KODAIKANAL INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL Vs. REGIONAL PROVIDENT FUND COMMISSIONER

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioner challenges the order dtd. 20/12/2024 passed by the respondent under Sec. 17B of the Employees' Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952, whereby the petitioner has been called upon to pay a sum of Rs.52,53,047.00 towards belated remittance of provident fund accumulations.

(2.) The petitioner, an educational institution, was granted exemption under Sec. 17(1)(a) of the Act with effect from 1/8/1982. Subsequently, the petitioner, on its own volition, surrendered the exemption with effect from 1/6/2003, and was permitted to comply as an unexempted establishment by order dtd. 25/5/2023.

(3.) As per the said order, the petitioner was required to transfer the provident fund accumulations of its members within the stipulated time, namely, ten (10) days in the case of liquid cash and thirty (30) days in the case of securities. However, the petitioner belatedly transferred the amounts after liquidating its assets, which led to the initiation of proceedings under Sec. 17B of the Act. After affording an opportunity of hearing, the respondent passed the impugned order.