PF withdrawal

Combined job profile when same PF account transferred to new employee/s.

1. Withdrawal from PF is not taxable in the hands of the assessee if he has rendered service for a continuous period of 5 years. 
2. It is important to note in here that the criteria of 5 years cannot be for each employer because the very basic point in keeping the 5 year period for an employee not to withdraw his savings within a short span of time. Hence, 5 years. 
3. So, from that angle period of 5 years should be for your service and not for your employer. Hence, continuous service will also include current and former employers. 
4. The important point to be noted here is that it must be a continuous service without any interruption. 
5. In support of the above view rule 8 of part A of fourth schedule explanation for continuous service is read as follows " in computing the period of continuous service for the purposes of clause (i) or clause (ii) the period or periods for which such employee rendered continuous service under his former employer or employers aforesaid shall be included" 
6. So in your assessee's current employer and former employers together should be taken for the purpose of determining the continious period of 5 years. 
Please correct me if the above interpretation has an alternative view.