21 years after private firm staffer's death, kin to get his PF post 15-year legal battle

AHMEDABAD: Around 21 years aft the decease of backstage steadfast employee, Sureshchandra, his woman Varsha Shukla and their lad Vikrant volition person his Provident Fund (PF), pursuing a 15-year-long ineligible battle.Sureshchandra's different wife, Hinarani, and girl Vilaspati had objected to Varsha's PF claim. Last week, metropolis civilian tribunal granted a succession certificate to Varsha and Vikrant, stating the deceased employee's PF magnitude of implicit Rs 10 lakh should beryllium handed implicit to them.Sureshchandra died successful May 2004 without a will. In Jan 2009, Varsha received a missive from the commissioner of EPFO, informing her that Hinarani had claimed Sureshchandra's PF magnitude arsenic his widow.

When Varsha objected, EPFO insisted she get a succession certificate. In 2010, a metropolis civilian tribunal ordered issuance of the certificate successful their names.Hirarani and Vilaspati past moved Gujarat HC successful 2016, claiming they were Sureshchandra's morganatic heirs. They argued that Varsha and Vikrant had suppressed details astir pending litigation successful UP, and wrongfully obtained the succession certificate. In 2017, HC quashed the succession certificate and directed the metropolis civilian tribunal to determine the contented afresh aft proceeding some parties.

Over time, Vilaspati remained the lone objector to Varsha and Vikrant's claim. In 2022, the tribunal was told Vilaspati had died and she had nary heir. The tribunal past allowed Varsha and Vikrant's application, ordering that they beryllium paid the PF magnitude on with accrued interest.