PUNJAB NATIONAL BANK Vs. VENUGOPALAN

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Respondents 1 to 3 in W.P.(C) No. 14581 of 2019 have preferred this appeal challenging the judgment of a learned single Judge dtd. 23/2/2021, whereby the writ petition was disposed of directing the appellants to release the Fixed Deposit amount retained by the 1st appellant Bank to the first respondent/writ petitioner on his demand. It was also made clear that the appellants would be at liberty to insist for an indemnity bond executed by the writ petitioner as a condition for releasing the Fixed Deposit.

(2.) Brief material facts for the disposal of the appeal are as follows:

(3.) According to the writ petitioner, when he approached the first appellant Bank for releasing the pension amount, the Circle Head of the Bank-second appellant, as per his communication dtd. 6/7/2018, directed the writ petitioner that an amount of Rs.3,96,601.00 shall have to be retained in the Bank in the form of Fixed Deposit with a lien marked in favour of the Bank, in connection with the execution of an attachment order issued by the Assistant Provident Fund Commissioner, Regional Office, Kozhikode under Sec. 8F of the Employees Provident Fund and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952 ('EPF Act, 1952' for short) directing the first appellant to recover a total amount of Rs.3,96,601.00, being the arrears due to be paid by the third respondent in the appeal namely one P. Aboo, Proprietor, PG Medical Trust Hospital, Nilambur, towards contribution of Employees Provident Fund, evident from Exhibit P2 .