Form J - Under the gratuity act - Total period of service means from date of Joining to Date of death?

Under the Gratuity Act - if an employee expires, his Nominee has to make an application for payment of gratuity & has to submit form J & in that Form J, there is a state of the total period of service of the employee to be filled.
1. Total period of Service including Future service (i.e. till retirement).
or
2. Total period of service means from date of Joining to Date of death
which is correct...
If Employee nominated more than one nominee weather 2 separate forms (form J) to be collected or not.

The end date has to be the retirement date or the date of death, whichever is earlier. If the employee has expired immediately after retirement before the claim of gratuity is settled, the nominees can claim gratuity till retirement. Both the nominees can sign in one form or even in separate forms, it doesn't matter.