JUDGMENT :

THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE DINESH KUMAR SINGH

Heard Mr R Sanjith learned Counsel for the petitioners, and Mr Sajeev Kumar K Gopal learned Standing Counsel for the Employees Provident Fund Organization.

Facts:

2. The petitioners, 16 in number, are retired employees of Kerala State Homeopathic Co-operative Pharmacy Limited, the 5th respondent. They have approached this Court impugning Ext.P3, whereby the 5th respondent’s request for making a higher contribution retrospectively to the pension fund in excess of the statutory limit has been declined. It has been further prayed that a mandamus be issued to respondents 1 to 4 to compute and communicate the deficiency on the part of the 5th respondent in making provident fund contribution on the respective actual salary of the petitioners including damages and interest, if any, and permit the 5th respondent to remit the deficient amount to the respective provident fund account of the petitioners.

3. The 5th respondent is a Co-operative Society registered under the Co-operative Societies Act 1969. This Society functions under the administrative control of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of Kerala. Society’s objec