Writ petition not maintainable without exhausting statutory appeal under Section 7-I of EPF Act.

ORDER

The petitioner, Virudhachalam Municipality, represented by its Municipal Commissioner, challenges the order dated 24.03.2025 passed by the sole respondent under Section 7A of the Employees’ Provident Fund Act. By the said order, the petitioner has been fastened with liability to pay a sum of Rs.1,49,72,769/- towards employees’ contribution for the period from January 2011 to November 2020.

2. Though several grounds have been raised in the writ petition, the same is not maintainable, as the petitioner has not availed the alternative remedy of appeal provided under Section 7-I of the Act.

3. The learned counsel for the respondent submitted that, pursuant to the impugned order, the entire amount has already been recovered from the petitioner. The said submission is recorded.

4. In view of the fact that the writ petition has been filed without exhausting the statutory remedy of appeal under Section 7-I of the Act, the writ petition is dismissed as not maintainable, with liberty to the petitioner to file an appeal before the appellate authority under the said provision. Inasmuch as the entire amount has already been recovered, the requirement of pre-deposit of the statutory amount is dispensed with.

5. If such an appeal is filed within a period of four weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order, the appellate authority shall entertain the same and dispose of it on merits, without insisting on an application for condonation of delay. No costs. Consequently, the connected miscellaneous petition is closed.