M/S. Thirumala Transport, v. The Singareni Collieries Company Limited,

THE HON'BLE SRI JUSTI CE A.V. SESHA SAI WRI T PETI TI ON No.7121 OF 2017 ORDER:

The Writ Petition, under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, is filed with the following prayer:

"..... to issue a writ order or direction more particularly one in the nature of a Writ of Mandamus declaring the action of the Respondents 1 to 3 in so far as insisting for complying with clause 6 of the Work Order No.7600006716 dated 20.01.2017 and agreement dated 03.02.2017 with regard to enrolling the workmen and staff as members of the Coal Mines Provident Fund and Payment of Employees Coal Mines Provident Fund for the drivers engaged by the petitioner for transportation of coal through the lorries of the petitioner i.e., from KHA.

OCP to Rebbana and Goleti CHP on weight basis for a period of two (02) years and the steps being taken by the respondents company while preparing the transportation bills for deduction of Coal Mines Provident Fund towards contractor's contribution from the amounts payable to the petitioner in accordance with the above mentioned work order though the provisions of the Coal Mines Provident Fund and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 1948 are not applicable to the transport contractor more particularly when the petitioner is transporting coal only by duly declaring the clause 6 of the Work Order No.7600006716 dated 20.01.2017 and agreement dated 03.02.

2017 as illegal, arbitrary and contrary to the Coal Mines Provident Fund and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 1948 and AP Coal Mines Provident Fund Scheme and also contrary to the orders passed by this Hon'ble Court in W.P.No.11107 of 2009 and batch dated 30.03.2011."

2.

Heard Sri M.Venkateshwar Varanasi, learned counsel for the petitioner and Sri J.Srinivasa Rao, learned Standing Counsel for respondents 1 to 4.

AVSS,J WP_7121_2017 3.

The counsel representing the parties submit that the issue in the instant writ petition is covered by the common order dated 30th March, 2011 in W.P.No.11107 of 2009 and batch and further by following the order dated 30.03.2011, a few writ petitions are also disposed of. 4.

The Writ Petition is disposed of by this order: a) The Regional Commissioner or any Officer authorised by him shall first issue a notice to the petitioner to decide whether the activity undertaken by the petitioner comes within the definition of Coal Mine. It shall be open to the petitioner to submit explanation;

b) In the event of the activity being declared as the one in coal mine, the employees shall be enrolled as members, subject to their fulfilment of the prescribed conditions, the respondents shall assign account numbers and issue cards; and the deductions shall be made with reference to the account numbers and cards so issued, periodically; c) Till such time, no deductions shall be made, but if it is held that the petitioner is liable, at a later point of time, he shall be under obligation to pay the arrears also;

d) The amount deducted from the petitioner, so far, shall be kept in FDRs and the manner in which it shall be utilised shall be decided, depending upon the outcome of the exercise undertaken above; and e) The authority of the coal mines provident fund shall ensure that it does not deduct any amount, without reference to a particular employee, who is admitted to the provident fund.

AVSS,J WP_7121_2017 Consequently, Miscellaneous Petitions, if any, pending in this Writ Petition shall stand closed. There shall be no order as to costs. __________________________ JUSTI CE A.V. SESHA SAI Date:01.03.2017 INL