Assessment and determination of dues from employer

Section 125 of the Code on Social Security, 2020 deals with assessment and determination of dues from employer. The Central Government may, by notification, authorise, such officers of the Central Board or the Corporation, as the case may be, not below the rank of Group 'A' officer of that Government, to function as the Authorised Officers for the purposes of Chapter III or Chapter IV, as the case may be, who The Act was enacted on 28 Sep 2020.

(1) The Central Government may, by notification, authorise, such officers of the Central Board or the Corporation, as the case may be, not below the rank of Group 'A' officer of that Government, to function as the Authorised Officers for the purposes of Chapter III or Chapter IV, as the case may be, who may, by order---

(a) in a case where a dispute arises regarding the applicability of Chapter III or Chapter IV, as the case may be, to an establishment, decide such dispute; and

(b) determine the amount due from any employer under any provision of Chapter III or Chapter IV, as the case may be, or the schemes, or rules, regulations made under such Chapter; and

(c) for any of the purposes relating to clause (a) and clause (b), conduct such inquiry, as he may deem necessary for such purposes:

Provided that no proceeding under this sub-section shall be initiated after the expiry of the period of five years from the date on which the dispute referred to in clause (a) is alleged to have been arisen or, as the case may be, the amount referred to in clause (b) is alleged to have been due from an employer.

(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908), the inquiry under sub-section (1), as far as practicable, shall be held on day-to-day basis and endeavour shall be made to ensure that the inquiry is concluded within a period of two years:

Provided that where the inquiry is not concluded within the said period of two years, the Authorised Officer conducting such inquiry shall record the circumstances and reasons for not having concluded so and submit the circumstances and reasons so recorded to the Central Provident Fund Commissioner or the Director General of the Corporation, as the case may be, or such other officer authorised by him in this behalf:

Provided further that the Central Provident Fund Commissioner or the Director General of the Corporation, as the case may be, after considering the circumstances and the reasons which have been submitted by the Authorised Officer may grant an extension for a period up to one year to conclude the said inquiry:

Provided also that the inquiries which are pending immediately before the date of commencement of this Code shall be concluded by the Authorised Officer within a period not exceeding two years from the date of such commencement.

(3) The Authorised Officer conducting the inquiry under sub-section (1) shall, for the purposes of such inquiry have the same powers as are vested in a court under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908), for trying a suit in respect of the following matters, namely:---

(a) enforcing the attendance of any person or examining him on oath;

(b) requiring the discovery and production of documents;

(c) receiving evidence on affidavit; and

(d) issuing commissions for the examination of witnesses,

and any such inquiry shall be deemed to be a judicial proceeding within the meaning of sections 193 and 228, and for the purpose of section 196 of the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860).

(4) No order shall be made under sub-section (1), unless the employer concerned is given a reasonable opportunity of representing his case.

(5) Where the employer, employee or any other person required to attend the inquiry under sub-section (1) fails to attend such inquiry without assigning any valid reason or fails to produce any document or to file any report or return when called upon to do so by the Authorised Officer conducting the inquiry, such inquiry officer may decide the applicability of the relevant provisions of this Code or determine the amount due from any employer, as the case may be, on the basis of the evidence adduced during such inquiry and other documents available on record.

(6) Where an order under sub-section (1) is passed against an employer ex parte, he may, within three months from the date of communication of such order, apply to the Authorised Officer for setting aside such order and if the Authorised Officer is satisfied that the show cause notice was not duly served or that such employer was prevented by any sufficient cause from appearing when the inquiry was held, the Authorised Officer shall make an order setting aside his earlier order and shall appoint a date for proceeding with the inquiry:

Provided that no such order shall be set aside merely on the ground that there has been an irregularity in the service of the show cause notice if the Authorised Officer is satisfied that the employer had notice of the date of hearing and had sufficient time to appear before the Authorised Officer.

Explanation.---Where an appeal has been preferred under this Code against an order passed ex parte and such appeal has been disposed of otherwise than on the ground that the appellant has withdrawn the appeal, no application shall lie under this sub-section for setting aside the ex parte order.

(7) No order passed under this section shall be set aside on any application under sub-section (6) unless notice thereof has been served on the opposite party.

Section 125, The Code on Social Security, 2020 (Act 36 of 2020).