Dear Anonymous Friend,
I am trying to answer you differently.
As regards to EPF and gratuity:
Para 61 of EPF Scheme and Section 6 of POG Act deal with the procedure for nomination to respective funds. According to this, the right of the nominee is restricted i.e. in the case of an employee having no family, a nomination can be made in favor of any person. However, as soon as there is a member in the family, a nominee in favor of an outsider becomes void, and a fresh nomination in favor of any member in the family has to be made. According to the Supreme Court in Shipra Sengupta's appeal (1999), the right of the wife to get EPF is not destroyed due to the mother's nomination.
As regards to Insurance:
A nominee is a person whose name is written in the proposal form. However, the position of the nominee is settled now by the Supreme Court in Sarbati Devi v Usha Devi (AIR 1984 SC 346). According to this judgment, a mere nomination under Section 39 does not confer on the nominee any beneficial interest in the amount payable under the insurance policy on the death of the insured.