Karnataka

StateCommission

A/1436/2011

The Regional Provident Fund - Complainant(s)

Versus

Prabhakar Mahableshwar Madhyasta - Opp.Party(s)

Nandita Haldipur

01 Jun 2023

ORDER

       Date of Filing :04.05.2011

Date of Disposal :01.06.2023

 

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

 

 

DATED:01.06.2023

 

 

 

PRESENT

 

 

 

HON’BLE Mr JUSTICE HULUVADI G RAMESH : PRESIDENT

 

 

 

 

APPEAL No.1436/2011

 

The Regional Provident Fund Commissioner,

Employees Provident Fund Organisation

Sub-Regional Office,

Aland Road No.97,

Behind Remand Home,

Gulbarga
(By Mrs Nandita Haldipur, Advocate)                               Appellant

 

                                                           

    -Versus-

 

 

1. Mr Prabhakar Mahableshwar Madhyasta
    S/o Mr Mahableshwar Madhyasta,

    Age 60 years,

    R/o # 18, Manjunath Krupa

    Shanti Nagar,

    Near Hakim Chowk,

    Bijapur-586101,
   

2. Mr Irasangappa Basappa Gobbi,
    S/o Mr Basappa Gobbi,

    Age :70 years,

    Mulagasi, Patel Gali, Bijapur.

 

3. Mr Shivagond Channabasappa Peerajabadi,
    S/o Mr Channabasappa Peerajabadi,

    Age:67 years,

    R/o Shahapur Agasi Patel Galli,

    Bijapur

 

4. Mr Ravatappa M Handi,
    S/o Mr.M.Handi,

    Age:66 years,

    R/o Bendigeri Oni,

    Near Pawad Basaveshwar Temple,

    Bijapur

5.  Mr Chandrasekhar Bheemanagouda Patil
     S/o Bheemanagouda Patil,

     Age: 63 years,

     R/ o Amogasidda Krupa,

     Plot No.76, Treasury Colony,

     Takke Link Road, Bijapur

 

6. Mr Siddalingappa Siddappa Melagiri
    S/o Mr Siddapa Melagiri

    Age: 63 years,

    R/o Shanti Nagar,

    Near Allapur Gate Hakeem Chowkj,

    Bijapur - 586104.

 

7. Mrs Vishalaxi Alias Vaishalini Siddalinga
    Ingaleshwar

    W/o Mr Siddalinga Ingaleshwar

    Age:63 years,

    R/o Bijapur.

 

8. Mr Kallappa Gurupadappa Inamdar
    S/o Mr Gurupadappa Indamdar

    Age: 63 Years,

    R/o Vivek Nagar,

    Ibrahimpur Colony Gate,

    Managoli Road, Bijapur

 

9. Mr Basappa Siddappa Ijeri,
    S/o Mr Sidappa Ijeri

    Age: 61 years,

    R/o Gacchinkatti Colony,

    II Phase, Bijapur

 

10. Mr Raosaheb Malugouda Patil
      S/o Malugouda Patil

      Age:60 years

      R/o New Kumar Gali,

      Jorapur Peth,

      Behind S.P.Office,

      Bijapur

 

11. Mr Sharnagouda Gurugouda Patil
      S/o Gurugouda Patil

      Age:60 Years,

      R/o Vishal Nagar,

      Behind KSRTC Guest House,

      Bijapur

12. Mr Basavaraj Kanteppa Pattanshetty
      S/o Mr Kanteppa Pattanshetty

      Age:60 years,

      R/o Plot No.54

      Padmawati Colony,

      Ashram Road,

      Bijapur

 

13. Mr Shrishail Arakeri   

      S/o Siddappa Arakeri,

      Age:60 years,

      H.No.1019/12,

      Inamdar Colony,

      Near Shiva Nagar,

      Torvi Road, Bijapur

 

14. Mr Sadanand Rudrappa Shethe,
      S/o Mr Rudrappa Shethe

      Age:60 years,

      Adarsh Nagar,

      MIC 89 Ashram Road,Bijapur

 

15. Mr Somashekar Basappa Parashetty,
      S/o Mr Basappa Parashetty

      Age:60 years,

      R/o H.No.1019/12,

      Inamdar Colony,

      B.L.D.E.Hospital, Bijapur.

 

16. Mr Mahadevappa Shankreppa Meti
      S/o Mr Shankreppa Meti,

      Age:62 years,

      R/o Anandnagar,

      Plot No.62,

      Opp: B.L.D.E. Engineering College

      Ashram Road, BIjapur.

 

17. Mr Kallappa
      S/o Mr Ishwarappa Arjunagi,

      Age:61 years,

      R/o Post:Sarwad,

      Bijapur Tq & District                                            Respondents

      (By Mr Santhosh S Nagarale, Advocate

       For R5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16)    

 

 

 

:ORDER:

 

Mr JUSTICE HULUVADI G RAMESH : PRESIDENT

 

1.       This is an Appeal filed under Section 15 of Consumer Protection Act 1986, by OP aggrieved by the Order dated 27.12.2010 passed in Complaint No.154/2010 on the file of District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, Bijapur (for short, the District Forum).

 

2.       Heard the Arguments of the Learned Counsels on record. Inspite of service of Notice on Respondents No.1 to 4, 6, 14 & 17, none appeared, their arguments are taken as heard.

3.       The District Forum after going through the documents produced by the parties, recorded its affirmative findings, observing that all the Complainants were the members of the OP’s organisation rendered service for more than 20 years and/or of 58 years of age, but OP in not revising the Pension of the Complainants by adding two years of weightage and arrears of Pension, amounts to deficiency in service and accordingly, directed the OP to re-fix the Pension of the Complainants by adding weightage of two years, within two months from the date of the Order, failing which, the Complainants are entitled for interest @ 12% p.a on the said difference amount, from the respective date of retirement, till its complete realisation.  This Impugned Order is being challenged by the OP in this Appeal.

 

4.       The Learned counsel for the Appellant submits that they revised the Pension by granting weightage of two years & arrears of pension also been paid to all the Complainants/Respondents and produced a Memo with Revised Pension work sheets.  Thus prays for allowing of the Appeal.

 

05.     On perusal of the documents produced  by the Appellant viz., revised pension worksheets, it is observed that all the Complainants have retired from their service during the period 2001 and 2008 by rendering service of more than 20 years.  No doubt, the Appellant/OP has revised the pension of the Respondents/Complainants by granting weightage of two years and also paid the applicable arrears in the year 2014, belatedly, that too after filing of the Complaint by the Complainants.  Appellant has not produced any convincing document, as to why he has not revised the pension of Complainant No.2/Respondent No.2, by granting weightage of two years and the entitled arrears of Pension.

Under the above circumstances, the act of Appellant in not fixing the entitled Pension properly to the Complainants in time definitely amounts to deficiency in service.  Thus, we are of the considered opinion that the finding recorded by the District Forum is just and proper and same does not call for any interference except the rate of interest awarded at 12% p.a on the amount of arrears from the date of retirement of the Complainants till its realisation is slightly on the higher side and reducing the same to 8.25% p.a would meet the ends of justice. Accordingly, Appeal is allowed in part and consequently, the Impugned Order dated 27.12.2010 passed in Consumer Complaint No.154/2010 on the file of District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, Bijapur is hereby modified only to the extent of interest awarded by the District Forum is concerned.  In so far as the Compensation of Rs.500/- towards mental agony and Rs.200/- towards cost of the litigation awarded by the District Forum to the Complainants remain un-disturbed. 

06.     The Appellant is directed to comply with this Order within 60 days from the date of this Order.

 

07.     The statutory deposit in this Appeal is directed to be transferred to the District Commission for further needful.

 

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

 

                                                                        

President

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