- (1.)Parties through their counsel. The petitioners before this Court who are the employees of Sant Ravidas Madhya Pradesh Hastshilp Evam Hathkargha Vikas Nigam Limited have filed this present petition for issuance of an appropriate writ, order or direction directing the Regional Provident Fund Commissioner, Bhopal and Regional Provident Fund Commissioner, Indore to deduct the contribution in respect of Employees' Pension Scheme, 1995 beyond the ceiling limit of Rs. 6,500/- per month.
(2.)The Employees' Pension Scheme, 1995 was enacted by the Central Government in exercise of power conferred under Section 6-A of the Employees' Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952 and has come in to force w.e.f. 16.11.1995.
(3.)The contention of learned Counsel appearing for the respondent is that the present writ petition is not maintainable before this Court as the provident fund accounts are maintained at Bhopal by the Regional Provident Fund Commissioner, Bhopal, however, he has also argued the matter on merits and his contention is that as per the regulations of the Employees' Pension Scheme, 1995 the upper ceiling limit has been prescribed as Rs. 6,500/- per month and even if the pay of member exceeds Rs. 6,500/- per month the contribution payable by the employer and the Central Government has to be limited to the pay of Rs. 6,500/- per month only. He has placed reliance on Regulation 3 and 11 of the Employee's Pension Scheme, 1995.