Raghunath Singh, v. Union Of India Through Secretary Ministry Of Labour And Employment,

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA

Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.7361 of 2021 ====================================================== 1.

Raghunath Singh, Son of Raja Singh, resident of Village-Paithanpatti Pathra, P.S.-Baikunthpur, District-Gopalganj.

2.

Bageshwar Pandey, Son of Late-Raja Pandey, resident of Village-Baheliya, P.S.-Baheliya, District-Siwan.

3.

Hira Lal Prasad, son of Munshi Prasad, resident of Village-Ram nagar, P.S.- Amlai, District-Siwan.

4.

Anita Devi, Widow of Late Sugriw Prasad @ Sugrim Prasad, resident of Village Panchrukhi, P.S.-Nawton, District-Siwan. 5.

Ram Nagina @ Ram Ngina Singh, Son of Fagu Singh, resident of VillageNonar Kapardar, P.S.-Bhalpur Rani, District-Deoria, Uttar Pradesh. 6.

Babulal Prasad, son of Singasan Prasad, resident of Village-Panchrukhi, P.S. Panchrukhi, District-Siwan.

7.

Md. Sabir, son of Ishmail Miya, resident of Village-Dewapur Tola, P.S. Gopalganj, District-Gopalganj.

8.

Ram Sundar Prasad, son of Guljar Prasad, resident of Village-Turpatti, P.S. Hathua, District-Gopalganj.

9.

Mogal Sah, Son of Nirekhan Sah, resident of Village-Narayanpur, P.S. Mirganj, District-Gopalganj.

10.

Kashi Nath Noniya, Son of Gajendra Noniya, resident of Village-Badarjimi, P.S. Mirganj, District-Gopalganj.

11.

Suresh Chaudhary, Son of Shivpujan Choudhary, resident of ward No. 10, Hajiyapur khad, P.S. Gopalganj, District-Gopalganj. 12.

Basdeo Chaudhary @ Wasdeo Chaudhary, son of Shivlal Choudhary, resident of Hakim Tola, P.S. Sauran, District-Gopalganj. 13.

Kanti Devi, Widow of Late Ram Nagina Ram, resident of Village-Hathua Tola, P.S.-Hathua, District-Gopalganj.

14.

Rajendra Sharma, son of Motichand Sharma, resident of Village-Savana, P.S. Sauna, District-Siwan.

... ... Petitioner/s

Versus

1.

Union of India through Secretary Ministry of Labour and Employment, New Delhi.

2.

Central Provident Fund Commissioner Vavisya Nidhi Bhawan, 14-Bhikaji Kama Place, New Delhi-110066.

3.

Regional Provident Fund Commissioner Employees Provident Fund Organisation, Sub Regional Office Surya Complex Laxmi Chowk, Muzaffarpur-842003.

4.

The Senior Divisional Manager, Life Insurance Corporation Of India, Kolkata Metropolitan Divisional Office-1 P and GS Unit-9th floor Jeewan Prakash 16 Chitranjan Avenue Kolkata-700072.

Patna High Court CWJC No.7361 of 2021(4) dt.17-03-2023 2/3 5.

Sri P.C. Verma, Trustee UB Distilleries LTD Employees Gratuity Fund Mirganj, District-Gopalganj, resident of Village and P.O.-Ziradei, P.S.- Ziradei, District-Siwan-841245.

6.

Branch Manager, State Bank of India Mirganj Branch, P.S.-Mirganj, District-Gopalganj, ... ... Respondent/s ====================================================== Appearance :

For the Petitioner/s :

Mr. Natraj Verma, Advocate For the Respondent/s :

Mr. Ratnesh Kumar, Advocate For the SBI Bank :

Mr. Satya Vrat, Advocate For the LIC :

Mr. Arvind Kumar, Advocate ====================================================== CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE SANJEEV PRAKASH SHARMA ORAL ORDER 17-03-2023 Learned counsel for the petitioners submits that during the pendency of the writ petition, the respondents have released the Provident Fund amount, but the payment of gratuity has not been released.

The Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972 (hereinafter referred to as 'the Act') provides to proceed for recovery of gratuity and also penalties which may be imposed for nonpayment of gratuity. An application in this regard is required to be moved to the concerned authorities in terms of the Act of 1972 which has the statutory power for passing appropriate directions including imposing penalty and also taking effective measures.

Granting liberty to the petitioner to approach the authority concerned by filling appropriate application in terms of the Act of 1972, the writ petition is disposed of.

Patna High Court CWJC No.7361 of 2021(4) dt.17-03-2023 3/3 However, if such an application is filed, the same shall be considered and decided expeditiously preferably within six months.

(Sanjeev Prakash Sharma, J) Ashwini/- Item No.21 U