Karnataka

StateCommission

A/553/2017

The Asst. Provident Fund Commissioner - Complainant(s)

Versus

Anil Kumar - Opp.Party(s)

Nandita Haldipur

31 Jul 2023

ORDER

                                                                 Date of Filing : 27.02.2017

  Date of Disposal :31.07.2023

 

BEFORE THE KARNATAKA STATE CONSUMER DISPUTES REDRESSAL COMMISSION, BENGALURU (PRINCIPAL BENCH)

 

DATED:31.07.2023

 

PRESENT

 

HON’BLE Mr JUSTICE HULUVADI G RAMESH : PRESIDENT

 

 

APPEAL Nos.541/2017 to 561/2017

 

 

The Asst. Provident Fund Commissioner
Employees Provident Fund Organisation

Sub Regional Office,

Aland Road, No.97,

Behind Remand Home

Gulbarga.                                                                           Appellant

(By Mrs Nandita Haldipur, Advocate

(Appellant is same in all the Appeals)

 

             -Versus-

1.Appeal No.541/2017

   Mr Sharmoddin

   S/o Mr Abdulkareem
   Age 69 years,

   Plot No.38, Near Taj Kiran Store,

   Umar Colony,

   Azadpur Road,

   Gulbarga, Karnataka                                                 Respondent

   (By Mr Santhosh S Nagarale, Advocate)

 

2.Appeal No.542/2017

   Mr Channabasappa

   S/o Mr Sharanappa
   Age 72 years,

   R/o Halahalli,

   Tq: Bhalki Dist: Bidar                                                             Respondent 

                                                                            

3.Appeal No.543/2017

   Mr Basawaraj
   S/o Mr Sharanappa Kamaradagi

   Age 67 years,

   H.No.9/587/7/80,

   J.R. Nagar,

   Aland Road,

   Gulbarga-585103.

   (By Mr Santhosh S Nagarale, Advocate)                      Respondent 

4.Appeal No.544/2017

    Mr Sudhakar
    S/o Mr Govindarao Kulkarni

    Age 67 years,

    H.No.1-29/29,

    LIG 5 KHB Colony,

    Behind District Court,

    Gulbarga-585103

    (By Mr Santhosh S Nagarale, Advocate)                     Respondent 

 

 

5.Appeal No.545/2017

   Mr Kamshetty
   S/o Mr Manik Rao,

   Age 64 years,

   R/o Mahesh Nilaya,

   Defence Colony,

   Naubad Post,

   Bidar, Dist: Bidar

   (By Mr Santhosh S Nagarale, Advocate)                      Respondent 

 

 

6.Appeal No.546/2017

   Mr Laxman
   S/o Mr Revansiddappa Nilingi

   Age 64 years,

   C/o P.B. Desai,

   Darbar Galli,

   Vijayapur,

   (By Mr Santhosh S Nagarale, Advocate)                      Respondent 

 

 

7.Appeal No.547/2017

   Mr Baswaraj Swamy
   S/o Mr Sangayya Swamy,

   Age 67 years,

   H.No.9-5-594/1,

   Adarsh Colony,

   Chindri Road, Bidar

   (By Mr Santhosh S Nagarale, Advocate)                      Respondent 

 

 

8.Appeal No.548/2017

   Mr Krishna Kumar
   S/o Mr Narayanarao Auradkar

   Age 68 years,

   H.No.7-101-39/A,

   1st Floor, State Bank Colony,

   Nehru Gunj, Gulbarga-585 104.                                 Respondent 

 

 

9.Appeal No.549/2017

   Mr Irranna B Kodli

   S/o father name not known to

   the Appellant
   Age 64 years,

   R/o H.No.1-1495/G/1/1A,

   Mallikarjun Nilaya,

   Plot No.1/A,

   Godutai Nagar, Gulbarga.   

   (By Mr Santhosh S Nagarale, Advocate)                       Respondent 

 

10.Appeal No.550/2017

   Mr Ram Shetty
   S/o Mr Anneppa Malage

   Age 66 years,

   R/o H.No.17-4-177,

   Chanabasava Nilaya,

   Vishweshwarayya Colony,

   Bidar

   (By Mr Santhosh S Nagarale, Advocate)                      Respondent 

 

11.Appeal No.551/2017

    Mr G.Laxman
    S/o Mr Ghalappa

    Age 60 years,

    R/o H No.10-3-326,

    Pakala Chal,

    Near Subhash Circle,

    Bidar                                                                         Respondent 

 

12.Appeal No.552/2017

   Mr Azzimuddin .
   S/o Mr Abdul Kareem,

   Age 67 years,

   R/o H No.5-408/4M/A,

   Baitul Azeem Khaja Colony,

   Near Bibiraza College,

   Gulbarga

   (By Mr Santhosh S Nagarale, Advocate)                      Respondent 

 

13.Appeal No.553/2017

     Mr Anil Kumar .
     S/o Mr Sheshagiri Rao,

     Age 67 years

     R/o No.133,

     SBI Colony,

     Opp P & T Colony, Gulbarga                                      Respondent 

 

14.Appeal No.554/2017

      Mr Veerabasappa .
      S/o Mr Rayangouda Briadar

      Age 67 years,

      R/o Ganga Agro Sales,

      Bhamin Galli,

      Chincholli, Gulbarga

      (By Mr Santhosh S Nagarale, Advocate)                   Respondent 

 

15.Appeal No.555/2017

     Mr Adiveyya
     S/o Mr Shivayya Mathpathi,

     Age 64 years,

     Occ:Retd Employee,

     Treasury Colony Back Side,

     Nandi Colony,

     Takke Road,

     Vijayapura

     (By Mr Santhosh S Nagarale, Advocate)                    Respondent 

 

16.Appeal No.556/2017

     Mr Shivaraj
     S/o Mr Bheemarao Mahajan,

     Age 62 years,

     R/o Yallaing Colony,

     Navabag Bidar,

     Dist: Bidar

     (By Mr Santhosh S Nagarale, Advocate)                     Respondent 

 

17.Appeal No.557/2017

     Mr Shankar
     S/o Mr Hanumayya,

     Age 69 years,

     R/o Behind Ganesh Maidan,

     At Post Bidar                                                   Respondent 

 

18.Appeal No.558/2017

     Mr Md Hissammuddin .
     S/o Mr Md Azizuddin,

     Age 69 years,

     R/o H No.2-1-110,

     Tolum Siddique Sha,

     Opp Urdu Hall,

     Bidar-585 401

     (By Mr Santhosh S Nagarale, Advocate)                    Respondent 

 

19.Appeal No.559/2017

    Mr Prakash .
    S/o Mr Venkanna,

    Age 63 years,

    R/o H.No.10/262,

    Lower Lane Brahmpur,

    Gulbarga.                                                         Respondent 

 

20.Appeal No.560/2017

     Basavaraj
     S/o Kanteppa,

     Age 58 years,

     R/o Sangameshwar Colony,

     Chidri Road,

     Bidar District, Bidar

     (By Mr Santhosh S Nagarale, Advocate)                     Respondent 

 

21Appeal No.561/2017

    Mr G.S. Deshmukh .
    S/o Mr Sango Pandith,

    Age 65 years,

    R/o No.8-11-110/32 (old) Sangam,

    Raghavendra Colony,

    Bidar Dist, Bidar

    (By Mr Santhosh S Nagarale, Advocate)                     Respondent 

 

: COMMON ORDER :

 

Mr JUSTICE HULUVADI G RAMESH : PRESIDENT

 

01.     These Appeals are filed under Section 15 of Consumer Protection Act 1986 by the OP, aggrieved by the Order dated 25.01.2017 passed in Consumer Complaint Nos.102, 91, 92, 94, 95,  96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 112, 114 and 115/2015 respectively on the file of District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, Kalburgi (for short, the District Forum). Since the facts and law involved in all these cases being one and the same, they have been taken up together for consideration.

 

02.     This Commission heard the arguments of the Learned Counsel for the Appellant.  Inspite of service of notice on Respondent in Appeal Nos.542/2017, 548/2017, 551/2017 and 559/2017, none appeared for the Respondent, hence, arguments of Respondent in these Appeals is taken as heard.  In Appeal No.557/2017, there is no postal endorsement on the returned envelope on the Respondent, taking into consideration, the vintage of the case and the age of the Respondent, as a special case, the service of notice from this Commission on the Respondent in this case has been dispensed with to avoid further delay & inconvenience to the ageing  Respondent herein.  In rest of the Appeals neither the Respondents nor their counsels appeared before this Commission hence, their arguments is taken as heard.

 

03.     The District Forum after enquiring into the matter allowed the complaints in part and directed the OP to recalculate the pension payable to the Complainants in each complaint by giving weightage of two years and also extend minimum assured benefits both in respect of past and present service with effect from the date of retirement of each of the complainant along with arrears of pension with interest at the rate of 12% per annum. Also directed the OP to give annual relief as per Para 32 of EPS 1995 to all the complainants from the respective due date along with interest at the rate of 12% per annum.  Further directed the OP to pay Rs.3,000/- each to the Complainants in all the cases towards cost of the litigation expenses. 

04.     Aggrieved by this Order, OP is in Appeal interalia contending amongst other grounds contending that the District Forum passed its order without taking into consideration of the facts put forth in the statement of objection.  The District Forum failed to note that the minimum pension is only for aggregate pension and not independently for past service and pensionable service separately.   The District Forum failed to take into consideration that the Appellant has rightly calculated the pension to be paid to the Respondents.  Thus impugned order is arbitrary, illegal and same deserved to be set aside.

05.     Let us examine the details of service particulars of each of the Respondents/Complainants, as per the records in all these cases, which is as under:

Appeal No.	Complaint No.	Date of Birth	Date of entry into service	Date of retirement	Past service	Actual service	Age as on retirement
541/2017	102/2015	-	01.03.1973	15.10.2003	-	-	58
542/2017	91/2015	-	28.03.1976	30.06.2001	-	-	58
543/2016	92/2015	09.06.1948	01.02.1972	31.08.1999	22	3	58
544/2017	94/2015	01.06.1948		31.08.1999	18	4	58
545/2017	95/2015	14.08.1951	01.08.1974	10.10.2003	21	8	58
546/2017	96/2015	-	01.03.1987	31.05.2009	-	-	58
547/2017	97/2015	01.01.1950	01.10.1975	31.12.2003	20	8Y 1M 15D	58
548/2017	98/2015	20.06.1947	01.02.1972	31.08.1999	21	3Y 9M 15D	58
549/2017	99/2015	04.01.1948	01.10.1975	20.10.2003	20	7Y 11M 16D	58
550/2017	100/2015	01.01.1949	01.04.1974	15.07.2004	22	9	58
551/2017	101/2015	01.02.1955		01.02.2005	22	10	58
552/2017	103/2015	25.02.1948	01.02.1972	20.10.2003	24	7Y 11M 4 D	58
553/2017	104/2015	24.05.1948	01.02.1976	15.10.2003	20	7Y 10M 29D	58
554/2017	105/2015	05.07.1948	01.07.1976	15.10.2003	19	08	58
555/2017	106/2015	-	01.03.1976	15.09.2009	-		58
556/2017	107/2015	04.04.1953	01.07.1974	10.10.2003	21	07Y 11M 24D	58
557/2017	108/2015	01.07.1948	01.08.1974	10.10.2003	21	7Y 10M 24D	58
558/2017	109/2015	06.10.1946	01.02.1972	10.10.2003	24	7Y 9M 24D	58
559/2017	112/2015	15.06.1952	01.02.1974	15.10.2003	22	7Y 11M	58
560/2017	114/2015	01.12.1957	01.10.1976	10.10.2003	19	8	58
561/2017	115/2015	12.02.1950	01.02.1973	31.10.2003	23	7Y 11M 15D	58

 

Thus, it is observed from the contents of the above table, that except Complainant/Respondent herein in Appeal No.555/2017, the Complainants in all the Appeals have complied with the conditions as per Para 10(2) of EPS 1995, as it stood before 24.07.2009 and hence, they are eligible for weightage of two years.

Further Complainant/Respondent herein in Appeal No.555/2017 complied with both the condition as per Para 10(2) of EPS 1995, as it stood after 24.07.2009 and hence, he is also eligible for weightage of two years.

06.     With regard to the eligibility of entitled Monthly Pension it is observed that except Complainant/Respondent herein in Appeal Nos.546/2017 and 555/2017, rest of the Respondents/ Complainants have retired earlier to 15.06.2007 and hence, their entitled Monthly Pension will have to be re-calculated as per Para 12 of EPS 1995, as it stood before 15.06.2007. 

          Further the eligibility of Monthly Pension for the Complainants/Respondents herein in Appeal Nos. Nos.546/2017 and 555/2017 it is seen that both the Complainants have retired after 15.06.2007 and hence, their Monthly Pension will have to be re-calculated as per Para 12 of EPS 1995, as it stood after 15.06.2007.

 

07.     With regard to benefit claimed under Para 32 of the Scheme i.e., Annual Relief, it is only Central Government which can grant such reliefs and not the OP, as such, the same cannot be granted by the OP.

08.     Perused the Impugned Order, documents on record and grounds of Appeal, which reveals that the Complainants/Respondents herein were the member of Employees Provident Fund Organisation; contributed their contribution to the Employees Family Pension Scheme of 1971 and continued to contribute subsequently to the Employees Pension Scheme of 1995 also.  The main grievance of the complainants is that there is an error in fixation of their entitled monthly pension by the OP.

09.     On perusal of the Memo filed along with copy of Revised Pension Payment Order by the Appellant, it is observed that Appellant had revised the monthly pension by granting weightage of two years and paid arrears of pension to the respective Complainants/Respondents in all these cases belatedly, that too after Complainants/Respondents herein raised their respective complaints before the District Forum in the year 2015.  Thus the act of Appellant in not fixing the entitled monthly pension of the complainants in time definitely amounts to deficiency in service.  Under the circumstances, the Impugned Order passed by the District Forum necessarily needs to be held as right, in allowing the Complaints in part, which does not call for any interference. However, we are of the considered opinion that awarding of interest @ 12% p.a is slightly on the higher side and reducing the same to 8.25% p.a would meet the ends of justice. Accordingly, the Appeal Nos.541 to 561/2017 is allowed in part and consequently, the Impugned Order dated 25.01.2017 passed in Consumer Complaint Nos.102, 91, 92, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 112, 114 and 115/2015 respectively on the file of District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, Kalburgi is hereby modified only to the extent of interest awarded by it is concerned.  All the other directions to OP remain intact. The Appellant is directed to comply with this Order within 60 days from the date of this Order.

10.     The Statutory Deposit in all these Appeals is directed to be transferred to the District Commission for further needful.

11.     Keep the Original of this Order in Appeal No.541/2017 and copy thereof, in rest of the Appeals.

12.     Send a copy of this Order to the District Commission as well as to the parties concerned, immediately.

                                                                           President

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