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Judgment
Heard learned counsel for the petitioner; learned AC to AAG 10 for the State and Mr. P. K. Verma, learned senior counsel along with Mr. Anil Kumar Verma, learned counsel for the Bihar State Road Transport Corporation (hereinafter referred to as the 'Corporation').
The Administrator as well as the Chief Accounts Officer of the Corporation are also present.
Yesterday, show cause had been filed on behalf of the Corporation bringing on record the order dated 09.09.2019 passed by the Chief Accounts Officer of the Corporation in the present case in terms of the order of the Court dated 05.05.2016 passed in CWJC No. 1059 of 2016. However, there was a provision made in the order that though the amount of interest for late payment, Rs. 3,05,549/- was found payable but the payment of the same was withheld on account of the petitioner being accused in a criminal case.
Learned counsel for the Corporation submitted that the criminal case was with regard to embezzlement and for which departmental proceeding had also been initiated. Learned counsel drew the attention of the Court to the Bihar State Road Transport Corporation Contributory Provident Fund Regulations, 1960 (hereinafter referred to as the 'Regulations') which is applicable in the Corporation and in light of which the provisions of the Employees' Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952 (hereinafter referred to as the 'Act') have been excluded. It was further submitted that such exclusion of the provisions of the Act has been upheld by a Division Bench of this Court in CWJC No. 1003 of 1992 by order dated 27.03.1992. Further, learned counsel referred to Regulation 33 (d) which permits the Corporation to reimburse and indemnify itself with respect to Corporation's contribution and interest thereon for any loss caused or damage due to or occasioned in any manner by any embezzlement and falsification of account, theft or other criminal offence committed by a subscriber or any other act of misconduct.
Having considered the matter, the Court does not find any deliberate or willful violation by the authorities of the Corporation of the order dated 05.05.2016 passed in CWJC No. 1059 of 2016.
Accordingly, the application stands disposed off.
Personal appearance of the officers stands dispensed with.
However, it shall be open to the petitioner to move for release of any withheld amount in the event he is exonerated in the criminal case and the departmental proceeding.