M/S GENERAL SECURITY AND INFORMATION SERVICE v. ASSISTANT PROVIDENT FUND COMMISSIONER SRO: SILIGURI AND ANR.

Delhi High Court · 28 Feb 2018 · 2018:DHC:1474
Vinod Goel
W.P (C) 1968/2018
2018:DHC:1474
administrative petition_dismissed

AI Summary

The Delhi High Court dismissed a writ petition challenging an EPF order for lack of territorial jurisdiction, directing the petitioner to approach the Calcutta High Court.

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W.P (C) 1968/2018
HIGH COURT OF DELHI
Date of
JUDGMENT
: 28.02.2018
W.P. (C) 1968/2018 & CM No.8106/2018
M/S GENERAL SECURITY AND INFORMATION SERVICE..... Petitioner
Through: Ms.Shrabani Chakrabarty, Advocate.
versus
ASSISTANT PROVIDENT FUND COMMISSIONER SRO:
SILIGURI AND ANR. ..... Respondents
Through: Mr.Satpal Singh, Advocate for R-1.
Mr.Sameer Agrawal, Advocate for R-2.
CORAM:
HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE VINOD GOEL VINOD GOEL, J. (Oral)

1. On an advance copy of petition having been served, Mr.Satpal Singh, Advocate appears for respondent no.1 and Mr.Sameer Agrawal, Advocate for respondent no.2.

2. By this writ petition, the petitioner has impugned the order dated 15.06.2015 passed by the Assistant Provident Fund Commissioner, Siliguri, West Bengal under Section 14-B and 7-Q of the Employees’ Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952 (in short ‘EPF Act’) assessing the damages at Rs.10,46,915/- and interest to the tune of Rs.8,27,260/- for the period from April, 1996 to February, 2014 against it. 2018:DHC:1474 W.P (C) 1968/2018

3. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the petitioner could not file appeal before the Appellate Tribunal under Section 7-I of the EPF Act as no Appellate Tribunal has been functioning in Calcutta since 15.06.2015. She submits that the petitioner has no other remedy available except to move to this Court in writ jurisdiction.

4. Admittedly, the impugned order dated 15.06.2015 has been passed by the Assistant Provident Fund Commissioner, SRO, Siliguri (State of Calcutta), which is impleaded as respondent No.1. The petitioner is a proprietary concern having its office in Siliguri (Darjeeling).

5. In the circumstances, this Court has no jurisdiction to entertain the petition and the petitioner, if so adviced, may approach the Calcutta High Court for redressal of its grievances, when no Appellate Tribunal has been functioning in the concerned jurisdiction.

6. The petition and application, being CM No. 8106/2018 are dismissed.

JUDGE FEBRUARY 28, 2018 “shailendra”