Authority: High Court of Chhattisgarh at Bilaspur

Order Date: 20.07.2026

Case Overview

  • Parties: Appellant – C.L. Suman, a 73‑year‑old resident of Raipur; Respondents – Employees Provident Fund Organization (through Commissioner, Regional Office, Raipur), Chhattisgarh State Co‑Operative Dairy Federation (through Managing Director, Durg), and Additional Central Provident Fund Commissioner (MPCG) Employees Provident Fund Organisation, Bhopal.
  • Nature of Proceeding: Writ appeal (WA No.571 of 2026) challenging the order dated 15.04.2026 passed by the learned Single Judge in WPS No.7997/2024, which dismissed the appellant’s original writ petition concerning pension benefits under the Employees' Pension Scheme, 1995.
  • Background: The appellant retired before 01‑09‑2014 and later exercised an option in 2018 to claim higher pension benefits. The Single Judge held that, per the Explanation to Paragraph 2(ix) of the Scheme and the amendment effective 01‑09‑2014, such retirees are not entitled to the higher pension, leading to dismissal of the petition.
  • Legal Precedent Cited: The Court referenced its own judgment dated 23.06.2026 in WA No.516/2026 (R.K. Chalisgaonkar vs. Employees Provident Fund Organization & Others), which affirmed that retirees prior to 01‑09‑2014 cannot claim benefits introduced by the 2014 amendment unless the option was exercised before retirement.
  • Reasoning: The Court observed that the Single Judge’s order was reasoned and free of palpable infirmity or perversity. Since the facts mirrored those in WA No.516/2026, no fresh view was warranted.

Final Outcome

  • The writ appeal WA No.571/2026 is dismissed, adopting the reasoning and order of WA No.516/2026 dated 23.06.2026. The appellant’s claim for higher pension benefits is rejected.

Topics: Employees Provident Fund, Pension Scheme, Court Judgment