Labour Minister’s controversial order rocks EPFO

The Association plans to file a contempt petition in the Central Administrative Tribunal and has sought support from officers all across the country in this fight.

The appointment in question is of a deputy secretary from the Central Secretariat Service, Ranbir Singh, who has been appointed as Additional Central PF Commissioner (North Zone) on December 24. This is a very high level post, second only to the Central PF Commissioner.

Singh had joined the Labour Ministry just ten days before that and was to fill one of three vacant Deputy Secretary posts. But before his file could process further, Rao’s office conveyed that the ‘‘Labour and Employment Minister has directed that Shri Ranbir Singh’s case for posting be put up to him and that he be not assigned to any office till such time’’.

Days later, Rao ordered that Singh be posted as the EPFO’s Additional Central PF Commissioner for the North Zone immediately. The additional commissioner in charge of North Zone, V N Sharma, was transferred and Singh appointed through an Office Order dated December 24, a Saturday when EPFO wasn’t working. Senior EPF officers allege that the haste and the manner of Rao’s unilateral decision ignoring all canons of law and the ministry’s advice indicates something fishy.

They also allege that Singh’s appointment runs foul of a stay order passed by CAT in July 2004 and reiterated on December 16, 2005, that bars the ministry from appointing outsiders at the Additional CPFC and the Regional PF Commissioner (Grade I) posts.

Moreover, they say that Singh’s rank of Deputy Secretary is not commensurate with the Additional CPFC’s job, which is a director-level post. Four senior EPF officers are already due for promotion to the same job, but the Labour Minister hasn’t acted on them yet. Intriguingly, the ministry still hasn’t given Singh a relieving letter neither has it rescinded the appointment. It is also unclear whether Singh will get his pay from the ministry or the EPFO.

The EPF Officers’ Association is demanding that Singh’s appointment be revoked and will meet again today or tomorrow to assess the situation. If no action is seen, they plan to go on mass casual leave starting January 6 and file a contempt petition in CAT this week.