- 1 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010264682022 NC: 2026:KHC:44108-DB WP No. 11768 of 2022 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 17TH DAY OF AUGUST, 2026 PRESENT THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE D K SINGH AND THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE H.SHANTHI BHUSHAN WRIT PETITION NO. 11768 OF 2022 (L-PF) BETWEEN: 1. THE ASSISTANT PROVIDENT FUND COMMISSIONER, EMPLOYEES PROVIDENT FUND ORGANIZATION, BHAVISHYANIDHI BHAWAN, 2ND STAGE, GAYATHRIPURAM, MYSURU - 570 019. …PETITIONER (BY SMT. M R SHALAMALA, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. M/S. COFFEE RESEARCH SUB STATION, REP BY ITS DEPUTY DIRECTOR (RESEARCH), CHETTALLI - 571 248, SOMVARPET TALUK, KODAGU DISTRICT, KARNATAKA. …RESPONDENT (BY SRI PRASHANTH B R, ADVOCATE) Digitally signed by VASANTHA KUMARY B K Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010264682022 NC: 2026:KHC:44108-DB WP No. 11768 of 2022 THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA, PRAYING TO ISSUE A WRIT OF CERTIORARI QUASHING THE ORDER PASSED BY THE CGIT CUM LABOUR COURT IN EPF NO.99/2018 DATED 08.01.2021 VIDE ANNEXURE-A AND CONFIRM THE ORDER OF THE PETITIONER HEREIN DATED 21.06.2018 VIDE ANNEXURE-B AND CONSEQUENTLY ALLOW THE PETITION. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING IN 'B' GROUP, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE D K SINGH and HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE H.SHANTHI BHUSHAN ORAL ORDER (PER: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE D K SINGH) 1. The present writ petition has been filed impugning the order dated 08.01.2021 passed by the Central Government Industrial Tribunal-cum-Labour Court (CGIT) in the appeal bearing EPF No.99/2018 instituted by the respondent, disputing the harvesting/picking charges of Rs.22,516/-. However, there was no dispute raised insofar as the contribution under Section 7-A of the Employees' Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952 (hereinafter referred to as 'the 1952 Act') is concerned. - 3 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010264682022 NC: 2026:KHC:44108-DB WP No. 11768 of 2022 2. The CGIT has set aside the order passed by the the appellant viz., the Assistant Provident Fund Commissioner, Mysuru and directed that the amount of Rs.15,46,722/- towards provident fund contribution on wages under Section 7-A, which has already been remitted by the respondent towards compliance of the order, should be adjusted towards future liability under the 1952 Act. 3. We fail to understand, when there was no dispute with respect to the provident fund contribution of Rs.15,46,722/-, how the CGIT has set aside the said order regarding the contribution already made by the respondent. We, therefore, set aside the order passed by the CGIT insofar as the direction for adjustment of Rs.15,46,722/- towards future liability under the Act is concerned. The amount of contribution of Rs.15,46,722/- was the existing liability, which was not in dispute. What was under dispute was only the harvesting/picking charges of Rs.22,516/-. So far as the order regarding the harvesting/picking charges of Rs.22,516/- is concerned, we confirm the order passed by the appellant. - 4 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010264682022 NC: 2026:KHC:44108-DB WP No. 11768 of 2022 4. Thus, the present writ petition is allowed in part. We have passed this order regarding the harvesting/picking charges only keeping in view the meager amount involved in the case and it should not be treated as a precedent. Sd/- (D K SINGH) JUDGE Sd/- (H.SHANTHI BHUSHAN) JUDGE BKV CT:SN List No.: 1 Sl No.: 18