MS University told to deposit Rs 5 crore towards staff PF, allied dues

VADODARA: In a major embarrassment, MS University has been asked to submit Rs 5.35 crore towards provident fund (PF) and allied dues of its temporary staff.
After a long stretched inquiry spread over three years, the office of the regional provident fund (PF) commissioner of the Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) here issued an order asking the university to submit the huge amount which it had failed to remit for its temporary employees.
The order issued on March 10 is based on an inquiry conducted by the EPFO after it received complaints from senate member Kapil Joshi as well as office-bearers of the Baroda University Staff Association.
“The PF commissioner had issued a notice after which the office had started an inquiry. It is surprising and shocking that the inquiry continued for nearly three years. The order clearly indicates the mismanagement of PF amount by the university administration,” said Joshi.
“It is shocking that the university was given nearly 40 dates of hearing, but the university officials never bothered to respond to them,” Joshi alleged.
“The assessment period is still of just two years — from February 2017 to November 2019 — since further assessment is pending, the recovery amount is expected to be much higher,” he said.
“From the enforcement officer’s argument and submission, it can be inferred that the university’s bifurcation of gross wages was not done based on any legal or contractual obligation but as an afterthought to reduce the PF liability. This act by the university could be seen as an attempt to evade its responsibility towards its employees which is unacceptable,” the order states.
Joshi said that the order will pave way for the temporary employees get their retirement dues and even the retired employees will benefit from the order.