Disposed

M/s. Madura Coats Private Limited v. The Regional Provident Fund Commissioner - 1

Madras HC17 Feb 2025WP(MD)/3350/2025

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

An employer sought from the EPFO the provident fund account status of 3275 past employees, needed for a pending appeal before the Central Government Industrial Tribunal. The respondent resisted, suggesting an application in that appeal instead. The High Court found no reason to withhold the information and directed furnishing it within a month.

What did the court decide?

Respondent directed to furnish the information sought in the petitioner's letter dated 12.08.2024 within one month; petitioner to bear any costs of furnishing.

M/s. Madura Coats Private Limited Vs The… — Pension and Retirement Benefits | Madras HC (2025)

¶1

W.P.(MD) No.3350 of 2025

¶2

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT

¶3

DATED : 17.02.2025

¶4

CORAM

¶5

THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE MUMMINENI SUDHEER KUMAR

¶6

W.P.(MD) No.3350 of 2025

¶7

M/s.Madura Coats Private Limited, Rep., by X.P. Arun, Plant H.R.Manager, New Jail Road, Madurai-625 001.

¶8

... Petitioner

¶9

Vs.

¶10

The Regional Provident Fund Commissioner-1, EPFO Regional Office, Bhavishya Nidhi Bhavan, No.1, Lady Doak College Road, Madurai-625 002.

¶11

... Respondent

¶12

Prayer: Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying to issue a Writ of Mandamus, to direct the respondent to furnish the status of 3275 employees Employee's Provident Fund Account.

¶13

For Petitioner : Mr.T.Ravichandran For Respondent : Mr.R.Ravikumar

¶14

_________Page 1 of 5

¶15

https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

¶16

ORDER

¶17

W.P.(MD) No.3350 of 2025

¶18

This writ petition has been filed seeking information in respect of 3275 employees, who are enrolled with the respondent-Organisation and worked in the petitioner-company with regard to the status of their Provident Fund accounts as on date purportedly for the purpose of prosecuting the appeal filed by the petitioner in E.P.F.A.No.59 of 2024 on the file of the Central Government Industrial Tribunal, Chennai in an effective manner.

¶19

The petitioner addressed a letter dated 12.08.2024 seeking the

¶20

said information and thereafter, the same was reminded by issuing legal notice etc. Having failed to get any response from the respondent, the petitioner approached this Court by filing the present writ petition.

¶21

The respondent filed counter affidavit contending that the issue is pending before the Central Government Industrial Tribunal in E.P.F.A.No. 59 of 2024 and the petitioner is at liberty to call for any information by filing appropriate application in the said pending appeal, in spite of filing the

¶22

_________Page 2 of 5

¶23

https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

¶24

W.P.(MD) No.3350 of 2025

¶25

present writ petition. Further, the counter affidavit deal with the matter on merits of the case set up by the petitioner in E.P.F.A.No.54 of 2024.

¶26

As the scope of the writ petition is limited and seeking such

¶27

information with regard to past employees and with regard to the status of Provident Fund accounts of the said employees, this Court does not see any sustainable reason for not furnishing such information as sought for by the petitioner. This Court also enquired with the learned counsel for the respondent and he also fairly submitted that there won't be any difficulty in furnishing the said information and further submitted that the petitioner instead of filing an application in the pending appeal, approached this Court by filing the present writ petition.

¶28

Considering the overall facts and circumstances of the case, this

¶29

Court is of the considered view that instead of relegating the petitioner to file another application in the pending appeal, it would be appropriate to direct the respondent to furnish the information as sought for by the petitioner through his letter 12^th August, 2024. Further, this Court also does not see any

¶30

_________Page 3 of 5

¶31

https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

¶32

W.P.(MD) No.3350 of 2025

¶33

prejudice that would be caused to the respondent, in case if the respondent furnishes the information as sought for by the petitioner.

¶34

Accordingly, this Writ Petition is disposed of directing the respondent to furnish the information as sought for by the petitioner through his letter dated 12^th August, 2024 within a period of one month from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. In case, if any costs are to be incurred for furnishing the said information, the same shall be paid by the petitioner. There shall be no order as to costs.

¶35

17.02.2025

¶36

NCC : Yes/No Index : Yes/No Internet : Yes

¶37

ABR

¶38

¶39

The Regional Provident Fund Commissioner-1, EPFO Regional Office, Bhavishya Nidhi Bhavan, No.1, Lady Doak College Road, Madurai-625 002.

¶40

_________Page 4 of 5

¶41

https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

¶42

W.P.(MD) No.3350 of 2025

¶43

MUMMINENI SUDHEER KUMAR, J.

¶44

ABR

¶45

W.P.(MD) No.3350 of 2025

¶46

17.02.2025

¶47

_________Page 5 of 5

¶48

https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

M/s. Madura Coats Private Limited v. The Regional Provident Fund Commissioner - 1

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

M/s. Madura Coats Private Limited v. The Regional Provident Fund Commissioner - 1

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

What the court decided

A compact analysis

Issues for consideration

Statutes considered

Parties & counsel

Coram

Case details

Similar cases

M/S.Santhy Bakery and Milk Vs the Assistant Provident Fund

The Regional Provident Vs the Presiding Officer

M/S.R.S.740 Mutharasan Primary Vs the Registrar

M/s.New India Assurance Company Limited Vs The Joint Commissioner of Labour / Employees

Muthumani Gas Service Vs The Recovery Officer

The Managing Director, the Mdu Vs the Recovery Officer