Section 7F EPF Act 1952: Resignation - Omitted Provision
Section 7F of the Employees' Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952 formerly governed resignation and removal of the Presiding Officer of the Employees' Provident Funds Appellate Tribunal.
What did Section 7F provide?
Before its omission, Section 7F dealt with three connected matters: resignation by the Presiding Officer, the safeguards governing removal from office, and rule-making power for investigating alleged misbehaviour or incapacity.
Former text and meaning of Section 7F
Sub-section (1): Resignation
The Presiding Officer could resign by giving a written notice, signed by him, to the Central Government. Unless the Central Government allowed an earlier relinquishment, he continued in office until the earliest of: three months from receipt of the notice, the successor entering office, or expiry of his term.
Sub-section (2): Removal from office
The provision stated that the Presiding Officer could not be removed except by an order of the President on the ground of proved misbehaviour or incapacity after an inquiry by a Judge of a High Court. The Presiding Officer had to be informed of the charges and given a reasonable opportunity of being heard.
Sub-section (3): Procedure by rules
The Central Government was empowered to make rules regulating the procedure for investigation of alleged misbehaviour or incapacity of the Presiding Officer.
Why was Section 7F omitted?
The Finance Act, 2017 reorganised the tribunal framework applicable to several enactments. In the EPF Act, Section 7D was substituted so that the Industrial Tribunal constituted by the Central Government under the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 became the Tribunal for purposes of the EPF Act. Sections 7E, 7F, 7G and 7H were among the provisions omitted with effect from 26 May 2017.
Present relevance of the old provision
Section 7F remains relevant mainly for understanding the historical EPF Appellate Tribunal framework and for matters requiring reference to the law as it stood before 26 May 2017. For the current text of the Act, readers should verify the updated statutory version published by the Government of India.
Official legal resources
India Code - Government of India provides the updated central legislation database. The Ministry of Labour and Employment and the Central Government Industrial Tribunal provide official information relevant to labour laws and tribunal proceedings.
Note: This page explains the statutory position for general legal information. For a pending proceeding, the law applicable on the relevant date and subsequent amendments should be checked.