(As per A.A.Jain, Honorable Member)
The Complainant filed this complaint against Opposite Party for seeking various relief as per prayer clause.
1. Complainant's case in short is that he is Member of Bhandara and Gondia District Pensioners Welfare Association, Gondia. This society registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1960 vide Registration No. 244/87 Bhandara , as well as Bombay Public Trust Act, 1950 . Hence, it's President filed this complaint under Section 12(b) of Consumer's Protection Act, 1986.
Smt Noorjahan Wd/o. Kasim Pathan is a lief Member of the complainant society on whose behalf the present complaint is being filed. The said member Smt. Noor Jahan Wd/o. Kasim Pathan came to be retired on 30-09-2007 due to superannuation she was working as Hed Master at Sukhdeo Shaligram Agrawal Municipal Girls High School, which is run by the respondent Municipal Council, Gondia. O.P.No.2 is name of Chief Officer of Municipal Council Gondia a local body which receives grant in aids from Government Exchequer and the said Chief Officer, he keeps administrative control over the affairs of the Council.
2. That, the Opposite Parties made payment of P.F. on 5-2-2008 through an account payee cheque drawn on Punjab National Bank for the amount worth Rs.4,99,086/- deducting Rs. 5000/-.Thus amount of Rs.5000/- is yet deposited with the O.P. and not remitted by the said member by the Council. O.P. calculated the rate of interest @ 6% per annum. Complainant alleged that as per the term and condition of P.F.Scheme the rate of interest in the State is 8% and O.P.has no power to reduce the rate of interest @ 6% i.e. 2% less . It amounts deficiency in service on the part of O.P.
3. Complainant prayed to declare that the consumer member is entitled to have 2% more rate of interest i.e.8% on the deposited amount which is Rs.23,679/- Plus Rs.5000/- physical and mental agony Rs.5,000/-cost of complaint Rs.2000/- total Rs. 30,679/-. (Exhibit.1).
4. In response to the notice Under Section 13 of Consumer Protection Act, O.P. appeared on date 24-12-2008 through his advocate and filed application for grant of time. O.P.’s application allowed as last chance. O.P. failed to file reply on next date i.e. 9-1-09. On next date 17-01-2009 ex-partee order passed against O.P
5 On verifying all the records thoroughly and hearing argument of the complainant only point arise for our consideration whether complainant is entitled for relief as prayed and our finding is in “affirmative” due to following reasons :-
REASONS
6 Complainant was retired on 30-09-2007 and her P.F.account was partly paid Rs.4,99,086/- deducting Rs.5000/- for auditing purpose. O.P. has calculated interest @6% on P.F. account of complainant . O.P. failed to produce any order of State Government. In the present complaint case only issue involved is that whether the complainant is entitled to get 8% interest on his P.F. account.
7 Complainant has submitted two Gazette Notification about
rate of interest on General Provident Fund as well as Contributory Provident Fund.
DOCUMENT NO. (A)
रजिस्टर्डनं.एमएच/एमआर/साऊथ-229/2006-08
महाराष्ट्रशासनराजपत्र
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प्राधिकृतप्रकाशन
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गुरुवार, डिसेंबर6, 2007/अग्रहायण15 , शके1929
भागचार - अ
महाराष्ट्रशासनानेकेंद्रीयअधिनियमांन्वयेतयारकेलेले (भागएक,एक-अआणिएक- लयामध्येप्रसिध्दकेलेलेनियमवआदेशयांव्यतिरिक्त ) नियमव
आदेश
वित्तविभाग
मंत्रालय, मुंबई400 032 , दिनांक29 नोव्हेंबर2007
क्रमांकभनिनि. 10.07/प्र.क्र.20/सेवा-8- सर्वसाधारणभविष्यनिर्वाहनिधीवअंशदायीभविष्यनिर्वाहनिधीयामध्येअंशदानकरणा-याव्यक्तिंच्याठेवीवत्यांच्याजमाअसलेल्याशिल्लकरकमायावरतसेच1नोंव्हेंबर1956पूर्वीखालीनमूदकेलेल्याभविष्यनिर्वाहनिधीमध्येअंशदानकरणा-याव्यक्तिंच्याठेवीवत्यांच्याजमेसअसलेल्याशिल्लकरकमायावर1एप्रिल2007पासूनसुरुहोणा-यावित्तीयवर्षाकरिताव्याजाचादरदरसालदरशेकडा8टक्के (आठटक्के) असाठरविण्यातआलाआहे. ः-
(1) सर्वसाधारणभविष्यनिर्वाहनिधी (मध्यप्रदेश)
(2) पटवा-यांचाभविष्यनिर्वाहनिधी (मध्यप्रदेश)
(3) अंशदायीभविष्यनिर्वाहनिधी (मध्यप्रदेश)
(4) सक्तीचीबचतयोजना (हैद्राबाद)
महाराष्ट्राचेराज्यपालयांच्याआदेशानुसारवनावाने,
नमितापाटील
शासनाच्याउपसचिव
DOCUMENT NO. (B)
महाराष्ट्रशासनराजपत्र, नोव्हेंबर23, 2006/अग्र.2शके1928 /भागचार-अ
वित्तविभाग
मंत्रालय, मुंबई400 032 , दिनांक20नोव्हेंबर2006
क्रमांकभनिनि. 10.06/प्र.क्र. 04 /सेवा-8- सर्वसाधारणभविष्यनिर्वाहनिधीवअंशदायीभविष्यनिर्वाहनिधीयामध्येअंशदानकरणा-याव्यक्तिंच्याठेवीवत्यांच्याजमाअसलेल्याशिल्लकरकमायावरतसेच1नोंव्हेंबर1956पूर्वीखालीनमूदकेलेल्याभविष्यनिर्वाहनिधीमध्येअंशदानकरणा-याव्यक्तिंच्याठेवीवत्यांच्याजमेसअसलेल्याशिल्लकरकमायावर1एप्रिल2006पासूनसुरुहोणा-यावित्तीयवर्षाकरिताव्याजाचादरदरसालदरशेकडा8टक्के (आठटक्के) असाठरविण्यातआलाआहे. ः-
(1) सर्वसाधारणभविष्यनिर्वाहनिधी (मध्यप्रदेश)
(2) पटवा-यांचाभविष्यनिर्वाहनिधी (मध्यप्रदेश)
(3) अंशदायीभविष्यनिर्वाहनिधी (मध्यप्रदेश)
(4) सक्तीचीबचतयोजना (हैद्राबाद)
महाराष्ट्राचेराज्यपालयांच्याआदेशानुसारवनावाने,
नसीमाशेख
शासनाच्याउपसचिव
The copy of both the Notification was supplied to every department (5 copies each )of Govt. of Maharashtra and establishment including opposite party i.e.Municipal Council, Gondia.
Thus the rate of interest on the P.F.Account for the year 2006 and 2007 on G.P.F. as well as contributory provident fund was comes to be fixed @8%per annum . All above Notifications are well within knowledge and custody of O.P.Hence they can't deny and escape from their liability . And also no power is vested with the Opposite party to reduce the rate of interest at their own. Thus every employees of O.P. is entitled in view of said notification to have 8% interest on their amount deposited in P.F.Scheme. This is deficiency in service on the part of O.P. Hence we proceed to pass following order :-
ORDER
1 Complaint is allowed.
2 O.P.is directed to pay 2% (Two Percent)Difference on P.F.interest amount to complainant with balance Rs.5000/- within, one month from the receipt of this order. This amount will carry interest @ 10% per annum from 5.2.2008 to the realization of payment.
3 O.P. is also directed to pay Rs.5000/- as compensation towards the physical and mental agony Plus Rs.1000/- as the cost of the complaint within one month from the receipt of this order.
