New Delhi: The case filed by Employees Provident Fund Organisation(EPFO) challenging the Kerala High Court order favouring higher pensions against quantum salary has been referred to three-judge Bench on Tuesday.
In its interim ruling earlier, the Supreme Court had issued Stay on contempt proceedings against EPFO with regard to judgments on the topic given by various high courts including the Kerala High Court. That stay will remain valid, the apex court clarified in the ruling today. The decision for transfer to larger Bench came on court’s observation that, it would not be appropriate for a two-judge Bench to hear contention on a verdict which is delivered by a coordinate of two-judge Bench earlier.
The Kerala High Court ruled that higher pensions may be allowed on higher contributions to the scheme. The EPFO recently urged for the case to be heard on daily basis, arguing that the High Court verdict put the pension scheme into jeopardy.
The EPF Pension Scheme is currently worked for employees drawing up to Rs 15,000 per month. The Kerala High Court quashed the earlier ruling and the Rs 15,000 capping thereof. The verdict was endorsed by Supreme court too. The Labour Ministry and EPFO however challenged the ruling.
