – 683 565. 46 JOSEPH A.A AGED 62 YEARS S/O. ANTONY A.C, RESIDING AT AVITTOMPILLY HOUSE, EDAYAKKUNNAM, SOUTH CHITTOOR P.O, KOCHI, PIN – 682 027. 47 RAJAN B AGED 63 YEARS S/O. BHARATHAN C.K, RESIDING AT PARACKAL HOUSE, VALLIKKOD KOTTAYAM P.O, PATHANAMTHITTA DISTRICT, PIN – 689 656. 48 P.N. CHANDRAN AGED 62 YEARS S/O. P.K. NARAYANAN, RESIDING AT KUDIYIRIKKALPADAM HOUSE, CHANGAMPUZHA NAGAR P.O, KOCHI, PIN – 682 033. 2025:KER:26568 WP(C) NO.12325 OF 2025 7 49 KUNJUKUNJU K.M AGED 65 YEARS S/O. VARKEY MANNI, RESIDING AT KAZHAMKOTTAYIL, VELOORKARA, PUTHENCRUZ P.O, ERNAKULAM DISTRICT, PIN – 682 308. 50 SUDHAKARAN V.M AGED 62 YEARS S/O. MAATHU, RESIDING AT VATTAKKATT HOUSE, PIZHALA P.O, ERNAKULAM DISTRICT, PIN – 682 027. 51 ZAINUDHIN P.A AGED 62 YEARS S/O. K.A. ABOO, RESIDING AT 20/1887, B.P.A.Z.J. MANZIL, GURUNAGAR, KACHERIPPADY, PALLURUTHY, KOCHI, PIN – 682 006. 52 HAPPYRAJ C.S AGED 62 YEARS S/O. SUBBAYYAN, RESIDING AT CHATHANATTUHOUSE, MANJUMMAL, UDYOGAMANDAL P.O, KOCHI, PIN – 683 501. 53 P.M. JOB AGED 68 YEARS S/O. P.I. MATHEW, RESIDING AT PULIKOTTIL HOUSE, NO. 58/845, ANANTHAPURAM, KOMBARA, KOCHI, PIN – 682 018. 54 JOHNY V. KURIAN AGED 67 YEARS S/O. V.V. KURIAKOSE, RESIDING AT VELIYATHUKUZHI HOUSE, THIRUVAMKULAM P.O, ERNAKULAM DISTRICT, PIN – 682 305. 55 VENUGOPAL K.A AGED 61 YEARS S/O. APPU MENON K, RESIDING AT KALARICKAL HOUSE, VISHNUPURAM, CHERANELLORE, PIN – 682 034. 56 T.K. KOYAKUTTY AGED 64 YEARS S/O. ALI, RESIDING AT THEMMAYATH HOUSE, PALLILAMKARA, H.M.T COLONY P.O, KALAMASSERY, PIN – 683 503. 2025:KER:26568 WP(C) NO.12325 OF 2025 8 57 RAPHAEL T.A AGED 66 YEARS S/O. T.O. ANTHAPPAN, RESIDING AT THAIPARAMBIL HOUSE, POYSHA ROAD, THEKKADATH LANE, EDAPPALLY NORTH, AIMS-P.O, KOCHI, PIN – 682 041. 58 ANTONY K.P AGED 60 YEARS S/O. PATHROSE, RESIDING AT KADAPARAMBIL HOUSE, KPAZHANGANADU, KIZHAKKAMBALAM P.O, ERNAKULAM DISTRICT, PIN – 683 562. 59 THOMAS V.T AGED 61 YEARS S/O. V.V. THOMAS, RESIDING AT VARIYAMPURAM HOUSE, SOUTH VELLARAPPILLY P.O, ALUVA, PIN – 683 510. 60 RAMACHANDRAN K.V AGED 64 YEARS S/O. VISWANATHAN NAIR, RESIDING AT AISWARYA, KAITHARAM P.O, NORTH PARAVOOR, ERNAKULAM, PIN – 683 513. 61 K.V. PARAMESWARAN AGED 62 YEARS S/O. K.P. VASUDEVAN NAMBOOTHIRI, RESIDING AT KOKKARAMANA, VARIKKOLY P.O, PUTHENCRUZ (VIA), ERNAKULAM DISTRICT, PIN – 682 308. 62 MADHAVAN K.A AGED 61 YEARS S/O. AYYAPPAN, RESIDING AT KALIYATHIL HOUSE, MORAKKALA, KUMARAPURAM P.O, ERNAKULAM DISTRICT, PIN – 683 565. 63 PUSHPARAJAN P.P AGED 59 YEARS S/O. K. PARAMU PILLAI, RESIDING AT PUSHPAVILASOM, KARAKKAD P.O, CHENGANNUR, ALAPPUZHA DISTRICT, PIN – 689 504. 64 PRADEEP KUMAR K.P AGED 56 YEARS S/O. M.R. PARAMESWARAN, RESIDING AT RAGAMALIKA, KANNANKULANGARA, TRIPUNITHURA, KOCHI, PIN – 682 301. 2025:KER:26568 WP(C) NO.12325 OF 2025 9 65 VINCENT C.M AGED 62 YEARS S/O. C.D. MATHEW, RESIDING AT CHATHELY HOUSE, ASHRAMAM ROAD, POTTA P.O, CHALAKKUDY, PIN – 680 722. 66 NIBU B. KOIKKARAN AGED 39 YEARS S/O. BABU JOSEPH K, RESIDING AT KOIKKARAN PARAMBIL, CHERANELLORE P.O, KOCHI, PIN – 682 034. 67 REJITH MANAYAT AGED 39 YEARS S/O. RAVI M.R, RESIDING AT MANAYATH HOUSE, KUNNIL TEMPLE ROAD, WEST KADUNGALLUR P.O, ALUVA, PIN – 683 110. 68 MARSHAL T.A AGED 61 YEARS S/O. T.V. ANTONY, RESIDING AT THAIPARAMBIL HOUSE, ELOOR SOUTH, UDYOGAMANDAL P.O, KOCHI, PIN – 683 501. 69 GOPALAKRISHNAN K.V AGED 51 YEARS S/O. VISWAMBHARAN K.K, RESIDING AT KURUPPAMKANDATHIL, UDAYAMPEROOR P.O, THRIPUNITHURA, KOCHI, PIN – 682 307. 70 SASIDHARAN NAIR N AGED 64 YEARS S/O. G. NARAYANAN NAIR, RESIDING AT ANJANAM, THAREPARAMPIL LANE, S.N. JUNCTION, TRIPUNITHURA, PIN – 682 301. 71 V.K. KUTTAPPAN AGED 65 YEARS S/O. K.V. KALLUKURUMBAN, RESIDING AT POYYAPPARAMBIL HOUSE, MALIKAMPEEDIKA, ALANGAD P.O, ERNAKULAM DISTRICT, PIN – 683 511. 72 KALAISELVI K AGED 64 YEARS W/O. M. RAJAMANI, RESIDING AT VIKAS BHAWAN, H.NO.11, SANTHI NAGAR, WEST KADUNGALLOOR, ALUVA, PIN – 683 110. 2025:KER:26568 WP(C) NO.12325 OF 2025 10 73 TOMSON ANTONY AGED 65 YEARS S/O. DR. P.O. ANTONY, RESIDING AT MALIKAYIL, KATTADY NAGAR, UDAYAMPEROOR P.O, ERNAKULAM DISTRICT, PIN – 682 307. 74 K. SINNAKALAI AGED 68 YEARS S/O. K. KAMATCHI GOWDER, RESIDING AT PLOT NO.4, DAKSHIN GRAND LAYOUT, 14TH CROSS, RAJIV GANDHI NAGAR, MAIN ROAD, NAVATHI P.O., HOSUR, TAMILNADU, PIN – 635 109. 75 RAVICHANDRAN N AGED 65 YEARS S/O. NATARAJAN K.M, RESIDING AT EDAKKATHALATHU HOUSE, EDVAZHI NAGAR, NEAR FCT MARKET, UDYOGAMANDAL P.O, KOCHI, PIN – 683 501. 76 R. DANIEL MADHUKAR AGED 63 YEARS S/O. R. RAJIAH, RESIDING AT NORTH CRESCENT ROAD, T. NAGAR, CHENNAI, PIN – 600 017. 77 SUBHASHIS ROY AGED 60 YEARS S/O. SHYAMAL KUMAR ROY, RESIDING AT ISHANI APARTMENT, FLAT NO. 2B, 238-BANGUR AVENUE, BLCK-A, KOLKATA, PIN – 700 055. 78 B. RAM MOHAN RAO AGED 55 YEARS S/O. SATYANARAYANA RAO, RESIDING AT PLOT NO. 303, H.NO.9-1-65, KRISHNA PLAZA-III, OLD BOWENPALLY, SECUNDERABAD, PIN – 500 011. 79 Y. SURESHKUMAR REDDY AGED 57 YEARS S/O. Y. SHOWRI REDDY, RESIDING AT D.NO.3-3- 111/SR/401, FLAT NO.401, SIRI RESIDENCY, SIRIMALLENAGAR COLONY, HYDERGUDA, ATTAPUR, HYDERABAD, TELANGANA, PIN – 500 048. 80 V. SREEKUMAR AGED 61 YEARS S/O. N.VAMADEVAN, RESIDING AT 69-A, VIKAS, ARAFA NAGAR, CUSAT P.O, SOUTH KALAMASSERY, KOCHI, PIN – 682 022. 2025:KER:26568 WP(C) NO.12325 OF 2025 11 81 JOSE KURIAN AGED 58 YEARS S/O. KURIAN, RESIDING AT KOCHUPURACKAL, EZHAKKARANADU P.O, PUTHENCRUZ, ERNAKULAM, PIN – 682 308. 82 SUNILKUMAR V AGED 61 YEARS S/O. R. VASUDEVAN, RESIDING AT SUMASREE HOUSE, KARIKODE, MULANTHURUTHY P.O, ERNAKULAM DISTRICT, PIN – 682 314. 83 K.A. ABDUL SHAKOOR AGED 62 YEARS S/O. ABDULLA K.A, RESIDING AT AASHIYANA, ANJIKKATH LANE, NEAR VALLATHOL JUNCTION, THRIKKAKARA P.O, ERNAKULAM, PIN – 682 021. 84 V. BHOOTHALINGAM PILLAI AGED 66 YEARS S/O. CELAYUDHAN PILLAI, RESIDING AT LEKSHMI, 37/1345, AL-AMEEN ROAD, EDAPPALLY, KOCHI, PIN – 682 024. 85 BIJU R AGED 44 YEARS S/O. RAJAN S, RESIDING AT 311/3 FACT TOWNSHIP, AMBALAMEDU, ERNAKULAM, PIN – 682 303. 86 K.R. RAO AGED 54 YEARS S/O. K. KRISHNA MURTHY, RESIDING AT HOUSE NO 28, HAMSAGARU P.O, SAGAR TALUK, SHIMOGA, KARNATAKA, PIN – 577 401. BY ADVS. R.SANJITH C.S.SINDHU KRISHNAH RESPONDENTS: 1 UNION OF INDIA REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT, DEPARTMENT OF EMPLOYMENT, NEW DELHI, PIN – 110 001. 2025:KER:26568 WP(C) NO.12325 OF 2025 12 2 THE EMPLOYEES PROVIDENT FUND ORGANISATION REPRESENTED BY THE CHIEF PROVIDENT COMMISSIONER, BHAVISHYA NIDHI BHAVAN, 14, BHIKAJI CAMA PALACE, NEW DELHI, PIN – 110 066. 3 REGIONAL PROVIDENT FUND COMMISSIONER THE EMPLOYEES PROVIDENT FUND ORGANISATION, KALOOR, ERNAKULAM, PIN – 682 017. 4 THE FERTILISERS AND CHEMICALS TRAVANCORE LIMITED (FACT) UDYOGAMANDAL, ERNAKULAM, REPRESENTED BY ITS CHAIRMAN AND MANAGING DIRECTOR, PIN – 683 501. SRI. SAJEEV KUMAR K.GOPAL - SC SRI. M.GOPIKRISHNAN NAMBIAR - SC SRI. T.C KRISHNA – DSGI IN CHARGE THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 27.03.2025, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: 2025:KER:26568 WP(C) NO.12325 OF 2025 13 JUDGMENT The petitioners were employed under the 4th respondent establishment. They retired from service on various dates subsequent to 01.09.2014 . They have filed this writ petition for direction to the 3rd respondent to process the Joint Option Forms preferred by them in the light of the judgment of the Hon’ble Supreme Court in Employees Provident Fund Organisation and another v. Sunil Kumar B. and others [2022 (7) KHC 12], within a time frame to be fixed by this Court. The Hon’ble Supreme Court in the Employees Provident Fund Organisation and another (supra) held as follows:- “We accordingly hold and direct:- 2025:KER:26568 WP(C) NO.12325 OF 2025 14 (i) The provisions contained in the notification no. G.S.R. 609(E) dated 22nd August 2014 are legal and valid. So far as present members of the fund are concerned, we have read down certain provisions of the Scheme as applicable in their cases and we shall give our findings and directions on these provisions in the subsequent sub-paragraphs. (ii) Amendment to the pension Scheme brought about by the notification No.G.S.R. 609(E) dated 22nd August 2014 shall apply to the employees of the exempted establishments in the same manner as the employees of the regular establishments. Transfer of funds from the exempted establishments shall be in the manner as we have already directed. (iii) The employees who had exercised option under the proviso to paragraph 11(3) of the 1995 Scheme and continued to be in service as on 1st September 2014, will be guided by the amended provisions of paragraph 11(4) of the pension scheme. (iv) The members of the scheme, who did not exercise option, as contemplated in the proviso to paragraph 11(3) of the pension scheme (as it was before the 2014 Amendment) would be entitled to exercise option under paragraph 11(4) of the post amendment Scheme. Their right to exercise option before 1st September 2014 stands crystalised in the judgment of this Court in the case of R.C. Gupta 2025:KER:26568 WP(C) NO.12325 OF 2025 15 (supra). The scheme as it stood before 1st September 2014 did not provide for any cutoff date and thus those members shall be entitled to exercise option in terms of paragraph 11(4) of the Scheme, as it stands at present. Their exercise of option shall be in the nature of joint options covering pre-amended paragraph 11(3) as also the amended paragraph 11(4) of the pension Scheme. There was uncertainty as regards validity of the post amendment Scheme, which was quashed by the aforesaid judgments of the three High Courts. Thus, all the employees who did not exercise option but were entitled to do so but could not due to the interpretation on cut-off date by the authorities, ought to be given a further chance to exercise their option. Time to exercise option under paragraph 11(4) of the Scheme, under these circumstances, shall stand extended by a further period of four months. We are giving this direction in exercise of our jurisdiction under Article 142 of the Constitution of India. Rest of the requirements as per the amended provision shall be complied with. (v) The employees who had retired prior to 1st September 2014 without exercising any option under paragraph 11(3) of the preamendment Scheme have already exited from the membership thereof. They would not be entitled to the benefit 2025:KER:26568 WP(C) NO.12325 OF 2025 16 of this judgment. (vi) The employees who have retired before 1st September 2014 upon exercising option under paragraph 11(3) of the 1995 scheme shall be covered by the provisions of the paragraph 11(3) of the pension Scheme as it stood prior to the amendment of 2014. (vii) The requirement of the members to contribute at the rate of 1.16 per cent of their salary to the extent such salary exceeds ₹15,000/- per month as an additional contribution under the amended Scheme is held to be ultra vires the provisions of the 1952 Act. But for the reasons already explained above, we suspend operation of this part of our order for a period of six months. We do so to enable the authorities to make adjustments in the Scheme so that the additional contribution can be generated from some other legitimate source within the scope of the Act, which could include enhancing the rate of contribution of the employers. We are not speculating on what steps the authorities will take as it would be for the legislature or the framers of the Scheme to make necessary amendment. For the aforesaid period of six months or till such time any whichever is amendment is made, earlier, the employees' contribution shall be as stop gap measure. The said sum shall be adjustable on the basis of alteration to the Scheme that may be made. 2025:KER:26568 WP(C) NO.12325 OF 2025 17 (viii) We do not find any flaw in altering the basis for computation of pensionable salary. (ix) We agree with the view taken by the Division Bench in the case of R.C. Gupta (supra) so far as interpretation of the proviso to paragraph 11(3) (pre- amendment) pension scheme is concerned. The fund authorities shall implement the directives contained in the said judgment within a period of eight weeks, subject to our directions contained earlier in this paragraph. (x) The Contempt Petition (C) Nos.1917- 1918 of 2018 and Contempt Petition (C) Nos.619- 620 of 2019 in Civil Appeal Nos.10013-10014 of 2016 are disposed of in the above terms.” 2. In view of the judgment of the Hon’ble Supreme Court cited supra, the petitioners’ Joint Option Forms need to be processed by the 3rd respondent. The writ petition is therefore disposed of directing the 3rd respondent to process the Joint Option Forms preferred by the petitioners in accordance with the judgment of the Hon’ble 2025:KER:26568 WP(C) NO.12325 OF 2025 18 Supreme Court in Employees provident Fund Organisation and another (supra) within a period of three months from the date of receipt of a copy of this judgment. Sd/- MURALI PURUSHOTHAMAN JUDGE SPR 2025:KER:26568 WP(C) NO.12325 OF 2025 19 APPENDIX PETITIONER’ S EXHIBITS :- EXHIBIT P1 TRUE COPY OF THE CIRCULAR BEARING NO PENSION/2022/56259/16541 DATED 20/02/2023 ISSUED BY THE 2ND RESPONDENT. EXHIBIT P2 TRUE COPY OF THE JUDGMENT DATED 04.11.2022 IN EPFO & ANR. ETC. VS. SUNIL KUMAR B. & ORS., SLP (C) NO. 8658-8659 OF 2019. EXHIBIT P3 TRUE COPY OF THE DEMAND LETTER DATED 29/11/2023 ISSUED BY 3RD RESPONDENT. EXHIBIT P4 TRUE COPY OF THE JUDGMENT DATED 17/07/2024 IN W.P(C) 24205/2024 OF THE HONORABLE HIGH COURT OF KERALA. EXHIBIT P5 TRUE COPY OF THE NOTICE OF THE CENTRAL PROVIDENT FUND COMMISSIONER DATED 17/01/2025. RESPONDENT S EXHIBITS: - NIL.