M. Narayana, v. The Singareni Collieries Company Limited,

THE HON'BLE SRI JUSTICE A.RAJASHEKER REDDY WRIT PETITION NO.41318 of 2017 O R D E R :

When the writ petition is taken up for hearing, it is submitted by the learned counsel for the petitioner as well as learned Standing Counsel appearing for respondents 1 to 4 Mr.J.Sreenivasa Rao, that the subject matter of the writ petition is squarely covered by a common judgment rendered by a learned Single Judge of this Court in W.P.No.11107 of 2009 and batch, dated 30.03.2011. 2.

In view of the submissions made by the learned counsel for both the parties and following the ratio laid down in the above referred judgement, this writ petition is accordingly disposed of, with the following directions:

a) The Regional Commissioner or any Officer authorized 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, it 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 utilized 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.

There shall be no order as to costs.

3.

As a sequel thereto, miscellaneous petitions, if any, pending in the writ petition, shall stand closed.

_______________________________ (A.RAJASHEKER REDDY, J) 06.12.2017 msb