106 cos faced prosecution over PF returns in FY15: Dattatreya

The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has launched 106 prosecution cases against defaulting employers for non-submission of returns during 2014-15.
However, the number of prosecutions against non-submission of returns has come down substantially over the past five years, the government said in Parliament today.
In 2013-14, 414 such cases faced prosecution, 317 in 2012-13, 1,837 in 2111-12 and 838 in 2010-11, Minister of State for Labour and Employment Bandaru Dattatreya said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.
"For non-submission of returns, prosecution cases have been sanctioned and filed against defaulting establishments before the competent court of law," Dattatreya said.

There were instances of delay too, he added.
To resolve non-timely submission of PF returns, EPFO has introduced Electronic Challan-cum-Return (ECR) from 2012-13.

Furthermore, the Minister said that over 1.84 lakh complaints were received in 2014-15, including those relating to "inordinate delay" in EFP distribution.
Most of these complaints have been responded to within 15 days. In 2014-15, 1,82,321 cases were resolved and only 2,160 were pending for disposal as of March 31, 2015, he added.
In reply to a separate question, Dattatreya said there is a total of 15,08,85,586 member accounts as of March 31, 2015.
Of these, contributing members are 3,56,53,006 while 51,04,397 are pensioners.

In 2014-15, Rs 7,212.53 crore (provisional) were paid as pension under EPS.