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Judgment
8 paragraphs · 366 wordsMurali Purushothaman, J
The petitioners are the employees of the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation, working in various depots. They are subscribers of Provident Fund accounts and have submitted applications for Provident Fund loans to meet their current urgent needs. The details of the application for advance from their respective PF accounts have been narrated in the writ petition. However, it is contended that the respondents have not so far sanctioned PF loans to the petitioners. Accordingly, the writ petition is filed for the following reliefs:-
“i) Issue a writ in the nature of mandamus or any other appropriate writ, order or direction directing the respondents to sanction and disburse the PF loans applied by the petitioners within a time frame as may be stipulated by this Hon'ble Court.
ii) Declare the petitioners are entitled for PF loans without further delay.”
The learned Standing Counsel for the KSRTC submits that the applications of the petitioners for PF loans will be considered and the amounts will be disbursed within a period of six months. It is further submitted that the delay in sanctioning the PF loan occurred due to the financial constraints of the Corporation.
The PF credit amounts are the subscription from the salary of the petitioners credited into their respective PF accounts. It is the right of the employee having PF account to withdraw funds from the account as loan. Therefore, when an application for PF loan is submitted, the same has to be considered expeditiously and the amounts are to be disbursed with dispatch. The financial constraints of the employer cannot be a ground for withholding the application and in not disbursing the amounts.
In the facts and circumstances of the case, I am inclined to grant four months time for the Corporation to consider the applications of the petitioners and to disburse the PF loans. Accordingly, there will be a direction to the competent among the respondents to consider the applications of the petitioners for PF loans and to disburse the amounts within a period of four months from the date of receipt of a copy of this judgment.
The writ petition is disposed of with the above direction.