Editorial – Mathrubhumi – September 28, 2020
Malayalam to English translation for EPS 95 Pensioners Information
Do not steal from the porridge bowl of pensioners in the evening of life. The Kerala High Court judgment of October 12, 2018 upheld by the Supreme Court will be fully implemented.....
Pension is a deferred payment and is a legitimate right of the working class. This has been emphasized by highest judiciary in the country and communicated to the government several times in the past. The Supreme Court has also severely criticized the Govt several times for their approach in scuttling the Pension Scheme implemented with contributions from the workers. In spite of that the Labor Ministry and the EPF Organization continues with their effort to deny the Pensioners benefits to the workers.
It is more than 10 years the affected have been fighting court cases for their just rights .The majority of them do not even get Rs 1000/-monthly pension. The PF Pension in many cases is less than the welfare Pension offered by State Govt in many places .The EPFO /Labor Ministry is trying to deny justice that has been given by Judiciary.
Vide judgment dated 12th October 1018 , The Kerala High Court Division Bench has declared that EPF contributing workers are entitled to Pension proportionate to their contribution and the 2014 amendment of EPFO curtailing their right is unlawful. The EPFO amendment of 1st September 2014 was limiting the max. salary at Rs 15000/-pm and denied further option for the workers in this regard. This amendment was brought in the context of several of the High court judgments have pointed out that such restriction on Cutoff date and also pension for a part of the salary is unfair.
In the context of EPFO refusing to implement the High Court orders the beneficiaries have approached the Court with Contempt petitions. In several cases the Court has given orders to pay higher pension with arrears .Though the High Court orders are applicable for the entire country, EPFO adopted a strange procedure of conceding the benefits to only such persons who preferred a contempt Petition.
Now they have stopped even that- going back to the old arguments they are denying the benefits. EPFO is insisting that those who have not made any option while in Service and did not make matching contributions cannot be given any option now. Their stand is that until the review Petition is decided only the old norms will prevail. Instructions have been passed on that those who have gone for contempt petition also need be given any increased benefit.
By this life has been made miserable for millions of PF members and retired employees The Central Govt. authorities must remember that a scheme that has been brought in for the welfare of the working class should not make the situation worse as pointed out by the Supreme Court earlier miserable. The authorities should not attempt to loot the pensioners at the fag end of their life. The Prime Minister should intervene personally to ensure that the Kerala high court judgement of 12th Oct 2018, okayed by Supreme Court, is implemented in totality.
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