Subterfuge allegation false, claims SGGS

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 11

In a reply to the show-cause notice served on Sri Guru Gobind Singh College, Sector 26, for the alleged subterfuge to reduce the provident fund liability, which is a violation of Section 12 (employer not to reduce wages, etc) of the Employees’ Provident Fund and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952, the college claimed that the allegation was false.

Even though the notice was issued by the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) on December 31, the college claimed that they had received the notice on January 7 and a reply was filed to the Assistant Provident Fund Commissioner on January 9.

The college further claimed that in September 2014, the then Additional Central Provident Fund Commissioner (Compliance), New Delhi, directed all commissioners to ‘not to force employers to contribute over and above the statutory wage ceiling in respect of employees’.

It has also been claimed that the complainants were entitled to draw a maximum PF of Rs 780 per month whereas the college management was paying much more than the limit.

The employer share of provident fund of the college is being reimbursed by the government at 10 per cent without any ceiling. Under the Panjab University Rules & Regulations, regular teaching staff is entitled to get provident fund at 10 per cent of the salary.

The college in its reply to the Assistant Provident Fund Commissioner stated, “The employees have now represented to your office after a gap of 20 years as they want to draw more monthly pension. The rate of PF contribution was enhanced from 10 per cent to 12 per cent with effect from September 11, 1997.”