J U D G M E N T

The petitioners 1 to 5 who are retired employees and petitioners 6 to 15 who are serving employees of the 5^th respondent have filed this writ petition seeking the following reliefs;

“(i) To issue a Writ of Certiorari or any other Writ or Order calling for the records leading to Exhibit P2 and quash to that extend of it COURT OF rejecting the joint option submitted by petitioners 1,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,12,13,& 14 and Orders issued to the 2nd, 11th and 15th petitioners while exhibit P3, P4 & P5 respectively and quash the same;

(ii). To issue a Writ of Mandamus or any other Writ or Order directing the 2nd and 3rd respondents to accept petitioners online joint option and allow the enhanced pension.

(iii). To Declare that the Exhibit P2,P3,P4 & P5 are issued in violations of the statutory provision16A of EPS 1995 and 14B of Employees Provident Fund and Miscellaneous Provision Act

1952.”

2. The learned counsel appearing for the respondent Employees Provident Fund Organization would submit that in order to calculate the entitlement of the petitioners for higher pension, the details of bulk payment made by the employer, amounting to Rs.40,03,150/- and 13,12,563/- [for the period f