M/S.Sri Aurobindo Mira Matric School v. The Regional Provident Fund Commissioner - Ii

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED: 26.03.2026

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE HEMANT CHANDANGOUDAR M/s.Sri Aurobindo Mira Matric School, No.239/48, Bye Pass Road, Madurai - 625 016, through its Managing Director.

... Petitioner vs.

The Regional Provident Fund Commissioner-II, Employees Provident Fund Organization, Regional Office, Lady Doak College Road - Chokkikulam, Madurai - 625 001.

... Respondent PRAYER: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India for issuance of Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus to call for the records from the file of the EPF Appellate Tribunal, CGIT, Chennai in EPFA 611/2018 and to quash the same and to direct the EPF Appellate Tribunal to restore the Appeal.

For Petitioner :Mr.C.Karthikeyan For Respondent :Mr.A.Sivasubramanian ***** 1/4

O R D E R

The petitioner challenges the order dated 10.09.2025 passed by the EPF Appellate Tribunal, CGIT, Chennai, whereby the appeal filed by the petitioner under Section 7-I of the Employees' Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952, came to be rejected.

2. Heard the learned counsel appearing on either side and perused the materials available on record.

3. The petitioner is a registered Trust running educational institutions. It is the case of the petitioner that, following the retirement of the incumbent Presiding Officer of the Tribunal, the successor Presiding Officer did not issue notice, and therefore, the petitioner's absence when the matter was taken up was not wilful. The petitioner further submits that non-restoration of the appeal would result in serious monetary loss and hardship.

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4. In the above circumstances, this Court is satisfied that the petitioner has made out a prima facie case for restoration of the appeal. Accordingly, the writ petition is allowed, and the impugned order dated 10.09.2025 passed by the EPF Appellate Tribunal, CGIT, Chennai, is set aside. The appeal is restored to the file of the Tribunal.

5. The petitioner shall appear before the EPF Appellate Tribunal, CGIT, Chennai, on 20.04.2026 without awaiting any further notice from the Tribunal.

6. There shall be no order as to costs.

Index :Yes / No 26.03.2026 Internet :Yes / No (1/3) NCC :Yes / No cmr To The Presiding Officer, EPF Appellate Tribunal, CGIT, Chennai.

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HEMANT CHANDANGOUDAR, J.

cmr 26.03.2026 (1/3) 4/4