Calcutta High Court (Appellete Side)
Sayedabad Tea Company Ltd. & Anr vs Union Of India & Ors on 17 May, 2011
Author: Kalidas Mukherjee
Bench: Kalidas Mukherjee
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Form J(2)
IN THE HIGH COURT AT CALCUTTA
Criminal Appellate Jurisdiction
PRESENT:
THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE KALIDAS MUKHERJEE
AND
THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE RAGHUNATH BHATTACHARYYA
RVW NO. 93 OF 2007
WITH
CAN NO. 9721 OF 2010
Sayedabad Tea Company Ltd. & Anr.
Vs.
Union of India & Ors.
For the Petitioners : Mr. Sukhendu Sekhar Roy.
Ms. Sayanti Mukherjee.
Mr. Rajib Mullick.
Mr. Ashok Bhoumik.
For the Opposite
Party No. 2,3 & 4 : Mr. P.K. Mullick.
Mr. Mihir Kundu.
HEARD ON : 12.05.2011 `
JUDGMENT ON : 17.05.2011
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KALIDAS MUKHERJEE, J.:
1. This is an application for review of the Order dated 23rd November, 2006 whereby the prayer for stay of operation of the impugned judgment and order was refused and a direction was given for payment of instalments. By a separate application bearing CAN 9721 of 2010 prayer has been made for stay of the impugned demand and/or Certificate for recovery of Rs. 11,51,629/- and from restraining the respondents from taking any further step for execution of the purported Certificate and/or demand till the disposal of the review application.
2. In 7A proceeding of the Employees' Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952 the competent authority made an assessment which was challenged in the Writ Court bearing W.P. No. 10675(W) of 2002. The writ petition was dismissed.
3. Being aggrieved the petitioners herein filed the appeal bearing No. MAT 3920 of 2006 and also filed an application for stay bearing CAN 8177 of 2006.
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4. On behalf of the petitioners it is submitted that there are some casual workers for which no contribution was payable and it is contended that a Special Officer should be appointed who will enquire about the existence of the casual workers and thereafter necessary order may be passed.
5. On behalf of the Opposite Parties it is submitted that the Order for payment of instalment was made in the year 2006 and till today no payment has been made. It is further contended that there is no necessity of appointing any Special Officer.
6. There was Arrear Dues of Rs. 11,51,629/- assessed under Section 7A of the Employees' Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952. The contention as to the existence of casual workers was not accepted by the Writ Court.
7. It was observed by the Hon'ble Single Judge that the review application under Section 7B was rejected and it was apparent on the face of the decision dated 20th April, 2001 that the petitioners admitted their liability with respect to the casual employees for whom the proceedings had been initiated under para 26B of the Employees' Provident Funds Scheme, 1952.
8. The Hon'ble Single Judge granted liberty to the petitioners to approach the authorities for accommodating them by 4 granting instalment in accordance with the existing provision of law. After the passing of the order dated November 23, 2006 regarding instalments to be paid, no payment has been made as it is submitted on behalf of the Ops. So at this stage the necessity of ascertaining the existence of the casual workers by appointing a Special Officer is not called for.
9. There is, therefore, no reasonable ground to review the earlier order dated 23.11.2006.
10. Both the applications, therefore, stand dismissed.
11. Urgent Photostat certified copy, if applied for, be handed over to the parties as early as possible.
(Kalidas Mukherjee, J. ) (Raghunath Bhattacharyya, J.) I agree, (Raghunath Bhattacharyya, J. )