- (1.) Heard Sri Anupras Singh, learned counsel for the petitioner as well as Sri R. K. Verma, learned Advocate appearing for respondent Nos. 2 and 3 and Sri Om Prakash Pandey, learned counsel for respondent No.4.
(2.) By means of the present writ petition the petitioner has challenged the order dated 22.9.2011 passed by Employees Provident Fund Appellate Tribunal as well as order dated 13.2.2013 passed by Regional Provident Fund Commissioner (II), Bareilly issued in proceedings under Section 7A of the Employees Provident Fund and Misc. Provision Act, 1952 (hereinafter referred to as the Act).
(3.) Petitioner has submitted that he is a Regional Rural Bank sponsored by the Bank of Baroda and set up by the Government under the Regional Rural Banks Act, 1976. Originally the petitioner was known as Bareilly Kshetriya Gramin bank. However, the petitioner bank along with other Regional Rural Banks sponsored by the Bank of Baroda in U.P. was merged together into two new entities namely Baroda Eastern U.P. Gramin Bank and Baroda Western U.P. Gramin Bank vide notification dated 23.2.2006 issued by the Central Government under the provisions of the Regional Rural Bank Act. Thereafter vide Notification dated 31.3.2008 the above two Gramin Banks were merged into Baroda U.P. Gramin Bank by the Central Government.;