Crackdown unleashed on EPFO,FCI

Commission President Justice Pritam Pal and members Neena Sandhu and Jagroop Singh Mahal have ordered compensation ranging from Rs 50,000 to Rs 75,000 for the complainants,along with litigation costs of Rs 5,500.

Incidentally,all five complainants had retired as senior executives of FCI . Vijay Kumar Kapoor,a resident of Sector 3,Panchkula; Charanjit Singh Sandhu of Phase 11,Mohali,Om Parkash Chugh of Sector 18-C,Chandigarh,S C Gaba of Sector 42-D,Chandigarh,and Vinod Kumar of Sector 32-D,Chandigarh,retired between 2006 and 2009.

The complainants had filed separate complaints in the Chandigarh Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum I and II regarding the delay in their pensions. The common point was that the delay was despite completing the necessary formalities for grant of pension in time. The cases were filed against the FCI and the EPFO,with its offices at Noida (UP) and Punjab,respectively.

The opposite parties took the plea that the delay was only “procedural”. After considering the cases,the two district forums observed that the delay was not justified and ordered compensation ranging from Rs 50,000 to Rs 75,000. Aggrieved by the order,the FCI and the EPFO moved the Chandigarh Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission. All five appeals were dismissed by the commission,which upheld the orders issued by the two forums.

In one of the judgments,the commission observed: “The opposing party has not been able to explain why it took 18 months in issuing the Pension Payment Order,which ordinarily under its rules should have been issued within 30 days. It shows the callous attitude of the opposite parties in dealing with the pension papers of their employees without caring for the hardships they may be facing in the absence of the release of pension.”

In view of these circumstances,the commission observed,the compensation of Rs 50,000 to Rs 75,000 granted to the complainants was not excessive.