This document outlines the rules for NTPC Limited's Employees' Provident Fund Trust. Some key details include:
[1] The fund is called the NTPC Limited Employees’ Provident Fund Trust, New Delhi and is constituted under an irrevocable trust for employees of NTPC Limited.
[2] The custody, control and management of the fund is vested in a Board of Trustees consisting of 5 employer representatives nominated by NTPC and 5 employee representatives nominated by employee associations.
[3] The Board of Trustees is responsible for proper accounts and management of the provident fund contributions in accordance with the Employees' Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act of 1952.
This document outlines the rules for NTPC Limited's Employees' Provident Fund Trust. Some key details include:
[1] The fund is called the NTPC Limited Employees’ Provident Fund Trust, New Delhi and is constituted under an irrevocable trust for employees of NTPC Limited.
[2] The custody, control and management of the fund is vested in a Board of Trustees consisting of 5 employer representatives nominated by NTPC and 5 employee representatives nominated by employee associations.
[3] The Board of Trustees is responsible for proper accounts and management of the provident fund contributions in accordance with the Employees' Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act of 1952.
This document outlines the rules for NTPC Limited's Employees' Provident Fund Trust. Some key details include:
[1] The fund is called the NTPC Limited Employees’ Provident Fund Trust, New Delhi and is constituted under an irrevocable trust for employees of NTPC Limited.
[2] The custody, control and management of the fund is vested in a Board of Trustees consisting of 5 employer representatives nominated by NTPC and 5 employee representatives nominated by employee associations.
[3] The Board of Trustees is responsible for proper accounts and management of the provident fund contributions in accordance with the Employees' Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act of 1952.
HR Policy Manual NTPC Ltd. Employees Provident Fund Trust Rules Section:0401 Issue No: II Rev.No.:0 Issue Date: 26.09.2011 Updated as on: 31.01.2012 Page: 1 of 40
N K Gupta Sunil Gupta Secretary Trustee NTPC LTD. EMPLOYEES PROVIDENT FUND TRUST RULES
CHAPTER-I PRELIMINARY
1. NAME OF THE FUND The Fund shall be called "NTPC Limited Employees Provident Fund Trust, New Delhi.
2. DEFINITIONS (a) 'Board' means the Board of Trustees of NTPC Limited Employees Provident Fund Trust, New Delhi. (b) Basic Pay:- means all emoluments which are earned by an employee while on duty or on leave or on holiday with wages in either case in accordance with the terms of the contract of employment and which are paid or payable in cash to him, but does not include :- (i) the cash value of any food concession.
(ii) Any dearness allowance (that is to say, all cash payments by whatever name called paid to an employee on account of a rise in the cost of living), house rent allowance, overtime allowance, bonus, commission or any other similar allowance, payable to the employee in respect of his employment or of work done in such employment.
(iii) Any present made by the employer.
(c) 'Company' means the NTPC Limited, whose registered office is at NTPC Bhawan, Core-7, SCOPE Complex, 7 Institutional Area, Lodi Road New Delhi 110 003
(d) 'Chairman' means the Chairman of the Board of Trustees.
(e) 'Continuous Service' means uninterrupted service under the Company and includes service, which is interrupted by sickness, accident, authorized leave, strike which is not illegal, or cessation of work not due to the employee's fault.
(f) 'Contribution' means contribution payable in respect of member of the Fund.
(g) Children: means legitimate children and includes adopted children if the Board of Trustees are satisfied that under the personal law of the member, adoption of a child is legally recognized.
(h) 'Commissioner' means Regional Provident Fund Commissioner under whose jurisdiction the establishments comes.
(i) Employer means: -
(i) In relation to an establishment which is a factory, the owner or occupier of the factory, including the agent of such owner or occupier, the legal representative of a deceased owner or occupier and, where a person has been named as manager of the factory under clause (b) of sub-section (1) of section 7 of the Factories Act, 1948 (63 of 1948), the person so named; and (ii) In relation to any other establishment, the person who, or the authority which, has the ultimate control over the affairs of the establishments, and where the said affairs are entrusted to a manager, managing director or managing agent such manager, managing director or managing agent.
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N K Gupta Sunil Gupta Secretary Trustee (j) Employee: - means any person who is employed for wages in any kind of work manual or otherwise, in or in connection with the work of the establishments, and who gets his wages directly or indirectly from the employer and includes any person:
(i) Employed by or through the contractor in or in connection with the work of the establishments. (ii). Engaged as an apprentice, not being an apprentice under the Apprentices Act, 1961(52 of 1961) or under the standing orders of the establishments.
(k) Excluded Employee: means excluded employees as defined in Para 2(f) of the EPF Scheme, 1952.
(l) 'Fund' means the NTPC Limited Employees Provident Fund Trust.
(m) 'Family means
i) In the case of a male member, the wife, children (whether married or unmarried) and dependent parents of the member, and the widow and children of a deceased son of the member; Provided that if a member proves that his wife has ceased, under the personal law governing him or the customary law of the community to which the spouse belongs, to be entitled to maintenance, she shall no longer be deemed to be a part of the member's family for the purpose of these Rules, unless the member subsequently intimates by express notice in writing to the Secretary that she shall continue to be so regarded; and
ii) In the case of a female member, the husband and children of the member whether married or unmarried, the dependant parents of the member or of the husband and the widow and children of a deceased son of the member; Provided that if a member by notice in writing to the Secretary expresses her desire to exclude her husband from the family, the husband and his dependant parents shall no longer be deemed to be a part of the member's family for the purpose of these Rules, unless the member subsequently cancels in writing any such notice.
EXPLANATION: In either of the above two cases, if the child of a member has been adopted by another person, and if, under the personal law of the adopter, adoption is legally recognized, such a child shall be considered as excluded from the family of the member.
(n) Financial Year' means the period commencing on the 1 st of April and ending on the 31 st
March of the following year.
(o) Member' means a member of the Fund.
(p) Pay: Pay includes basic wages with dearness allowances, retaining allowance (if any) and cash value of food concession admissible thereon.
(q) 'Secretary' means the Secretary to the Board of Trustees.
(r) Trustee' means a member of the Board of Trustees.
All other words and expressions not defined herein above shall have the meaning respectively assigned to them in the Employees' Provident Fund and Miscellaneous Provision Act 1952, and the scheme framed there under i.e Employees' Provident Fund Scheme, 1952.
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N K Gupta Sunil Gupta Secretary Trustee 3. FUND CONSTITUTED UNDER AN IRREVOCABLE TRUST
The Fund shall be constituted under a Trust, which shall be irrevocable save with the consent of all the beneficiaries. No moneys belonging to the Fund in the hands of the Trustees shall be recoverable by the Company under any pretext whatsoever nor shall the Company have any lien or charge of any description on the same save as herein provided.
CHAPTER-II BOARD OF TRUSTEES 4. MANAGEMENT
The custody, control and management of the Fund shall be vested in a Board of Trustees Constituted by the Company who shall be responsible for and accountable to the Employees' Provident Fund Organization inter-alia for proper accounts of the receipts into and payments from the provident fund and the balance in their custody. Board of Trustees shall function as per the guidelines contained in Annexure A.
4.1 Nomination of Trustees: Board of Trustees shall consist of representatives from employers as well as employees of the company. Total number of the members of the Boards of Trustees shall be 10(Including the Chairman) as given below:
a) Employer Representatives: Five representatives of the Employer and, b) Employees Representatives: Five representatives of the employees of the Company.
5. PROCEDURE FOR ELECTION OF TRUSTEES a) Employer Representative: Any Director of the company authorized by the Board of Directors of the company, for this purpose shall nominate employer representatives from amongst the officers employed in managerial or administrative capacity in the establishment,
b) Employees Representative: For selection of employees representatives Trustees, the under noted procedure shall be followed: -Two nomination from National Bipartite Committee (NBC) for employees in Workmen Category, One nomination from the supervisory associations for employee in supervisory category and two nomination from NTPC Executives Federation of India (NEFI) for employees in Executive Category will be made by the respective association/body. In case of failure to make the nomination as above by the respective associations, the employer may in consultation with the respective association/ body nominate employees representative Trustee and if the employer also fail to make the nomination then the procedures of election as mentioned in the Employees Provident Fund Scheme 1952 will be applicable.
5.1 CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
Any Director of the Company authorized by Board of Director of the Company shall be the chairman of the Board of Trustees. In the event of equality of votes the Chairman shall exercise a casting vote.
6. SECRETARY OF THE BOARD Board of Trustees may appoint, any Trustee, out of the employer representative Trustees to act as Secretary to the Board. Secretary shall exercise such power as delegated to him by the Board of Trustees or specifically provided hereinafter.
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N K Gupta Sunil Gupta Secretary Trustee 7 TERM OF OFFICE The term of office of a Trustee shall be five years from the date of election or nomination. An outgoing Trustee shall be eligible for re-election or re-nomination. A Trustee elected or nominated to fill the casual vacancy shall hold office for the remaining period of the term of the Trustee in whose place he is elected or nominated.
8. RESIGNATION A trustee may resign his office by letter in writing addressed to the Chairman, Board of Trustee and his office shall fall vacant from date on which the Board of Trustees accepts his resignation.
9. CESSATION AND RESTORATION OF TRUSTEESHIP A trustee ceases to be a trustee on the Board if he
(i) ceases to be an employee of the company: (ii) ceases to be a member of the Fund. (iii) Is a nominee or representative of an employees representative body and the same ceases to be representative body any more or is derecognised by the employer; (iv) Incurs any of the disqualifications mentioned in the rule 10; (v) Or fails to attend three consecutive meetings of the Board without obtaining leave of absence from the chairman of the Board of trustees. Provided that the chairman, Board of Trustees may restore him to trusteeship, if he is satisfied that there were reasonable grounds for such absence.
10. DISQUALIFICATIONS FOR TRUSTEESHIP A person shall be disqualified for being a trustee of the Board
a) If he is declared to be of unsound mind by a competent court; or b) If he has been convicted of an offence involving moral turpitude; or c) Is an undischarged insolvent; or d) Is an employer of an exempted or unexampled establishment, which has defaulted in payment of any dues under the Act.
11. FILLING OF CASUAL VACANCIES
In the event of trustees elected or nominated, ceasing to be trustee during the tenure of the Board, his successor shall be elected or nominated, as the case may be, in the manner hereinbefore provided for election or nomination.
Provided that the trustee(s) so elected shall hold office for the unexpired term of the Board of Trustees.
12. REFERENCE TO REGIONAL PROVIDENT FUND COMMISSIONER
In case of any dispute or doubt the matter shall be referred to the Regional Provident Fund Commissioner. His decision in the matter shall be final and binding.
13. TRUSTEES' POWER TO EMPLOY ANY PERSON FOR MANAGEMENT
The Board of Trustees shall have power, with the consent of the employer in writing, to employ any person or persons deemed necessary for the purposes of the Fund and the employer shall
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N K Gupta Sunil Gupta Secretary Trustee pay thereof. The trustees shall have power at any time to dispense with the services of such person or persons subject to the approval of employer.
14. TRUSTEES' POWER TO OPERATE BANK ACCOUNTT
Any two trustees, including one representing the employees, acting jointly, shall on behalf of the Board of Trustees, operate on the accounts of the Fund with banks and discharge, receive or otherwise dispose off, as may be necessary, Government Promissory Notes, securities, Interest Warrants, etc. relating to the Fund and shall, on behalf of the Board, reassign to members in accordance with the Rules mentioned hereinafter, life insurance policies which the members might have assigned to the Board as security for payment of withdrawals from the Fund.
15. CONTROL OF THE FUND
The BOT shall have control of the Fund and shall delegate powers to the trustee or officials of the establishment for performance of various functions on its behalf under these rules. The Board shall also decide all differences and disputes which may arise under these rules either as to the interpretation thereof or as to the right and obligations of the establishment and/or of the members and the decision of the majority of the trustees shall be in all cases final and binding on all the parties concerned. In the event of an equality of votes the Chairman shall have a casting vote. If any such decision of the board were deemed prejudicial to the interest of the members, the matter shall be referred to the Regional Provident Fund Commissioner, whose decision in the matter shall be final and binding.
15.1 Before a trustee leaves India:
(a) he shall intimate to the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the date of his departure from and expected return to India; or (b) if he intends to absent himself for a period longer than six months, he shall tender his resignation. (c) If any trustee leaves India for a period of six months or more without intimation to the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, he shall be deemed to have resigned from the Board of trustees.
15.2 If a trustee is unable to attend any meeting of the Board of Trustees, he may, by a written instrument signed by him, addressed to the Chairman of the Board of trustees and explaining the reasons for his inability to attend the meeting, appoint any representative as his substitute for attending that meeting of the Board of Trustees in his place; Provided that no such appointment shall be valid unless
(1) such appointment has been approved by the Chairman of the Board of trustees ; and
(2) the instrument making such appointment has been received by the Chairman of the Board of Trustees at least seven days before the date fixed for meeting. (3) A substitute validly appointed under this rule shall have all the rights and powers of trustee in relation to the meeting of the Board of Trustees, in respect of which he is appointed.
(4) A trustee appointing a substitute for attending any meeting of the Board of trustees, shall, not withstanding anything contained in this rule, continue to be liable for the misappropriation or misapplication of the fund by the substitute
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N K Gupta Sunil Gupta Secretary Trustee and shall also be liable for any act of misfeasance or non-feasance committed in relation to the Fund by the substitute appointed by him.
16. MEETINGS 1) The Board of Trustees shall meet at such place and time as may be appointed by the Secretary with prior approval of the Chairman.
2) Board of Trustees shall meet at least once in every quarter.
3) The Secretary may with prior approval of the Chairman and within fifteen days of the receipt of a requisition in writing from not less than three members of the Board of Trustees call a meeting thereof.
17. NOTICE OF MEETING AND LIST OF BUSINESS
Notice of not less than 15 days from the date of posting, containing the date, time and place of every ordinary meeting together with a list of business to be conducted at the meeting, shall be sent to each trustee.
Provided that when the Secretary, with the prior approval of the Chairman, calls a meeting for considering any matter which in his opinion is urgent, a notice giving such reasonable time as he may consider necessary, shall be deemed sufficient.
18. CHAIRMAN TO PRESIDE AT MEETINGS
The Chairman shall preside at every meeting of the Board at which he is present. If the Chairman is absent at any time, the trustees present shall elect one of them to preside over the meeting and the trustee so elected shall exercise all the powers of the Chairman at the meeting.
19. QUORUM
At any meeting of the Board of Trustees, four trustees, two representing the employees and others representing the employer, shall be a quorum. The majority may be treated as quorum provided at least one trustee is present from employees. If at any meeting the number of trustees is less than the required quorum, the Chairman of the Board shall adjourn the meeting to a date not later than seven days from the date of the original meeting, informing the trustees of the date, time and place of the adjourned meeting and it shall thereupon be lawful to dispose of the business at such adjourned meeting irrespective of the number of trustees present.
20. DISPOSAL OF BUSINESS
Every question considered at a meeting of the Board shall be decided by a majority of the votes of the trustees present and voting. In the event of an equality of votes, the Chairman shall have a casting vote.
Provided that the Chairman may, if he thinks fit, direct that any question shall be decided by the circulation of necessary papers to trustees and by securing their opinion in writing. Any such question shall be decided in accordance with the opinion of the majority of trustees received within the time limit allowed and, if the opinions are equally divided, the opinion of Chairman shall prevail.
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N K Gupta Sunil Gupta Secretary Trustee Provided further that any trustee may request that the question referred to trustees for written opinion be considered at a meeting of the Board and thereupon the Chairman may, and if the request is made by not less than three trustees, shall direct that it be so considered.
In case of any dispute or doubt, the matter shall be referred to the Regional Provident Fund Commissioner. The decision of the RPFC in the matter shall be final and binding.
20. MINUTES OF MEETING
(a) The secretary shall maintain minutes of the meeting of the board showing inter alia the names of the trustees of the Board present there and shall be circulated to all trustees, present in India not later than three days from the date of the meeting. The minutes shall thereafter be recorded in minutes book as a permanent record, Provided that if another meeting is held within a period of three days, the minutes shall be circulated so as to reach the trustees before such meeting.
(b) The minutes of each meeting shall be signed by the Chairman after confirmation with such modifications, if any, as may be considered necessary at the next meeting. (d) The Secretary shall take necessary steps for carrying out the decision of the Board.
22. INVESTMENT OF THE FUND (i) The moneys of the Fund not immediately required by the Board of Trustees shall be invested by the Board within 15 days on receipt of contribution from the Employer, in the pattern prescribed by the Government of India from time to time. (ii) The securities shall be obtained in the name of Trust. The securities so obtained should be in dematerialized (DEMAT) form and in case the required facility is not available in the areas where the trust operates, the Board of Trustees shall inform the Regional Provident Fund Commissioner, concerned about the same. (iii) The Board of Trustees shall maintain a script wise register and ensure timely realization of interest. (iv) The DEMAT Account should be opened through depository participants approved by the Reserve Bank of India and Central Government in accordance with the instructions issued by the Central Government in this regard. (v) The cost of maintaining DEMAT account should be treated as incidental cost of investment by the Trust, also all types of cost of investments like brokerage for purchase of securities etc. shall be treated as incidental cost of investment by the trust. (vi) All such investments made, like purchase of securities and bonds, should be lodged in the safe custody of depository participants, approved by the Reserve Bank of India and Central Government, who shall be the custodian of the same. On closure of the establishment or liquidation or cancellation of exemption from the EPF Scheme, 1952, such custodian shall transfer the investment obtained in the name of Trust and standing in its credit to the RPFC concerned directly on receipt of request from the RPFC concerned to that effect.
(vii) The Board shall intimate to the RPFC concerned the details of depository participants (approved by Reserve Bank of India and Central Government), with whom and in whose safe custody, the investments made in the name to trust, viz., Investments made in securities, bonds, etc. have been lodged.
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N K Gupta Sunil Gupta Secretary Trustee (viii) Any commissions, incentive, bonus, or other pecuniary rewards given by any financial or other institutions for the investments made by the trust should be credited to its accounts.
(iX) Failure to make investments as per directions of the Government shall make the Board of Trustees separately and jointly liable to surcharge as may be imposed by the Central P.F. Commissioner or his representative.
23. POWER OF TRUSTEES FOR SALE AND HYPOTHECATION ETC. OF THE INVESTMENTS
The Board of Trustees may from time to time, as and when necessary, raise such sum or sums as may be required for the purposes of the Fund by sale, hypothecation or pledge of the investments held by them or of a sufficient part thereof, subject to prior approval of the R.P.F.C.
24. RECEIPT FOR MONEY RECEIVED BY TRUSTEES
Receipt for moneys ,endorsement on cheques, drafts and other documents, received by the Trustees shall be made by the secretary for and on behalf of Board of Trustees.
25. ACTS OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES NOT INVALID BY REASONS OF DEFECT IN ITS CONSTITUTION ETC No act or proceeding of the Board shall be deemed to be invalid by reason merely of any vacancy in, or any defect in the constitution of the Board.
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N K Gupta Sunil Gupta Secretary Trustee
CHAPTER-III MEMBERSHIP
26. MEMBERSHIP OF THE FUND
(a) Every employee employed on regular roll of the company other than an excluded employee shall be entitled and required to become a member of the Fund from the date of joining the establishment.
(b) An excluded employee shall on ceasing to be such an employee be entitled and required to become a member of the Fund from the date he ceased to be such employee. (c) Every employee on becoming a member shall remain and continue to be a member until he withdraws his provident fund accumulation from the fund.
(d) Notwithstanding anything contained in this rule, the Board of Trustees may, on the joint request in writing, of any employee of establishment and the employer, enroll such employee as a member or allow him to contribute on more than six thousand and five hundred rupees of his pay per month if he is already a member of the Fund and thereupon such employee shall be entitled to the benefits and shall be subject to the conditions of the Fund, provided that the employer gives an undertaking in writing that he shall pay the inspection charges payable and comply with all statutory provisions in respect of such employee.
(e) Every employer shall on becoming member sign a declaration in the form set out in Annexure B. Absence of such declaration will not, however, invalidate his membership.
(f) On re-election of an employee or a class of employee exempted to join the Fund or on the expiry or cancellation of an order under that paragraph, every employee, who but for such exemption would have become and continued as a member of the Fund, shall forthwith become a member thereof.
(g) Every employee who is a member of a private provident fund maintained in respect of an exempted factory or other establishment and who, but for the exemption would have become and continued as a member of fund, shall on joining NTPC become a member of the Fund forthwith.
(h) Government employees on deputation or lien basis to NTPC are eligible for membership of the Fund from the date their resignation from Government service takes effect and they are absorbed in the permanent cadre of the NTPC. This is irrespective of the fact that these employees may or may not get their GPF amount transferred from previous employers to NTPC Employees Provident Fund Trust.
(i) If any question arises whether an employee is entitled or required to become or continue as member or as regards the date from which he is so entitled or required to become a member, the decision thereon of the Regional Provident Fund Commissioner shall be final.
27. RETENTION OF MEMBERSHIP
A member of the Fund shall continue to be a member until he withdraws under Rule 59, the amount standing to his credit in the Fund.
Explanation: In the case of claim for refund by a member under sub rule 4 of rule 59, the membership of the Fund shall be deemed to have been terminated from the date the payment is authorized to him by the Secretary irrespective of the date of claim.
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N K Gupta Sunil Gupta Secretary Trustee
28. DECLARATION BY EMPLOYEES
Every employee shall furnish, at the time of his appointment under the Company, particulars of his last employment and his membership of any contributory provident fund before joining the Company.
29. NOMINATION
(1) Each member shall make in his declaration in the prescribed form, a nomination conferring the right to receive the amount that may stand to his credit or where the amount has become payable before payment has been made.
(2) A member may in his nomination distribute the amount that may stand to his credit in the Fund amongst his nominees at his own discretion.
(3) If a member has a family at the time of making a nomination, the nomination shall be in favour of one or more persons belonging to his family. Any nomination made by such member in favour of a person not belonging to his family shall be invalid.
Provided that a fresh nomination shall be made by the member on his marriage and any nomination made before such marriage shall be deemed to be invalid
(4) If at the time of making a nomination the member has no family, the nomination may be in favour of any person or persons but if the member subsequently acquires a family, such nomination shall forthwith be deemed to be invalid and the member shall make a fresh nomination in favour of one or more persons belonging to his family.
(5) A nomination made under sub-rule (1) may at any time be modified by a member after giving a written notice of his intention of doing so in the prescribed form. If the nominee predeceases the member, the interest of the nominee shall revert to the member who may make a fresh nomination in respect of such interest.
(6) Where the nomination is wholly or partly in favour of a minor, the member may, for the purposes of this rule appoint a major person of his family, as defined in clause (m) of rule 2, to be the guardian of the minor nominee in the event of the member predeceasing the nominee and the guardian so appointed.
Provided that where there is no major person in the family, the member may, at his discretion, appoint any other person to be a guardian of the minor nominee.
(7) A nomination or its modification shall take effect to the extent that it is valid on the date on which it is received by the Secretary.
30. ALLOTMENT OF ACCOUNT NUMBERS
Each member of the Fund shall be allotted an Account Number, which will be communicated, to him by the Secretary.
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N K Gupta Sunil Gupta Secretary Trustee CHAPTER-IV CONTRIBUTIONS AND ACCOUNTS
31. CONTRIBUTIONS
31.1 EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTION (a) The contribution payable by the Company to the Fund shall be at the rate of 12% (or any other rate as may be prescribed by the EPFO in future) of the basic pay and the Dearness Allowance (including cash value of any food concession) and retaining allowance and leave encashed (w.e.f. 13/6/01) payable to each employee who is eligible for membership of the Fund. (b) From and out of the contribution payable by the employer each month under Rule 31(I)(a) above, a part of contribution representing 8.33% of the Employees pay shall be remitted by the employer to the Employees Pension Fund within 15 days of the close of every month by a separate bank draft or Cheque on account of Employees Pension Fund contribution in such manner as may be specified in this behalf by the Regional Provident Fund Commissioner. The cost of the remittance, if any, shall be borne by the employer. Provided that where the pay of the member exceeds Rs.6500/- per month the contribution payable by the employer be limited to the amount on his pay of Rs.6500/- only or on higher pay if allowed by the EPFO/Commissioner or on any higher pay notified by the EPFO in future. The balance of employers contribution after the remittance of contribution to the Employees Pension Fund shall be credited to the members individual account.
(c) The contribution to Employees Pension Fund shall be applicable only in case the employee in question is a member of the Employees Pension Scheme, 1995 as laid down in Para 6 of the Employees Pension Scheme, 1995, and shall cease on the employee attaining the age of superannuation as defined in the Employees Pension Scheme, 1995.
Provided further that if the employee continues in service even after the date of superannuation the entire contribution payable by the employer as per Rule 31(I) shall be credited to the members account.
MEMBER CONTRIBUTIONS
The contribution payable by any member under these rules shall be equal to or more than the contribution payable by the Company in respect of such employee subject to the limit laid down in the Income Tax Act. Provided, that the members contribution shall be 12% of basic pay and the dearness allowance (including cash value of any food concession) and retaining allowances unless the member intimates in writing the increased amount which he/she chooses to contribute.
31.3 The contribution payable under this rule shall be calculated on the basis of the basic pay and Dearness Allowance (including the cash value of any food concession) and retaining allowances actually drawn during the whole month whether paid on daily, weekly, fortnightly or monthly basis.
31.4 Each contribution shall be calculated to the nearest rupee, 50 paise or more to be ccounted as the next higher rupee, and less than 50 paise shall be ignored.
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N K Gupta Sunil Gupta Secretary Trustee 31.5 Notwithstanding any contract to the contrary, the Company shall not be entitled to deduct the Company's contribution from the wage of a member or otherwise to recover it from him.
32. RECOVERY OF A MEMBER'S SHARE OF CONTRIBUTION
(1) The amount of a member's contribution paid by the Company shall, notwithstanding the provision in these rules or any law for the time being in force or any contract to the contrary be recoverable by means of deduction from the wages of the members and not otherwise provided that no such deduction may be made from any wage other than that which is paid in respect of the period or the part of the period in respect of which the contribution is payable.
Provided further that the employer shall be entitled to recover the employee's share from a wage other than that which is paid in respect of the period for which the contribution has been paid or is payable where the employee has in writing given a false declaration regarding his last employment and membership of contributory provident funds in other establishments.
Provided further that where no such deduction has been made on account of an accidental mistake or a clerical error, such deduction may be made from the subsequent wages.
(2) Deductions made from the wages of a member paid on daily, weekly or fortnightly basis should be totaled up to indicate the monthly deductions.
(3) Any sum deducted by the Company from the wages of an employee under these Rules shall be deemed to have been entrusted to it for the purpose of paying the contribution in respect of which it was deducted.
(4) In respect of employees employed by or through a contractor the principal employer will ensure that the contractor recovers the contributions payable by such employees and deposit the same against his own PF code along with the matching contribution( employer contribution) and inspection charges.
33. MEMBERS RECLAIMED FOR DEFENCE DUTY AND MEMBERS VOLUNTEERING TO TAKE UP MILITARY SERVICE DURING EMERGENCY
The Company employees will be allowed to contribute towards the Provident Fund and their accounts will be credited with the Company's contributions which would have been admissible had they remained on duty with the Company. The Company's contributions towards Provident Fund during the period of Military Services will form a charge against the Defence Services Estimates and would be recovered by the Company from the Defence Services.
33.1 A member may at his option continue to contribute to the Fund after he is called up for training, muster or any services, but no contribution shall be credited to his account and interest shall be allowed as per Rule 39. Such a member may make withdrawals as per Rules 43 to 58-B. If any such member desires to have his Provident Fund Account settled finally, it may be allowed in accordance with Rule 59 (1) and (2) and he shall cease to be member of the fund thereafter.
33.2 Where a member ceases to be employed in the Company and takes up employment in any other establishment to which the Employees Provident Fund Act, 1952 does not apply, the balance in
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N K Gupta Sunil Gupta Secretary Trustee his account shall be transferred to the credit of his account in the Provident Fund of the Establishment in which he is employed, if the member so desires and rules in relation to that Provident Fund permit such transfer.
34. PAYMENT OF CONTRIBUTIONS TO TRUSTEES
The Company shall pay the members contributions collected by the Company as well as its own contributions to the Board of Trustees by 15 th of the following month from the month of deduction.
34.1 PAYMENT OF INTEREST AND DAMAGES BY EMPLOYER
The employer shall be liable to pay simple interest and penal damages to the Board of Trustees at such rate as may be specified by the Regional Provident Fund Commissioner for any delay in the payment of contributions in the same manner as an un-exempted establishment is liable under similar circumstances.
35. MEMBERS ACCOUNT T
1. An account shall be opened in the office of the Fund in the name of each member in which following shall be credited: a. His contributions
b. Contributions made by the Company in respect of him; and
c. Interest as provided in Rule 39.
d. The advance/withdrawals, if any, made to the member out of the Fund to be debited.
e) the repayments, towards advances made to the members.
The maintenance of such records shall be done electronically and necessary provisions shall be made to enable all the members to be able to see their account balance from the computer terminals as and when required by them.
The establishment would periodically transmit the details of members accounts electronically as and when directed by the CPFC/RPFC.
2. All items of account shall be calculated to the nearest rupee, 50 paise or more shall be counted as the next higher rupee and less than 50 paise shall be ignored.
36. ANNUAL STATEMENT/MEMBER PASSBOOK
As soon as possible and latest within six month of the close of the year every member shall be given a Pass Book or an Annual Statement of Accounts in which shall be entered the particulars referred to in Rule 35 above. All Pass Books or the Annual Statements shall be made up to date at the interval of one year. Such Statement/ Passbook shall be accepted as correct and binding on the members save that if any manifest error shall be found therein and notified by the member to the Secretary in writing within six months after the date of making such entry, the same may be rectified. A member of the fund is also allowed to inspect his account himself or through any person duly authorized by him in writing to do so, within 72 hours of making such request provided that no such request shall be entertained more than once in every two calendar months.
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37. TRUSTEES' POWER TO ACCEPT TRANSFER OF ACCUMULATIONS FROM OTHER FUNDS
In the event of any employee who was previously in the service of another Government Company or State or local body or Government of India or Government of a State or was a member of any Provident Fund recognized under Employees' Provident Fund Act, 1952 or under the Income Tax Act 1961 it shall be lawful for the trustees to receive from such Company etc. the accumulated balance in his account of the Provident Fund, provided that in case of an Employee, who was member of a Provident Fund covered under the Employees' Provident Fund Act, it shall be obligatory for the trustees to accept for credit to the Member's account his accumulations in such a fund, which shall be transferred within three months of his joining the Company.
38. TRANSFER OF MEMBERS' ACCOUNTS
Where a member ceases to be employed in the Company and takes up employment in any other exempted establishment to which the Employees' Provident Funds Act, 1952 applies, the balance in his account shall be transferred to the Trustees of the Provident Fund in such establishments. In case of unexampled establishments, the account shall be transferred to RPFC in whose jurisdiction it is covered. 39. CREDIT OF INTEREST TO MEMBER ACCOUNT (a) On, or as soon as may be, after the 31 st day of March in each year, the Board of Trustees shall prepare a Balance Sheet and Revenue Account as at the date in respect of the preceding twelve months. In preparing the Balance Sheet the Board shall value investments of the Fund according to the cost value as on that date.
(b) The Revenue Account shall be credited with all income arising out of the investments of the Fund, all profits, if any, arising form sale of securities.
(c) The Board shall after crediting the Revenue Account as stated in clause (b) above, distribute and credit the amount to the individual accounts of the members in proportion to the total amount standing to his credit as on the period of account.
(d) With effect form 01.04.93, the account of each employee shall be credited with interest calculated on monthly running balance basis with effect from the last day in each year at such rate as may be decided by the Board of Trustees but shall not be lower than the rate declared for the Employees Provident Fund by the Government of India under Para 60 of the Employees Provident Fund Scheme, 1952. Calculations shall be done in the following manner: -
i. On the amount at the credit of a member on the last day of the preceding year, less any sums withdrawn during the current year - interest for twelve months. ii. On sums withdrawn during the current year - interest from the beginning of the current year up-to the last day of the month preceding the month of withdrawal; iii. On all the sums credited to the member's account after the last day of the preceding year - interest from the first day of the month succeeding the month of credit to the end of the current year; iv. The total amount of interest shall be rounded to the nearest whole rupee (fifty paise counting as the next higher rupee).
(e) If the Board of Trustees are unable to pay interest at the rate declared for Employees Provident Fund by the Govt. of India under Para 60 of the Employees Provident Fund Scheme, 1952 for the reason that the return on investment is less or for any other reason then the deficiency shall be made good by the employer.
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(f) In determining the rate of interest the Board shall satisfy itself that no excess amount is drawn from the Revenue Account as a result of debit thereto of the interest credited to the individual accounts.
39.1 INTEREST TO BE CREDITED ON SETTLEMENT AND TRANSFER (a) In case of transfer of provident fund accumulations for final settlement of an account, interest on the balance standing at the credit of the account shall be payable up to the end of the month preceding the date on which the transfer or final payment is authorized. (b) Provided that interest up to and for the current month shall be payable on the balance standing in the account from the beginning of the month to the date of settlement on which the transfer or final payment is authorized. The rate of interest to be allowed for the broken currency period shall be the rate declared for the year in which payment is made.
(c) In case of a member coming from other provident fund interest on his transferred accumulation is to be credited to his account from date on which the accumulations are credited in the bank account of the Fund. (d) The aggregate amount of interest credited to the accounts of the members shall be debited to "Revenue Account". (e) In determining the rate of interest, the Board shall satisfy itself that there is no overdrawal on the Interest Account as a result of the debit thereto of the interest credited to the accounts of members.
40. BANKERS OF THE FUND
The Bankers of the Fund shall be the State Bank of Hyderabad, ICICI Bank Ltd and Syndicate Bank or such other scheduled Bank that may be selected by the Board of Trustee from time to time. The Funds savings Bank Account shall be credited with: - (i) All moneys deducted by the establishments from the monthly emoluments of the members, including installments of refundable advances, if any, and interest thereon deducted from the emoluments of the members or remitted by the members; (ii) All moneys paid by the establishments as its contribution to the fund shall be paid into the Funds Savings Bank account with the said Bank. (iii) Interest and maturity proceeds on investments (iv) Transfers of past accumulations of members who join the Fund, and (v) Interest and penal damages payable by the employer for the belated remittances of dues as ordered by the Regional Provident Fund Commissioner.
The name of the said account with the said Bank shall be NTPC Limited Employee Provident Fund Trust. Withdrawals from this account shall be by Cheque which shall in respect of each Cheque, be signed by two trustees, one of them must be the representative of the employee.
41. COST OF ADMINISTERING THE FUND
(i) The costs, charges and expenses of administering the Fund including the maintenance of accounts, audit fee, submission of returns, and transfer of provident fund accumulations and bank charges shall be borne by the employer.
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(ii) The employer shall make good any other loss that may be caused to the Fund due to theft, burglary, misappropriation, fraud, defalcation, wrong investment decision or any other reason.
(iii) The employer shall within fifteen days of the close of every month pay the inspection charges at the rate of 0.18% of the basic wages, D.A., Cash Value of food concession and retaining allowance, if any, or at such rate as may be fixed by the Central Government.
42. AUDIT OF ACCOUNTS
(i) The accounts of the Fund maintained by the Board of Trustees shall be subject to audit by a qualified chartered accountant appointed by the Board of Trustee. A copy of the audited annual provident Fund Accounts together with the audited Balance Sheet of the establishment for each accounting year shall be submitted to the Regional Provident Fund Commissioner within six months after the close of the financial year. A copy of the Auditors report along with the audited balance sheet should be submitted to the RPFC concerned by the Auditors directly within six month after the closing of the financial year. The formats of the balance sheet and the information to be furnished in the report shall be as prescribed by the Employees Provident Fund Organization and made available by the RPFC office in electronic format as well as a signed hard copy.
(ii) The same auditors shall not be appointed for two consecutive years and not more than two years in a block of six years. Where considered necessary the Central Provident Fund Commissioner shall have the right to have the accounts re-audited by any other qualified auditor and the expense so incurred shall be borne by the employer.
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N K Gupta Sunil Gupta Secretary Trustee CHAPTER-V TEMPORARY WITHDRAWALS
43. CIRCUMSTANCES IN, WHICH TEMPORARY WITHDRAWALS MAY BE PERMITTED
The Secretary may allow temporary withdrawals in the following circumstances: -
(a) to pay expenses in connection with the serious or prolonged illness or a disability, including where necessary, the traveling and allied expenses of the member or any person actually dependent on him for getting medical treatment;
(b) to meet the cost of higher education, including where necessary, the traveling expenses of the member or any person actually dependent on him in the following cases, namely:
i) for education outside India for an academic, technical, professional or vocational course beyond the High School stage; and
ii) for any medical, engineering or other technical or specialized course in India beyond the High School stage.
(c) To meet the expenses the member has to incur in connection with the marriage or other ceremonies of himself or of his children or of his dependent parents, sisters and brothers, the condition of actual dependence shall not apply in the case of the children of the member;
(d) to pay obligatory expenses which by customary usage the member has to incur in connection with marriages of his relatives like sisters, brothers, nephews and nieces etc. The nephew and niece means son/ daughter of member or member's spouses' brother/sister.
Explanation: 1. Cost of higher education shall include all fees and hostel charges (other than security deposit) of the recognized institution. However, the fees and hostel charges will be paid in the name of the college/ Institution and Demand Draft charges, if any shall be born by the company except in case where fee is to be deposited at the time of counseling and member desires to get the advance in his/ her name with a condition that proof of utilization will be submitted by the member within one month of withdrawal of advance. Traveling expenses if required will be paid in the name of member.
Explanation2: Advance as mentioned in the rule 43 (c) for other ceremonies and ceremonies of relatives mentioned in rule 43(d) will be made only in following occasion and will be paid only once for the each ceremonies:
Self Marriage, Son & Daughters marriage, Niece/ Nephews marriage, brother- in- law/ sister- in- laws marriage, brother & sister including cousins marriage, grand son & grand daughters marriage, mundane including self mundane/ akika, Janeu/ Upnayan ceremony, Karan/ Nose Chhedan, Goad Bharai of daughter in law/ daughter, baptism, holy communion of daughter, death ceremony of father/ mother (in the year of death), aruvadham kalyanam/ shashti pujan of parents/ Dastar Bandi, Namkaran Sanskar of Child, Annaprasnam of son/ daughter.
44. CONDITIONS FOR WITHDRAWAL FOR VARIOUS PURPOSES
(1) The withdrawals in connection with expenses incurred as specified in Rule 43 shall not exceed six months' basic pay and Dearness Allowance or the member's total contribution with in- terest thereon whichever is less.
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N K Gupta Sunil Gupta Secretary Trustee (2) For the purpose of this rule, " pay " means the pay to which the employee is entitled at the time when the withdrawal is granted or in the case of an employee referred to in Rule 33 the ' pay' and Dearness Allowance on which the Company's contribution is calculated. (3) The amount withdrawn shall be repaid in not more than fifty equal monthly installments in whole rupees.
(4) (a) Interest shall be charged on the amount withdrawn at existing rate of interest and 1% over and above the rate determined by the Board for the Financial year in accordance with rule 39(1).
(b) Interest at the rate provided in Clause (a) shall be paid in the first installment; principal of the advance shall be recovered thereafter.
(5) The Company shall recover the installments of advance and interest from the member's wages and pay them to the Fund. The recovery of advance shall commence on the first occasion after the advance is made on which the member's pay for a full month is drawn irrespective of whether the balance is or is not claimed by him.
(6) A withdrawal under the rule 43 shall be treated, as a temporary reduction in the member's balance and recoveries made under sub-rule (3) shall be credited to the member's account. The recoveries made under sub rule (4) i.e. interest on refundable advances shall be credited to the interest on advances to members.
45. SECOND WITHDRAWAL
A second withdrawal shall not be permitted before complete repayment of the first withdrawal together with interest.
46. UTILIZATION OF AMOUNT WITHDRAWN
(1) In respect of any amount withdrawn under Rule 43, if the Secretary is not satisfied that the amount withdrawn was actually spent for the specified purpose, the Secretary shall with prior approval of the Chairman, order recovery of the amount withdrawn in one or more installments with interest at 2% over & above the existing rate from the pay of the member, to be credited to the member's account.
(2) In case of default in repayment of installments due under Rule 44, or where the amount withdrawn is not utilized for the purpose for which it is withdrawn, the Commissioner of Income Tax or RPFC may at his discretion order that the amount of the withdrawal or the amount outstanding shall be added to the total income of the employee for the year in which the default occurs or the withdrawn amount is finally held not to have been utilized for the purpose for which it is withdrawn and the Income Tax Officer or P.F. Officer shall assess the employee accordingly.
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N K Gupta Sunil Gupta Secretary Trustee CHAPTER-VI NON-REFUNDABLE ADVANCES
47. WITHDRAWALS FROM THE FUND FOR PAYMENT TOWARDS INSURANCE POLICIES
(a) Any amount with interest thereon standing to the credit of a member in the account of the Fund may be withdrawn not more than once in every six months to make a payment towards a policy of Life Insurance, Provided that the withdrawal shall not be permitted before the details of the proposed policy have been submitted to the Secretary in such form as he may specify and accepted by him as suitable. Nor shall the withdrawal be permitted in excess of the amount required to pay a premium or subscription actually due for payment within six months of the date of withdrawal.
Provided further that no amount may be withdrawn to make any payment in respect of, or for the purpose of purchasing, an educational endowment policy if that policy is due for payment in whole or part before the member attaining the age of 55 years.
Provided further that the amount withdrawn shall not exceed the total of members contributions including interest thereon up to the date of withdrawal:
Provided further that the policyholder has been a member of the Fund for at least three years, that he has enough money in the Fund to keep the policy alive till it attains the surrender value and that his yearly contributions are sufficient to finance the policy.
(b) A member permitted to withdraw any amount under this Rule shall send to the Secretary, within such period as he may require, a receipt in order to satisfy him that the amount withdrawn was duly applied for the specified purpose.
(c) The secretary shall order the recovery of any amount withdrawn, in respect of which he is not satisfied that the amount withdrawn was actually spent for the specified purpose, with interest thereon at 2% over & above the existing rate from the emoluments of the member and credit it to his account in the Fund.
(d) The Fund shall not make any payment on behalf of the members directly to Insurance Companies or take steps to keep the policy alive. Withdrawals will be permitted only on specified requests of the members, received well in time.
(e) Before any withdrawal is allowed to make a payment towards a policy of Life Insurance, the Secretary shall satisfy himself that the nominee under the policy is the same as the nominee to receive the balance in the Fund in accordance with Rule 29.
47.1 ASSIGNMENT OF POLICIES TO THE FUND
a) The policy, within six months after the first withdrawal in respect of it, shall be assigned to the Board as security for the payment of the amount withdrawn and shall be delivered to the Secretary.
b) The Secretary shall, before allowing withdrawal in respect of old policies, satisfy himself by reference to the Insurance Company that no prior assignment of the policy exists and the policy is free from all encumbrances.
c) The terms of the policy shall not be altered nor shall the policy be exchanged for another policy without the prior consent of the Secretary to whom the details of the alteration or of the new Policy shall be furnished in such form as he may specify.
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d) If the policy is not assigned and delivered, any amount withdrawn from the Fund in respect of the Policy shall, with interest thereon at 2% over & above the existing rate forthwith be repaid by the member to the Fund, or in default be ordered by the Secretary to be recovered by deduction from the emoluments of the member in such installments as he may determine.
e) A policy to be acceptable under this rule shall be affected by the member on his own life and shall be such as payable legally assigned by the member to the Board.
47.2 BONUS TO BE ADJUSTED AGAINST THE WITHDRAWAL
A member shall not during the currency of the policy, draw any bonus the drawl of which during its currency is optional under the terms of the policy and the amount of any bonus which under the terms of the policy the member has no option to refrain from drawing during its currency shall be paid by him forthwith into the Fund to be adjusted against the amount withdrawn, or in default be recovered by deduction from his emoluments in such installments as the Secretary may determine.
47.3 Re-ASSIGNMENT OF POLICES
(1) When the member:
(a) permanently retires from service of the Company after the attainment of the age of superannuation; or
(b) retires on account of permanent and total incapacity for work due to bodily or mental infirmity (as provided in Rule 59 (1) (b)) ;or
(c) is permitted by the Trustees under Rules 59 (2) to withdraw the amount standing to his credit in the Fund; or
(d) repays to the Fund the whole of any amount withdrawn from the Fund with interest thereon at 2% over & above the existing rate, the Board shall re-assign the policy to the member and make it over to him together with a signed notice of the reassignment addressed to the Insurance Company.
(2) If the member dies before quitting service, the trustees shall reassign the policy to the beneficiary, if any, or to such person as may be legally entitled to receive it and shall make over the policy to the beneficiary or to such persons together with a signed notice of the reassignment addressed to the Insurance Company.
47.4 RE-PAYMENT OF THE AMOUNT WITHDRAWN If a policy matures or otherwise falls due for payment during the currency of its assignment, the Board of Trustees shall realize the amount assured together with bonus, if any, accrued thereon, place to the credit of the member the amount so realized, or the whole of the amount paid from the Fund in respect of the policy with interest thereon, whichever is less, and refund the balance, if any, to the member.
47.5 RECOVERY OF THE AMOUNT WITHDRAWN IN CERTAIN CASES The Provisions of Rule-47, sub-rule 1(d) applicable to a failure to assign and deliver a policy shall apply:
i) If the policy lapses or is assigned otherwise than to the Board charged or encumbered; or
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ii) If the member does not repay the whole of the amount withdrawn with interest under rule 47.4.
48. ADVANCE FROM THE FUND FOR THE PURCHASE OF A DWELLING HOUSE OR A DWELLING SITE OR FOR CONSTRUCTION OF A DWELLING HOUSE OR EXTENSION OF AN EXISTING DWELLING HOUSE
1.The Secretary may on an application from a member in such form as may be prescribed and subject to conditions prescribed in this clause, sanction from the amount standing to the credit of the Member in the fund, an advance:
a) For purchasing a dwelling house/flat including a flat in a building owned jointly with others (outright or on hire purchase basis) or for constructing a dwelling house including the acquisition of a suitable site for the purpose from the Central Government, the State Government, a co- operative society, an institution, a trust, a local body or a Housing Finance Corporation (hereinafter referred to as the agency/agencies) OR
b) For purchasing a dwelling site for the purpose of construction of a dwelling house or a ready built dwelling house/flat from any individual; OR
c) For the construction of a dwelling house on site owned by the member or the spouse of the member or jointly by the member and the spouse, or for completing/continuing the construction of a dwelling house already commenced by the member or the spouse, on such site or for purchase of a house/flat in the joint name of the member and the spouse under clause (a) and (b) above.
OR
d) For purchasing dwelling house/flat on ownership basis from a promoter governed by the provisions of any Flats or Apartments Ownership Act or by any other analogous or similar law of the Central Government or the State Government as may be in force in any State or area for the time being and who intends to construct or constructs a dwelling house or block or flat and the member is required to pay the said promoter in advance for financing the said construction of the house/flat.
The member shall enter into an agreement with the promoter as may be required under the Flats or Apartments Ownership Act or any other analogous or similar law of the Central Government or State Government which may be in force in any State or any area and the said agreement is registered under the Indian Registration Act, 1908.
Explanation: In this paragraph, the expression, co-operative society means a society registered or deemed to be registered under the Cooperative Societies Act, 1912 (2 of 1912) or under any other law for the time being in force in any State relating to Cooperative Societies Act. 1912 (2 of 1912).
2) (a) For the purpose of purchase of a site for construction of house thereon, the amount of withdrawal shall not exceed member's basic pay and dearness allowance for 24 months or the member's own share of contributions together with the employer's share of contributions with interest thereon or the actual cost towards the acquisition of the dwelling site whichever is the least.
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N K Gupta Sunil Gupta Secretary Trustee (b)For the purpose of acquisition of already built house/flat or acquisition of the dwelling site together with the cost of construction thereon, the withdrawal shall not exceed the member's basic pay and dearness allowance for thirty-six months or the member's own share of contributions, together with the employer's share of contributions, with interest thereon, or the total cost of construction, whichever is the least.
Explanation: 1.The actual cost towards purchase of the dwelling house/flat from any 'Agency' referred to in clause (a) of sub-paragraph (1) will also include the cost for improvements to the house/flat to make it 'livable'. The payment of advance for improvements and alterations shall be made to member and not direct to the 'Agency" as referred to in clause (a) of sub- paragraph (4). This will, however, be subject to the condition that such a request for withdrawal is received by the Secretary before the date of occupation of the said Flat/house or within three months from the date of taking possession whichever is earlier. It would be subject to further condition that the amount of advance for this purpose shall not exceed 10% of the actual purchase price of the flat/house and the member has not drawn any advance from the company for the same purpose".
Explanation:2 the actual cost towards the acquisition of the dwelling site or the purchase of the dwelling house/ flat shall include the charges payable towards registration of such site, house or flat.
(3) (a) No advance under this paragraph should be granted unless:
i) the member has completed five years membership of the fund;
ii) the member's share of contribution with interest thereon in the account standing to his credit in the Fund is not less than one thousand rupees;
iii)the dwelling site or the dwelling house/flat or the house under construction is free from encumbrances.
Provided that where a dwelling site or a dwelling house/flat is mortgaged to any of the agencies, referred to in clause (a) of sub-paragraph (1) solely for having obtained funds for the purchase of a dwelling house/flat or for construction of a dwelling house, including the acquisition of a suitable site for the purpose, such a dwelling house/flat as the case may be shall not be deemed to be an encumbered property.
Provided further that a land acquired on a perpetual lease or on lease for a period of not less than 30 years for constructing a dwelling house/flat or a house/flat built on such a leased land, shall also not be deemed to be encumbered property.
Provided also that where the site of the dwelling house/flat is held in the name of any agency, referred to in clause (a) of Sub paragraph (1) and the allottee is precluded from transferring or otherwise disposing off, the house/flat without the prior approval of such agency. The mere fact that the allottee does not have absolute right of ownership in the name of the agency shall not be a bar to the giving of an advance under clause (a) of sub-paragraph (1), if other conditions mentioned in the paragraph are satisfied
(b) no advance shall be granted for purchasing a share in a joint property or for constructing a house on a site owned jointly except on a site owned jointly with the spouse.
(4) Subject to the limitation prescribed in sub paragraph (2).
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N K Gupta Sunil Gupta Secretary Trustee (a) where the advance is for the purchase of a dwelling house/flat or a dwelling site from an agency, referred to in clause (a) of sub paragraph (1) the payment of advance shall not be made to the member but shall be made direct to the agency, in one or more installments, as may be authorized by the member;
(b) where the advance is for the construction of a dwelling house, it may be sanctioned in such number of installments as the Secretary thinks fit. (c) Where the advance is for acquisition of a dwelling site for the purpose of construction of a dwelling house thereon from any individual or any agency, the amount shall be paid in not less than two equal installments, the first installment at the time of acquisition of the dwelling site and the remaining at his request at the time of the construction of a dwelling house on such dwelling site;
(5) Where an advance is sanctioned for the construction of a dwelling house, the construction shall commence within six months of the withdrawal of the first installment and shall be completed within twelve months of the withdrawal of the final installment.
Where the advance is sanctioned for the purchase of a dwelling house/flat or for the acquisition of a dwelling site the purchase or the acquisition as the case may be, shall be completed within six months of the withdrawal of the amount.
Provided that this provision shall not be applicable in case of purchase of a dwelling house/ flat on hire purchase basis and is case where a dwelling site is to be acquired or houses are to be constructed by a cooperative society on behalf of its members with a view to their allotment to the members.
(6) Except in the cases specified in sub-paragraph (7), no further advance shall be admissible to a member under this paragraph.
(7) An additional advance up to twelve months basic wages and Dearness Allowance or the member's own share of contribution with interest thereon, in the amount standing to his credit in the Fund, whichever is less, may be granted in one installment only, for additions, substantial alterations or improvements necessary to the dwelling house owned by the member or by the spouse or jointly by the member and the spouse.
Provided that the advance shall be admissible only after a period of five years from the date of completion of the dwelling house.
7(A) A further withdrawal up to twelve months basic wages and DA or member's own share of Contribution with interest thereon in his account, whichever is the least, may be granted for addition, alteration improvement or repair of the dwelling house owned by the member or by the spouse or jointly by the member and the spouse, after ten years of withdrawal under paragraph 48 (7).
(8) The member shall produce the title deed and such other documents as may be required for inspection, which shall be returned to the member after the grant of advance.
(9) a) If the advance granted under this paragraph exceeds, the amount actually spent for the purpose for which it was sanctioned, the excess amount shall be refunded by the member to the Fund in one lump-sum within thirty days of the finalization of the purchase or the completion of the construction of, or necessary additions, alterations or improvements to a dwelling house, as the case may be. The amount so refunded shall be credited to the employer's account in the fund, to the extent of advance granted out of the said share and the balance, if any, shall be credited to the member's share of contributions in this account.
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N K Gupta Sunil Gupta Secretary Trustee
b) In the event of the member not having been allotted a dwelling site/dwelling house/flat or in the event of the cancellation of an allotment made to the member and of the refund of the amount by the agency referred to in clause (a) of sub-paragraph (1), or in the event of the member not being able to acquire the dwelling site or to purchase the dwelling house/flat from any individual or to construct the dwelling house, the member shall be liable to refund to the fund in one lump sum and in such manner as may be specified by the Secretary, the amount of advance remitted under this paragraph to him or as the case may be to the agency referred to in clause (a) of sub-paragraph.
The amount so refunded shall be credited to the employer's share of contribution in the member's account in the Fund to the extent of advance granted out of the said share, and the balance, if any, shall be credited to the member's own share of contributions in his account. (10) If the Secretary is satisfied that the advance granted under this paragraph has been utilised for a purpose other than that for which it was granted or that the member refused to accept an allotment or to acquire a dwelling site or that the conditions of advances have not been fulfilled or that there is reasonable apprehension that they will not be fulfilled, wholly or partly, or that the excess amount will not be refunded in terms of clause (b) of sub- paragraph (9), the Secretary shall forthwith take steps to recover the amount due, with penal interest thereon at the rate of two percent per annum, from the wages of the member in such number of installments as the Secretary may determine. For the purpose of such recovery, the Secretary may ask the employer to deduct such installments from the wages of the member and on receipt of such direction, the employer will deduct accordingly. The employer shall remit the amount so deducted to the Secretary within such time and in such manner as may be specified in the direction. The amount so refunded, excluding penal interest shall be credited to the employer's share of contributions in the members' account in the fund, to the extent of advance granted out of the said share, and the balance, if any, shall be credited to the member's own share of contribution in his account. The amount of penal interest shall be credited to the Interest Account. (11) Where any advance granted under the paragraph has been misused by the member, no further advance shall be granted to him under this paragraph within a period of three years from the date of grant of the said advance or till the full recovery of the amount of the said advance, with penal interest thereon, whichever is later.
49. COMPUTATION OF PERIOD OF MEMBERSHIP
In computing the period of membership of the Fund of a member under the Rules 48, his total service under the Company exclusive of periods of breaks as well as the period of his membership of a provident fund in any Government or private establishment prior to joining the Company, the balance of which has been transferred in accordance with rule 37 shall be included.
50. ADVANCE FROM THE FUND FOR REPAYMENT OF LOANS IN SPECIAL CASES
1. (a) The Secretary may, on an application from a member, sanction from the amount standing to the credit of the member in the Fund, withdrawal for the repayment, wholly or partly, of any outstanding principal and interest of a loan (obtained in the name of the member or spouse of the member or jointly by the member and spouse from a State Government, Registered Cooperative Society, State Housing Board, Nationalized Banks, Public Financial Institutions). Municipal Corporation or a body similar to the Delhi Development Authority solely for the purposes specified in sub-paragraph (i) of clause 48.
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N K Gupta Sunil Gupta Secretary Trustee (b) The amount of advance shall not exceed the member's basic wages and dearness allowance for 36 months or his own share of contributions, together with the employer's share of contribution with interest thereon, in the member's account in the Fund or the amount of outstanding principal and interest of the said loan, whichever is least.
2. No advance shall be sanctioned under this Paragraph unless: (a) the member has completed 10 years membership of the Fund; and'
(b) the member's own share of contribution, with interest thereon, standing to his credit in the Fund is one thousand rupees or more; and
(c) the member produces a certificate or such other documents, as may be prescribed by the Secretary from such agency indicating the particulars of the member, the loan granted, the outstanding principal, interest of the loan and such other particulars as may be required.
3. The payment of the advance under this paragraph shall be made direct to such agency on receipt of an authorization from the member in such manner as may be specified by the Secretary and in no event the payment shall be made to the member.
51. ADVANCE TO RESERVISTS RECALLED FOR DEFENCE DUTY :
An advance may be given to a Reservist, who is a member of the Fund, to the extent of his own share of contributions together with interest thereon, when the Army authorities call him back. Such payments may be made as far as possible before the member concerned is relieved for reporting on duty to the Army Authorities.
52. ADVANCES FROM THE FUND FOR MARRIAGE OR POST MATRICULATION EDUCATION OF CHILDREN
The Secretary, may on an application from a member authorize payment to him or her a non- refundable advance from his or her Provident Fund account not exceeding fifty percent of his/her own share of contribution, with interest thereon, standing to his/her credit in the Fund, on the date of such authorization, for the following purpose namely:
(a) Meeting of cost of higher education including where necessary, the traveling expenses of any child of the member in the following case, namely:-
(i) for education outside India for academic, technical, professional or vocational course beyond the high school stage, and
(ii) for any medical, engineering or other technical or specialized course in India beyond the High School stage.
Explanation: Cost of higher education shall include all fees and hostel charges (other than security deposit) of the recognized institution. However, the fees and hostel charges will be paid in the name of the college/ Institution and Demand Draft charges, if any shall be born by the company except in case where fee is to be deposited at the time of counseling and member desires to get the advance in his/ her name with a condition that proof of utilization will be submitted by the member within one month of withdrawal of advance. Traveling expenses if required will be paid in the name of member.
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N K Gupta Sunil Gupta Secretary Trustee (b) Meeting the expenditure in connection with members self-marriage, marriage of the members sons or daughters or dependent brothers or sisters.
Explanation: No advance under this rule shall be sanctioned unless the member has completed 7 years membership of the fund and his own share of contribution including interest thereon standing to his credit in the fund is Rs.1000/- or more.
53. ADVANCE FROM THE FUND FOR ILLNESS IN CERTAIN CASES
1. A member may be allowed non-refundable advance from his account in the Fund for treatment of self or any member of his family in cases of:
(a) Hospitalization lasting for one month or more, or (b) Major surgical operation in a hospital, or (c) Suffering from T.B, leprosy, paralysis, cancer, mental derangement or heart ailment and having been granted leave by his employer for treatment of the said illness.
2. The advance shall be granted if
(a) A doctor of the hospital certifies that a surgical operation or, as the case may be, hospitalization for one month or more had or has become necessary or a registered medical practitioner, or in the case of mental derangement or heart ailment, a specialist certifies that the member is suffering form T.B, leprosy, paralysis, cancer, mental derangement or heart ailment. (3) The advance shall not exceed the amount considered reasonable by the authorized medical attendant for meeting the expenses in connection with the illness and it shall in no case exceed six months' basic pay and D.A. or the member's total contribution with interest thereon, whichever is less.
54. GRANT OF ADVANCES IN ABNORMAL CONDITIONS
1. The Board of Trustees may on an application from a member whose property, movable or immovable, has been damaged by a calamity of exceptional nature, such as floods, earthquakes or riots, authorize payment to him from the provident fund account a non- refundable advance of Rupees Five Thousand or fifty percent of his own total contribution including interest there on standing to his credit on the date of such authorization, whichever is less, to meet any unforeseen expenditure;
2. No advance under sub-rule(1) shall be paid unless
(i) the State Government has declared that the calamity has affected the general public in the area; (ii) the member produces a certificate from an appropriate authority to the effect that his property (movable or immovable) has been damaged as a result of the calamity; (iii) the application for advance is made within a period of four months from the date of declaration referred to in this sub-rule (i).
55. GRANT OF ADVANCES IN SPECIAL CASES 1. In case company has been locked up or closed down for more than fifteen days and its employees are rendered unemployed without any compensation or in case an employee does not receive his wages for a continuous period of two months or more, these being for reasons other than a strike, the Secretary, may on an application from an employee,
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N K Gupta Sunil Gupta Secretary Trustee who is a member of the Fund, in such form as may be prescribed, authorize payment to him, one or more non-recoverable advances from his provident fund account not exceeding his own total contributions including interest thereon up to the date the payment has been authorized.
(1A) In case a provident fund member is discharged or dismissed or retrenched by the employer and such discharge or dismissal or retrenchment is challenged by the member and the cases are pending in a Court of Law, Secretary may on an application from the member in such form as may be prescribed authorize payment to him of one or more non-recoverable advance from his Provident Fund Account not exceeding fifty per cent of his own share of contribution with interest thereon standing to his credit in the Fund on the date of such authorization. (2) (a) In case the company continues to remain locked up or closed down for more than six months, the Secretary on being satisfied that a member who has already been granted one or more non-recoverable advances from his Provident Fund Account under sub- paragraph (1) still continues to be unemployed and no compensation is likely to be paid to him at an early date, may on receipt of an application therefore in such form as may be prescribed in this behalf, authorize payment to the member of one or more recoverable advances from his Provident Fund Account up to the extent of 100% of the employers total contribution including interest thereon up to the date on which the payment has been authorized:
Provided that if the company in which the member is employed remains closed for more than five years for reasons other than strike, recoverable advance may be converted into non-recoverable advance on receipt of a request in writing from the member concerned.
b) The advance granted under clause (a) shall be interest-free.
(c ) The advance granted under clause (a) shall be recovered by deductions from the wages of the member in such installments subject to a maximum of thirty-six installments, as may be determined by the Secretary. The recovery shall commence from the first wages paid to the member immediately after the re-start of the company.
(d)The employer shall remit the amount so deducted to the Fund within such time and in such manner as may be specified by the Secretary. The amount, on receipt, shall be credited to the members account in the Fund.
EXPLANATION- For the purpose of grant of advance under this paragraph, the establishment (Company) may be closed legally, illegally, with permission or without permission, so long as the establishment (Company) is closed.
56. GRANT OF ADVANCE TO MEMBERS AFFECTED BY CUT IN THE SUPPLY OF ELECTRICITY A member may be allowed a non-refundable advance from his account in the Fund, if there is a cut in the supply of electricity to the company in which he is employed on the following conditions, namely:-
a) The advance may be granted only to a member whose total wages for any one month commencing from the month of January, 1973, were three-fourths or less than three- fourths of wages for a month.
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N K Gupta Sunil Gupta Secretary Trustee b) The advance shall be restricted to the amount of wages for a month or Rs.300 or the amount standing to the credit of the member in the Fund as his own share of contribution with interest thereon, whichever is less. c) No advance shall be paid unless the State Government certify that the cut in the supply of electricity was enforced in the area in which the establishment (Company) is located and the employer certifies that the fall in the members pay was due to cut in the supply of electricity. d) Only one advance shall be admissible under this paragraph.
EXPLANATION Wages means for the purposes of this paragraph, basic pay and dearness allowance excluding lay-off compensation, if any.
57. GRANT OF ADVANCE TO MEMBERS WHO ARE PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED
1) A member, who is physically handicapped, may be allowed a non-refundable advance from his account in the Fund, for purchasing equipment required to minimize the hardship on account of handicap. 2) No advance under sub-paragraph (1) shall be paid unless the member produces a medical certificate from a competent medical practitioner to the satisfaction of the Secretary to the effect that he is physically handicapped.
3) The amount advanced under this paragraph shall not exceed the members basic wages and dearness allowance for six months or his own share of contribution with interest thereon or the cost of the equipment, whichever is least.
4) No second advance under this paragraph shall be allowed within a period of three years from the date of payment of an advance allowed under this paragraph.
58. Payment from Fund to member or their Representatives
Except as these rules expressly provide, no member nor any person or persons on his behalf or in respect of his interest in the Fund or assets thereof, shall be entitled to claim any payment of money to him or them.
58-A. Prohibition against transfers and assignments
No member shall transfer or assign whether by way of security or otherwise his interest or any part thereof in the moneys or lying to his credit in the Fund and no such transfer or assignment shall be valid and the Board shall not recognize or be bound by notice to them of any such transfer or assignment.
58-B: Payment of withdrawal or advances
The payment of withdrawal or advances under the rule of the scheme may be made at the option of the member:
(h) by deposit with payee bank account in any scheduled bank or in any post office. or (ii) through employer.
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N K Gupta Sunil Gupta Secretary Trustee
CHAPTER-VII
FINAL WITHDRAWAL
59 CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH ACCUMULATIONS IN THE FUND ARE PAYABLE TO A MEMBER
(1) A member may withdraw the full amount standing to his credit in the Fund:-
(a) on retirement from services after attaining the age of 55 years .
Provided that a member, who has not attained the age of 55 years at the time of termination of his service shall also be entitled to withdraw the full amount standing to his credit in the Fund if he attains the age of 55 years before the payment is authorized.
(b) on retirement on account of permanent and total incapacity for work due to bodily or mental infirmity duly certified by the Medical Officer of the establishment or where it has no regular officer, by a registered Medical Practitioner designated by the establishment or from a registered medical practitioner or medical officer of the Employees State Insurance Dispensary with which the member is registered under that Scheme.
(c) immediately before migration from India for permanent settlement abroad; or for taking employment abroad.
(d) on termination of service in the case of mass or individual retrenchment;
(e) on termination of service under a voluntary scheme of retirement framed by the employer and the employees under a mutual agreement specifying, inter-alia, that notwithstanding the provisions contained in sub-clause (a) of clause (00) of section 2 of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 excluding voluntary retirements from the scope of definition of retrenchment such voluntary retirement shall for the purpose be treated as retrenchment by mutual consent of the parties.
(f) in any of the following contingencies, provided the actual payment shall be made only after completing a continuous period of not less than two months immediately preceding the date on which a member makes the application for withdrawal :-
(i) Where the member is transferred from the establishment to another factory or other establishment not covered by the Employees' Provident Fund & Miscellaneous Provisions act, 1952; but is under the same employer. (ii) where the establishment is closed but certain employees who are not retrenched are transferred by the employer to other factory or establishment not covered by the Employees' Provident Fund & Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952 ; and (iii) if a member is discharged from service of the establishment and is given retrenchment compensation under the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947.
(2.) In cases other than those specified in sub-rule (1), the Board of Trustees may permit a member to withdraw the full amount standing to his credit in the Fund on ceasing to be an employee of the establishment provided that a member declares in writing affirming the fact that he has not been employed in any factory or other establishment to which the Act applies for a continuous period of not less then two months immediately preceding the date on which he makes an application for withdrawal. The requirement of two months waiting period shall not, however,
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N K Gupta Sunil Gupta Secretary Trustee apply in cases of female members resigning from the services of the establishment for the purpose of getting married.
(3.) Any member who withdraws the amount due to him under sub-rule (2) shall, on obtaining re- employment in the establishment be required to qualify again for the membership of the Fund and on qualifying for membership shall be treated as a fresh member thereof.
(4.) The Board of Trustees may on an application from a member in such form as may be prescribed, permit withdrawal of upto 90 percent of the amount standing at his credit at any time after attainment of the age of 54 years by the member or within one year before his actual retirement on Superannuation whichever is later.
60. ACCUMULATIONS OF A DECEASED MEMBER-TO WHOM PAYABLE
On the death of a member, before the amount standing to his credit has become payable or where the amount has become payable before payment has been made
(a) if a nomination made by the member in accordance with Rule 29 subsists, the amount standing to his credit in the Fund or that part thereof to which the nomination relates, shall become payable to his nominee or nominees in accordance with such nomination; or
(b) if no nomination subsists or if the nomination relates only to a part of the amount standing to his credit in the Fund, the whole amount or the part thereof to which the nomination does not relate, as the case may be, shall become payable to the members of his family in equal shares. Provided that no share shall be payable to:
i) Sons who have attained majority; ii) Sons of a deceased son who have attained majority; iii) Married daughters whose husbands are alive; and iv) Married daughters of a deceased son whose husbands are alive.
If there is any member of the family other than those specified in clauses (i), (ii), (iii), (iv) above
Provided further that the widow or widows, and the child or children of a deceased son shall receive between them in equal parts only the share which that son would have received if he had survived the member and had not attained the age of majority at the time of the members death.
(c) In any case to which the provisions of clauses (a) and (b) do not apply, the whole amount shall be payable to the person legally entitled to it.
Explanation
For the purpose of this Rule a member's posthumous child, if born alive, shall be treated in the same way as a surviving child born before the member's death.
60A. PAYMENT OF PF ACCUMULATIONS IN THE CASE OF A PERSON CHARGED WITH THE OFFENCE OF MURDER
(1) If a person, who in the event of the death of a member of the fund is eligible to receive provident fund accumulations of the deceased member under Rule 60, is charged with the offence of murdering the member or abetting in the commission of such an offence, his claim to
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N K Gupta Sunil Gupta Secretary Trustee receive the share of provident fund shall remain suspended till the conclusion of the criminal proceedings initiated against him for such offence. (2) If on the conclusion of the criminal proceedings referred to in sub-rule (1), the person concerned is:-
a. convicted for the murder or abetting the murder of the member, he shall be debarred from receiving the share of provident fund accumulations which shall be payable to other eligible members, if any, of the deceased member; or b. acquitted of the murdering or abetting the murder of the member, his share of provident fund shall be payable to him.
61. PAYMENT OF PROVIDENT FUND
(1) When the amount standing to the credit of a member, or the balance thereof after any deduction becomes payable, it shall be the duty of the Secretary to make prompt payment as provided in these Rules. He
shall close the account of the member and give notice in writing to the person to whom the amount is payable, specifying the amount and tendering payment thereof. In case there is no nominee in accordance with the Rules, the Chairman may, if the amount to the Credit of the Fund does not exceed Rs. 10000/- and if satisfied after the enquiry about the title of the claimant, pay such amount to the claimant.
(2) If any portion of the amount which has become payable is in dispute or doubt, the Secretary shall make prompt payment of that portion of the amount in regard to which there is no dispute or doubt, the balance being adjusted as soon as possible.
(3) If the person to whom any amount is to be paid under these Rules is a minor or a lunatic for whose estate a guardian under the Guardians and Wards Act, 1890 (VIII of 1890), or a manager under the Indian Lunacy Act, 1912 (IV of 1912), as the case may be, has been appointed, the payment shall be made to such guardian or manager. In case no such guardian or manager has been appointed, the payment shall be made to such person as the Chairman, where the amount does not exceed Rs. 20,000/- considers to be the proper person representing the minor or lunatic and the receipt of such person for the amount paid shall be a sufficient discharge thereof. In any other case the amount shall be paid to the person authorised by law to receive the payment on behalf of the minor or the lunatic.
(4) If it is brought to the notice of the Secretary that a posthumous child is to be born to the deceased member he shall retain the amount, which will be due to the child in the event of its being born alive, and distribute the balance. If subsequently no child is born or the child is stillborn, the amount retained shall be distributed in accordance with the provisions of Rule 60.
(5) Payment of withdrawal or advance shall be made under the option of the member: - i) by postal money order, or ii) by deposit in the payees bank account in any Scheduled Bank or in Co-operative Bank (including the Urban Co-operative Bank) or any post office, or iii) through the employer.
(6) All claims including transfers, advances, and final settlement complete in all respects submitted along with the requisite documents shall be settled expeditiously within the time limit prescribed under the EPF & MP Act, 1952.
62. EX-MEMBERS UNCLAIMED ACCOUNT
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N K Gupta Sunil Gupta Secretary Trustee Any amount becoming due to a member as a result of:
(i) supplementary contribution from the employer in respect of leave wages/arrears of pay, installment of arrear contribution received in respect of a member whose claim has been settled on account but which could not be remitted for want of latest address; or
(ii) accumulation in respect of any member who has either ceased to be employed or died, but no claim has been preferred within a period of three years from the date it becomes payable, or if any amount remitted to a person, is received back undelivered, and it is not claimed again within a period of three years from the date it becomes payable, shall be transferred to an account to be called the Unclaimed Deposits Accounts.
Provided that in the case of a claim for the payment of the said balance, the amount shall be paid by debiting to the Unclaimed Deposit Account.
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N K Gupta Sunil Gupta Secretary Trustee CHAPTER-VIII MISCELLANEOUS 63 DEDUCTION OF INCOME TAX
The Board of Trustees or any person authorized by it shall deduct Income Tax as per provisions of Chapter XVII B of the Income Tax Act, 1961, from the payment of accumulated balance due to the members which is not exempted from tax and is liable to be included in total income as provided under Rule 8 or 10 of Part A of the 4 th Schedule of the Income Tax Act, 1961.
64. PROTECTION AGAINST ATTACHMENT
i) The amount standing to the credit of any member in the Fund shall not in any way be capable of being assigned or charged and shall not be liable to attachment under any decree or order of any Court in respect of any debt or liability incurred by the member, and neither the official assignee appointed under the Presidency-towns Insolvency Act, 1909 (3 of 1909), nor any Receiver appointed under the Provincial Insolvency Act, 1902 (5 of 1902), shall be entitled to, nor have any claim on any such amount.
ii)Any amount standing to the credit of a member in the Fund at the time of his death and payable to his nominee under the Rules of the Fund shall, subject to any deduction authorised by the Rules, vest in the nominee and shall be free from any debt or other liability incurred by the deceased or the nominee before the death of the member.
65. TRUSTEES' POWER TO AMEND THE RULES
With the prior approval of the Regional Provident fund commissioner and Commissioner of income tax the Trustees may in their discretion with consent of the Company in writing add to, alter, or repeal any of the provisions of these presents but so that no such additions or alterations shall adversely affect the rights of any member of the Fund in respect of any fund then in the hands of the Trustees or result in the Company acquiring any beneficial interest whatsoever in the Fund. All such additions or alterations shall during such time as the Fund shall continue to be recognized as a recognized Fund within the meaning of the Income Tax Act and Employees' Provident Fund Act, 1952. The members shall have a right to appeal to the Regional Provident Fund Commissioner, in case the Regional Provident Fund Commissioner approves any amendment to their disadvantage.
66. INSPECTION OF CARDS AND RECORDS BY THE COMMISSIONER
The Board of Trustee or the Secretary shall, whenever the Commissioner or any officer authorized by him in this behalf or an Inspector appointed under Section 13 of the Employees' Provident Fund Act, 1952, so requests either in person or by notice in writing, produce before the Commissioner, Officer or Inspector, as the case may be, any account books or records of the Fund, and if so required by the said Commissioner, Officer or Inspector who may, if he thinks fit, retain the records provided that he shall grant a receipt of every record retained by him.
67. DISPOSAL OF THE FUND
Subject to the provisions of the Employees' Provident Funds Act and of these Rules the Fund shall not, except with the previous sanction of the Commissioner, be extended for any purpose other than for the payment of sums standing to the credit of individual members of the fund or to their nominees or heirs or legal representatives in accordance with the provisions of these rules.
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N K Gupta Sunil Gupta Secretary Trustee 68. WINDING UP
It shall be lawful for the Trustees at any time on giving a month's notice in writing to all members of the Fund to wind up the Fund in which case the Trustees shall on expiry of the period of such notice realize all securities and make up the books and after payment of all costs and expenses of winding up and otherwise the moneys of the Fund shall be transferred of RPFC for distribution amongst the persons who shall be the members at the time of commencement of such winding up in proportion to the balances at the time of the making of the books standing to their credit therein. In case of the Fund being wound up on account of Company going into liquidation, the employees' contribution of the provident Fund will have top priority over all other dues. Provided that the winding up of the Fund will not be made without the prior approval of the Commissioner. Provided further that when the Fund is wound up or exemption of the Company under Section 17 (1) of Employees' Provident Fund Act, 1952 is cancelled, accumulations standing to the credit of the employees who but for exemption would have been members of the Statutory Provident Fund constituted under Section 5(1) of the Employees' Provident Funds Act, 1952, shall be transferred to that Fund as soon as possible, and in any case, not later than 30 days in the case of securities and not later than 10 days in the case of cash in hand or bank, together with a statement or statements as may be required by the Commissioner. 69. DISPLAY OF RULES The employer shall display on the notice board of the establishment, a copy of the rules of the funds as approved by the appropriate authority and as and when amended thereto along with a translation in the language of the majority of the employees.
70. WITHDRAWAL OF EXEMPTION IN CASE OF CONSECUTIVE LOSS A company reporting loss for three consecutive financial years or erosion in their capital base shall have their exemption withdrawn from the first day of the next/ succeeding financial year.
71. In the event of any violation of the conditions for grant of exemption, by the employer or the Board of Trustees, the exemption granted may be cancelled after issuing a show cause notice in this regard to the concerned persons. 72. The central Government may lay down any further conditions for continuation of exemption of the establishments.
73 STATUTORY PROVISIONS TO HAVE OVERRIDING EFFECT
(1) In the absence of any specific provision in these rules of if any provision of these rules is less beneficial than the corresponding provision of the Employees Provident Funds & Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952 and the Employees Provident Fund Scheme, 1952 framed there under the latter provision shall prevail, mutatis mutandis.
(2) Where any provisions of rules conflicts with any provisions of the E.P.F. Scheme, 1952, the latter shall always be deemed to prevail.
(3) Question whether a particular rule is beneficial or not shall be decided by the Regional Provident Fund Commissioner whose decision shall be final.
(4) In case of any change of legal status of the establishment, which has been granted exemption, as a result of merger, demerger, acquisition, sale, amalgamation, formation of a subsidiary, whether wholly owned or not, etc., the exemption granted shall stand revoked and the establishment should promptly report the matter to the RPFC concerned for grant of fresh exemption.
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N K Gupta Sunil Gupta Secretary Trustee (5) In case, there are more than one unit/establishment participating in the common P.F. trust which has been granted permission, all the trustees shall be jointly and separately liable/responsible for any default committed by any of the trustees/employer of any of the participating units.
74. EMPLOYEES FAMILY PENSION SCHEME 1971 & EMPLOYEES PENSION SCHEME, 1995 The employer is responsible to comply with the statutory provisions of FPF71 & the Employees Pension Scheme 1995.
The employer is responsible to comply with the conditions of Employees Deposit Linked Insurance Scheme 1976
Board of Trustees Sr No. Name Signature 1 Shri A K Singhal, Chairman Board of Trustees
2 Shri S N Goel Trustee
3 Shri M S Umesh Trustee
4 Shri K I Singh Trustee
5 Shri P Purkayastha Trustee
6 Shri Pankaj Kumar Trustee
7 Shri Sunil Gupta Trustee
8 Shri N K Gupta Secretary
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N K Gupta Sunil Gupta Secretary Trustee
ANNEXURE A
GUIDELINES FOR THE FUNCTIONING OF BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF EXEMPTED ESTABLISHMENT
1. The Trust can be created without executing a Registered Trust Deed but trustee when elected should ensure that there is a trust deed on the stamp paper and should be irrevocable in nature.
2. The Board of Trustees shall meet a least once in every three months.
3. No business shall be transacted at a meeting of the Board of Trustees unless at least four trustees of the board are presently of whom at least one should be from employers side and one from the employees side.
4. Monthly return submitted to the Regional Provident Fund Commissioner should be placed before the meeting for scrutiny of the trustees. The trustees attending the meeting should affix their signatures as a proof of their scrutiny. Their views on the returns should be recorded in the minutes of meeting.
5. The trustees should ensure that as per the rules of exempted provident fund approval of all loans must be by at least two trustees. In case of a large Organisation with major plants/offices in different locations, the trustees may be allowed to delegate approval of loans to two managers, one of whom may be a personnel Labour officer ( and in his absence Accounts Officer). Such delegations should be by name of the manager/officer and not to specified positions and the trustees must satisfy that the authorized manager/officer is well informed and kept advised about applicable regulation.
6. Similarly settlement of accounts (including transfer of accumulations to another provident fund) should require authorization of at least two trustees. The auditors of the fund should specifically check all settlement. All claims for withdrawal, advances and transfers should be settled expeditiously, within the time frame prescribed by Employees Provident Fund Organisation.
7. The Board of Trustees, wherever the employers have not transferred the amount of provident fund to the Board of Trustees shall pass a resolution to the effect and forward it to the employer and the Regional Provident Fund Commissioner.
8. The trustees should examine if the amount shown as transferred in the return has in effect been transferred and credited to the Bank account of the fund. Specific mention of this scrutiny and findings should be recorded in the minutes of the meeting.
9. The trustees should also ensure whether the amount shown as invested in the last monthly return has in effect been invested and record a certificate to that effect in the minutes.
10. Once in every year the securities should be recorded and scrutinized by the trustees and their findings recorded in the minutes of the meetings.
NTPC Limited Corporate Human Resources Division HR Policy Manual NTPC Ltd. Employees Provident Fund Trust Rules Section:0401 Issue No: II Rev.No.:0 Issue Date: 26.09.2011 Updated as on: 31.01.2012 Page: 37 of 40
N K Gupta Sunil Gupta Secretary Trustee 11. The report of the Provident Fund Inspector and the correspondence relating to the trust finds between the employer and the Regional Provident Fund Commissioner should be placed before the meeting of trustees and their views recorded in the minutes.
12. Within six months of the close of financial year the employer should place the Audited Balance Sheet of the trust before the trustees.
13. The trustees shall, before the close of the financial year declare the rate of interest for the succeeding year.
14. Along with the Balance Sheet the Chairman should also furnish an annual report to the trustees for their consideration and adoption.
15. The Balance Sheet and the Annual Report, after their approval by trustees, should be forwarded to the concerned Regional Provident Fund Commissioner, recognized union/Association of employees.
16. The Board of Trustees should examine all complaints received from the subscribers.
17. The Board of Trustees shall fix a grievance day one in a month.
18. The Board of Trustees shall have a separate Notice Board of their own and display important decisions, amendments etc. on it. Wherever non-transfer/non-investment occur the same should be displayed for the knowledge of the subscribers.
19. The Board of Trustees shall periodically review the issuance of Annual Statement of Account, Settlement of Claims, Sanction of Advances, etc.
20. The annual Report shall contain the followings:-
(i) The total number of employees of the establishment in each category of work at the beginning of the year fresh recruitments made/number of employees left during the year. The total number of subscribers at the beginning of the year, the additions during the year and the total number of subscribers at the close of the year.
(ii) The names, addresses of the Board of Trustees
(iii) Total amount of accumulation in the trust with figures at least for the past two years.
(iv) Total amount transferred to the fund (with figures of the past year).
(v) The rate of interest and total amount of interest debited/credited to the fund.
(vi) Investment made during the year Details of the Securities to be shown.
(vii) Claims settled and rejected with the amount sanctioned loan application sanctioned/rejected and the amount distributed.
NTPC Limited Corporate Human Resources Division HR Policy Manual NTPC Ltd. Employees Provident Fund Trust Rules Section:0401 Issue No: II Rev.No.:0 Issue Date: 26.09.2011 Updated as on: 31.01.2012 Page: 38 of 40
N K Gupta Sunil Gupta Secretary Trustee
(viii) Balance sheet, Income and Expenditure Account.
(ix) Constitution/re-constitution of the Board of Trustees. Number of meeting held during the year and salient decisions.
x) Whether the monthly/annual returns etc. has been submitted to the Regional Provident Fund Commissioner in time or not. If not, reasons of the same.
(xi) A statement to the effect as to whether all the conditions of exemption has been complied with.
(xii) The justification and explanation of the Board in respect of qualifying remarks given by the Auditors.
(xiii) The number of applications for transfer of accounts and their disposal.
(xiv) The position regarding issuance of Annual Statement of Accounts. The Arrears, if any, and the reasons for the same.
(xv) The number of inspections carried out and salient remarks, if any.
21. The Annual Report and Accounts of the Provident Fund Trust should be exhibited on Notice Boards of all office and factories for a minimum period of thirty days.
22. The Provident Fund money kept aside for obligatory payments towards settlement of claims and grant of advances to the members may be kept deposited in the Saving Account opened in any scheduled Bank in the name of the fund to be operated jointly by two trustees authorized by the Board, one of them being the employees representatives.
NTPC Limited Corporate Human Resources Division HR Policy Manual NTPC Ltd. Employees Provident Fund Trust Rules Section:0401 Issue No: II Rev.No.:0 Issue Date: 26.09.2011 Updated as on: 31.01.2012 Page: 39 of 40
N K Gupta Sunil Gupta Secretary Trustee
ANNEXURE B
FORM OF DECLARATION (See Rule No.26(e)
I hereby declare that I have read/have been read and explained to me and I have understood the Rules
of
..I hereby subscribe to and agree to be bound thereby.
Dated theday of.19..
Name in full and address
Date of birthNature of appointment
Date of joining service
Present Salary: (i) Basic.
(ii) Dearness Allowance..
Witness.
Signature:
(1) Name. (2) Address.
Signature/Right or Left Hand Thumb Impression of the employee.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The applicant can be admitted as a member.
TRUSTEE
NTPC Limited Corporate Human Resources Division HR Policy Manual NTPC Ltd. Employees Provident Fund Trust Rules Section:0401 Issue No: II Rev.No.:0 Issue Date: 26.09.2011 Updated as on: 31.01.2012 Page: 40 of 40
N K Gupta Sunil Gupta Secretary Trustee
RECORD OF REVISIONS
Section-Clause No. Revision No. Revision Date Amendment Details 0401-Record of Revisions 0 13.02.2012 Provision Added