Can spouse be eliminated as pension nominee

Form E is pertaining to nominee declaration. So nominees only are eligible for P.F. CLAIMS. 

What is stated in the nomination form need not necessarily be legally valid. I know that years ago the position in law was that Provident Fund and Life insurance amount can go only to a wife irrespective of the nomination made by the husband. I do not know whether the same law is applicable in the reverse direction from wife to husband.

For every law, the why or justification is very important. The position with regard to PF mentioned by me above is for the following reasons. Young men start contributing to provident fund and take life insurance when they were still unmarried. Hence they nominate mother or sometimes father. In due course they get married.  But by default they do not change the nomination.