EPFO asks its offices to focus on consumer forum cases

In view of rising complaints against it in district consumer forums, retirement fund body EPFO has asked its field formations to focus on these cases.

"...Cases do not succeed at the level of Supreme Court also, resulting into wastage of money and time of the organisation...Regional PF Commissioner/Zonal Additional Central Commissioner shall especially focus on the Consumer Forum cases during review of Legal matters," said the minutes of the meeting chaired by EPFO's Central Provident Fund Commissioner K K Jalan.

During the meeting on legal issues, Jalan observed that there have been a rise in the number of Consumer Forum Cases that are ignored at the District Level. Later on it becomes difficult for the department to defend as chances of reversal of orders passed by district forums are minimal.

District Consumer Forum is a quasi-judicial body where a consumer can seek relief on the basis of deficiency in services or unfair trade practices adopted by service provider or seller and manufacturer of goods.

After district consumer disputes redressal forms, the aggrieved parties can appeal in state disputes redressal commission and national consumer disputes redressal commission.

The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has also asked its field formation that in case, the contempt is related to service to subscriber area, immediate action to redress the grievance should be taken.

As per the minutes of the meeting, Jalan also directed that the contempt cases where Regional Provident Fund Commissioner/Assistant PF Commissioners are contemnors, should be monitored and a close watch on such cases is required by fortnightly and monthly review of these cases.