Mr. Arani Mukhopadhy v. Employee Provident Fund & Ors

Legal

W.P. No. 15262(W) of 2018
Calcutta High Court

Date 6th September 2019,
The Hon’ble Justice Shekhar B. Saraf

Jurisdiction

Application under Article 226 of Constitution for Non payment of Provident Fund and incorrect date of resignation on Pension Payment Order(PPO) Book maintained by Respondent Company.

Facts of the case

On 5th December 1995 show cause was issued by Financial Controller of Statesmen Ltd. Alleging the misconduct by the act of petitioner with Mr. Santosh Das. Company was dissatisfied from the reply of petitioner against the show cause, as a result an enquiry was commenced against them.
On 25 February, 1999 Enquiry Committee held petitioner guilty. Petitioner file a reply against the decision on Enquiry Committee on 29th March 1999.
On 16th April, 1999 company dismissed the petitioner from the office and thereafter moved an Application before first Industrial Tribunal under section 32(2)(b) of Industrial Dispute Act 1947 for seeking approval for the decision made on 16th April, 1999. The Tribunal thereafter on order dated 19th May 1999 rejected the decision.
After that the respondent filed a Writ Petition as W.P 1372 of 1999, praying before the court to quash the order dated 19th May 1999 by Industrial Tribunal.
On 25th April 2003, the judgement was passed by the court and court upheld the order and dismissed the Writ Petition filed by the respondent.
Respondent filed an appeal before the Division Bench of Court bearing APO No. 291 of 2003.
The Division Bench passed an order on 21st September 2006 and held that petitioner was willing to resign on 15th October 2006 and ordered respondent to pay the sum of 5,50,000 as full and final settlement to petitioner’s claim.
On 20th December, 2006 the court modified the decision held on 21st September as the amount payable to petitioner should be treated as retiral benefit.
On 23rd March 2007 the petitioner wrote a letter to General Manager Finance along with Provident Fund Commissioner’s office for settlement of his PF linked Pension Account.
On 13 August,2010 Assistant Provident Fund Commissioner inform respondent to submit all the necessary documents in respect of claim by petitioner.
On 7th February 2014, Assistant Provident Fund Commissioner wrote a letter to Director of Respondent company in respect of complaint by petitioner on Provident Fund deducted from 1998-99 to 15-10-2006 has not deposited in his PF Account. As an effect the petitioner has been deprived from benefit of pension.
On 22nd July Assistant PF commissioner wrote to Manager of the respondent company and enumerated that the claim of petitioner could not be settled because of the Date of leaving i.e. 15/10/16 instead of 02/04/1999 and reason of leaving service by defendant is retirement instead of dismissal.
On 16th February 2015 petitioner represent himself before Regional Provident Fund Commissioner. On 3rd February 2016, Assistant Provident Fund Commissioner wrote to Chairman and senior Vice-president of Respondent company to reply the claim contested by the petitioner.
1st January 2018 the Regional Provident Fund Commissioner wrote a letter to inform to petitioner that there is no concrete reply from respondent company sides as they approached no. of times.

Issue raised by the petitioner

He is denied from statutory dues under EPF and Miscellaneous Provision Act, 1952.
The amount of 5,50,000 which is received by him does not include the EPF amount.
He is receiving less pension because of the wrong date of retirement.

Case law cited by the court in the judgement

Bakshish Singh v. M/s Darshan Engineering Works & ors. 1994
In this case it was held that Gratuity with EPF and pension comes under retrials benefit. The court observed that the amount paid to petitioner in retiral benefit includes PF and court attained finality in respect of petitioner claim. And also observed that there was no need to mention Arcot Textile Mill case and Olga Tellis Mills Limited case by petitioner in the present appeal.
Olga Tellis & ors. V. Bombay Municipal Corporation & ors. 1985
Court in this case held that Right to get PF is a part of Article 21.
Arcot Textile Mills Limited V. Regional PF Commissioner & ors. 2013
Court in this case held that it is a statutory duty of the employer to make deposit that is due on a timely basic under EPF and Miscellaneous Provision Act, 1952.

In Otis Elevator Employees’ Union S. Reg v. Union of India, 2003
The court in this case discuss the term “retiral Benefit” and its relevance by enumerating that Retiral benefits have been common in government establishments. As per Industrial Dispute Act, compensation to be paid on termination of the service of an employee by way of retrenchment, om transfer or closure of undertaking. National Commission undertakings measured Labour-Social security based on human dignity and social justice.
The court cited Employee’ PF Scheme, 1952 and declared that enjoyment of PF and Pension by employees treated as retiral benefits.
The Supreme Court in Indian Council for Enviro-Legal Action V. Union of India & ors. 2011 SCC 161
In abovementioned case, the court discussed the entire issue of finality of judgement and declared that order on 20th December 2006 as a final Judgement. The court cited the maxim interest reipublicae ut sit finis litium which means that for a public good that there be an end to litigation after a long hierarchy of appeals.
The court presumed that controversy between the parties must come to an end by the decision of the court on 20th December 2006 and acquire finality. For that the court also dismissed the review petition, even the Curative petition.
M. Nahabhushana V. State of Karnataka 2011
In this case court held that doctrine of res judicata is a fundamental principle which sustains the rule of law in ensuring finality in litigation. The objective of this doctrine is to serve fair administration of justice and to prevent abuse of court.
The court observed that respondent company has made the payment to the writ petitioner according to the order dated 21st September 2006, which was accepted by the petitioner. The court also viewed that petitioner accepted the order dated 20th December 2006. Petitioner accepted the amount payable as a retiral benefits and hence attained finality. Since there is no appeal challenging these order the court viewed that the present writ petition is arising out of the facts and circumstances which has already been adjudicated by the court in the year 2006.

Decision of the Court

The court applied the doctrine of res judicata and constructive res judicata in this case. The court direct the respondent to correct the date of resignation from service of petitioner in Pension Payment Order (PPO) book maintained by Respondent company, according to the order dated 21st September 2006 i.e. 15 October 2006 and recalculate the amount of pension which the petitioner is entitled to receives according to the procedure established by law. The court direct the respondent to credit the actual due to petitioner within a period of 6 week from the date.
The court disposed the matter without any order as to cost.
For full judgement click here.

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