JHARKHAND HIGH COURT ISSUES ORDER ON SHARDA GLOBAL SCHOOL V/S UNION OF INDIA AND ORS.

RANCHI, India, Aug. 19 -- Jharkhand High Court issued the following order on July 21:

1. The present writ petition has been filed for issuance of direction upon the concerned respondents to appoint regular Presiding Officer, Central Government Industrial Tribunal No. 2-cum-Appellate Authority under E.P.F., Act, 1952, Dhanbad as the said seat is vacant since 04.10.2023. Further prayer has been made for quashing the order dated 13/14.12.2023 issued under the signature of respondent no. 4 whereby the bank account of the petitioner-school maintained with the respondent no. 6 has been attached. The petitioner has also prayed for grant of stay of operation of the orders both dated 29.09.2023/03.10.2023 issued by the respondent no. 4 under Sections 14-B and 7Q of the Employees' Provident Fund & Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952 as contained in reference no. 982/14334 (Annexure-2 to the writ petition).

2. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the present writ petition has primarily been filed due to the reason that the Appellate Authority i.e., Central Government Industrial Tribunal-cum-Labour Court No. 2, Dhanbad is not functional.

3. As against this, learned counsel appearing on behalf of the respondents-EPFO, while producing a copy of letter no. 81 dated 14.07.2025, submits that Mr. Dinesh Kumar Singh, the Presiding Officer of CGIT-cum-Labour Court, Bhubaneswar has assumed additional charge of the Presiding Officer, Central Government Industrial Tribunalcum-Labour Court No. 2, Dhanbad in the forenoon of 14.07.2025. It is also submitted that the said Presiding Officer is also taking up the urgent matters filed in the Central Government Industrial Tribunal-cum-Labour Court No. 2, Dhanbad.

4. Considering the aforesaid submission made on behalf of the respondents-EPFO, this Court does not intend to entertain the writ petition at this stage.

5. The writ petition is, accordingly, disposed of.

6. The petitioner is, however, at liberty to pursue its matter before the Appellate Authority i.e., Central Government Industrial Tribunal-cum-Labour Court No. 2, Dhanbad.

7. The interim order dated 07.03.2024 passed in the present case shall continue for a period of one month from today.

8. Pending interlocutory application(s) also stands disposed of.

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