Andhra Pradesh High Court - Amravati
M/S Steen Exchange India Limited vs Employees Provident Fund Organisation on 22 November, 2025
APHC010833592018
IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH
AT AMARAVATI [3459]
(Special Original Jurisdiction)
SATURDAY,THE TWENTY SECOND DAY OF NOVEMBER
TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY FIVE
PRESENT
THE HONOURABLE SMT JUSTICE SUMATHI JAGADAM
WRIT PETITION NO: 40238/2018
Between:
1. M/S STEEN EXCHANGE INDIA LIMITED, INTEGRATED STEEL
PLANT, SREERAMPURAM VILLAGE - 535 161,KOTAMANDAL,
VIZIANAGARAM DISTRICT NO.7, REP BY ITS MANAGING
DIRECTOR SRI B.SATEESH KUMAR S/O.LATE SRI B.RAMARAO,
AGED ABOUT 58 YEARS.
...PETITIONER
AND
1. EMPLOYEES PROVIDENT FUND ORGANISATION, REPRESENTED
BY ITS REGIONALL DIRECTOR SUB REGIONAL OFFICE,
MARRIPALEM VUDA LAYOUT,VISKHAPATNAM - 530 009
2. ASST P F COMMISSIONER/RECOVERY OFFICER, EMPLOYEES
PROVIDENT FUNDS ORGANISATION SUB REGIONAL OFFICE,
MARRIPALEM VUDA LAYOUT, VISKHAPATNAM
3. ENFORCEMENT OFFICER SUB REGIONAL OFFICE, EMPLOYEES
PROVIDENT FUNDS ORGANISATION, ZONE - 61, MARRIPALEM
VUDA LAYOUT,VISKHAPATNAM.
4. M/S RAAM TYRES LIMITED, R.G.PETA, L. KOTA MANDAL,
VIZIYANAGARAM - 535161 VIZIANAGARAM DISTRICT REP. BY ITS
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SRI T.SAI KUMAR, R/O.H.NO.7-1-61/7/1,
DHARAM KARAM ROAD, AMEERPET, HYDERABAD
5. THE BRANCH MANAGER, STATE BANK OF INDIA, COMMERCIAL
BRANCH, DONDAPARTHI, VISAKHAPATNAM.
2
JS,J
W.P.No.40238/2018
...RESPONDENT(S):
Petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavit filed therewith, the High Court may be pleased toto issue direction or order or writ one in the nature of Mandamus or any other appropriate writ declaring action of the Respondents 2 and 3 seeking to claim or attach the bank accounts of the Petitioner purportedly claiming dues from 4th Respondent under Sec.8B and 8F(3) EPF Act, including as per prohibitory order no.GR/BVSP/30399/Recovery Zone-61- 2018/493 dated 08/08/2018 as illegal, arbitrary, in gross violation of principles of natural justice and unjust, and direct them to forebear from such action,in the interest of justice and equity and to pass IA NO: 1 OF 2018 Petition under Section 151 CPC praying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavit filed in support of the petition, the High Court may be pleased to suspend the operation of the probibitory order no.GR/BVSP/30399/Recovery Zone-61-2018/493 dated 08/08/2018 issued under Section 8B and 8F(3) of EPF Act, 1952, passed by the 1st respondent, pending disposal of the above writ petition and to pass Counsel for the Petitioner:
1. V HARI HARAN Counsel for the Respondent(S):
1. T BALAJI(SC FOR EPFO)
2. SATYANARAYANA NIMMALA 3 JS,J W.P.No.40238/2018 The Court made the following ORDER:
When the matter is taken up for hearing, there is no representation on behalf of the petitioner.
Learned Standing Counsel for the respondents submits that the order challenged under the Writ Petition is passed by the concerned authority under Section 14B & 7Q of the Employees' Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952 which is an appealable order before the Appellate Authority under Section 7-I of the Act.
Considering the submissions of the learned Standing Counsel for the respondents, the present Writ Petition is disposed of directing the petitioner to prefer an appeal as contemplated under Section 7-I of the Act, before the Appellate Authority within a period of two (2) weeks from the date of receipt of copy of this Order, by depositing 25% of the amount demanded on 18.07.2016, under Section 14B of the Act. On such submission of appeal by paying 25% of the demanded amount by the petitioner, the Appellate Authority shall receive and dispose of the same as early as possible. There shall be no order as to costs.
As a sequel, miscellaneous pending applications, if any, shall stand closed.
__________________________ JUSTICE SUMATHI JAGADAM Date: 22.11.2025 rsd 4 JS,J W.P.No.40238/2018 266 THE HONOURABLE SMT JUSTICE SUMATHI JAGADAM WRIT PETITION NO: 40238/2018 Date: 22.11.2025 rsd