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Concisely, the facts are that the petitioner was incharge of an establishment of M/s Pots and Plants #530, Sector 10, Chandigarh and responsible for its conduct of business. Therefore, he was required to deposit the Employees Provident Fund contribution in respect of the employees of the establishment every month, within 15 days of the close of the month. But despite several requests and persuasions, he did not deposit the same, on account of which, after being accorded sanction vide order dated 16.7.2012 by the Regional Provident Fund Commissioner, Punjab, a complaint dated 20.7.2012 was filed against the petitioner under Sections 6, 14(1), 14(1A) & 14A(1) of .
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1 read with paras 30, 38 and 76(d) of the Employee's Provident Fund Scheme, 1952.

The learned trial Court vide order dated 20.7.2012, summoned the accused-petitioner to face the trial, wherein charges were framed against him, under Sections 14A (1) read with 14(1A) and 14(1) of .
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14 Penalties. -

(1) Whoever, for the purpose of avoiding any payment to be made by himself under this Act 16 [,the Scheme 17 [the 18 [Pension] Scheme or the Insurance Scheme]] or of enabling any other person to avoid such payment, knowingly makes or causes to be made any false statement or false representation shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 19 [one year, or with fine of five thousand rupees, or with both].

(1A) An employer who contravenes, or makes default in complying with, the provisions of section 6 or clause (a) of sub-section (3) of section 17 in so far as it relates to the payment of inspection charges, or paragraph 38 of the Scheme in so far as it relates to the payment of administrative charges, shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 21 [three years], but- (a) which shall not be less than 22 [one year and fine of ten thousand rupees] in case of default in payment of
























the employees' contribution which has been deducted by the employer from the employees' wages;

(b) which shall not be less than six months and a fine of five thousand rupees, in any other case]: 24 [***] Provided that the court may, for any adequate and special reasons to be recorded in the judgment, impose a sentence of imprisonment for a lesser term 25 [***].] (1B) An employer who contravenes, or makes default in complying with, the provisions of section 6C, or clause (a) of sub-section (3A) of section 17 in so far as it relates to the payment of inspection charges, shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 27 [one year] but which shall not be less than 28 [six months] and shall also be liable to fine which may extend to 29 [five thousand rupees]: Provided that the court may, for any adequate and special reasons to be recorded in the judgment, impose a sentence of imprisonment for a lesser term 25 [***].

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