ORDER

The petitioner is before this Court calling in question direction issued by the 1st respondent dated 23-09-2021 holding that the petitioner would not be entitled to any interest on the deposit made by him in the Public Provident Fund Scheme.

2. Heard Sri Chandrashekar Patil, learned counsel appearing for the petitioner and Sri H.Shanthi Bhushan, learned Deputy Solicitor General of India appearing for the respondents.

3. Facts adumbrated are as follows:-

The petitioner desirous of opening an account in the name of Hindu Undivided Family (‘HUF’ for short) in the Public Provident Fund Scheme (‘the Scheme’ for short) opened an account through an agent of the Provident Fund Organization who deals with such matters. The account was opened on 03.09.2009 and the maturity date of the said account is on 31.03.2025. The petitioner without fail has made deposits into the account which is now worth at `12,96,412/- inclusive of interest applicable under the said Scheme. After about 12 years of opening of the account on 23-09-2021, the 1st respondent/ Postmaster HSG-I, India Post communicates to the petitioner observing that the petitioner has opened a PPF account under the Scheme in the capaci