EMPLOYEES PROVIDENT FUND ORGANISATION
(Ministry of Labour & Employment. Govt of India)
Head Office
Bhavisha Nidhi Bhavan, 14, Bhikaji Cama Place, New Delhi-110 066.
LC-3(14)2010/EPFAT/VOL.V
Dated: 03.05.2017
Subject:- Constitution of fresh panel of advocates to represent EPFO before Various Legal Fora — Regarding
Sir,
Please refer to this office circular no. LC-9(12)CPFC Ref/Pt/3865 dated 16.5.2014 vide which comprehensive guidelines on proper handling of legal cases in field offices of EPFO were issued.
2. Attention is drawn towards Para 4(g) of circular regarding eligibility criteria for empanelment of advocates wherein it was mentioned that the eligibility of empanelment of advocates may not be less than five years.
3. The matter has been re-examined at Head office and it has been decided that in order to strengthen the defence mechanism before various legal fora, the eligibility criteria for empanelment has been revised to Ten Years for High Court/EPFAT, CAT, DCDRF, State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission , NCDRC and lower courts.
4. Accordingly, Head office has initiated the process of constitution of fresh panel of advocates to represent CBT, EPF before Honourable Supreme Court of India. High Court of Delhi and EPF Appellate Tribunal, New Delhi for the block year 2017- 19 as per the revised criteria. A notice on 02.02.2017 in this regard has been hosted on the official website of EPFO on http:,’,www.epfindia.com.site_docs PDFs/Updates Empanelment _Advocate HO 2017.pdf wherein criteria for empanelment of advocates have been prescribed which holds good for empanelment of advocates by the field offices too.
5. Accordingly, all Zonal ACCs are requested to prepare a fresh panel of advocates for various judicial fora (viz. EPFAT, Bengaluru, CAT, various High Courts, DCDRF, SCDRC, NCDRC, Lower Courts) under their jurisdiction following the criteria prescribed by Head Office. /1 The empanelled advocates of existing panel may be informed regarding constitution of fresh panel and they may be advised to apply afresh in the prescribed Proforma (copy enclosed), if they wish to be included in the fresh panel to be constituted. It may also be clarified to the concerned Advocates that being in the existing panel of EPFO for various judicial fora does not bestow any right or claim for selection in the fresh panel of Advocates to be constituted as per the revised criteria.
6. It must be ensured that only the competent and capable advocates are empanelled for defending the cases on behalf of CBT, EPF in all legal fora. A three-member selection committee may be formed to screen and interact with the eligible applicant advocates to assess suitability for empanelment of Advocates for various courts as follows.
(1) A retired High Court Judge from the concerned state/zone
(2) Legal Advisor of EPFO
(3) Zonal ACC (Convenor)
7. This may please be given top priority.
(This issues with the approval of CPFC)
Yours faithfully
(R.M VERMA)
Addl. Central P.F Commissioner (Legal)
Enclosure:- As above
NOTICE INVITING APPLICATIONS FOR EMPANELMENT OF ADVOCATES
Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), on behalf of the Central Board, Employees’ Provident Funds, a statutory body of the Ministry of Labour & Employment, Government of India, proposes to engage Panel Counsel(s) to represent the Central Board, EPF before Supreme Court of India, Delhi High Court and Employees’ Provident Funds Appellate Tribunal, New Delhi.
The practising advocates who are registered with Bar Council of India/ State Bar Council are eligible for empanelment. The qualification, experience, schedule of fees, other terms and conditions and the application format in which the application has to be made, have been prescribed.
The Advocates who are on the existing panel of EPFO shall cease to be on the panel of EPFO after new panel is finalised against this notice. Therefore, they may also apply afresh in response to this notice.
Eligible practising advocate must submit application in the format prescribed in Annexure “A” and Annexure ‘B” enclosed herewith, along with all supporting documents in a sealed envelope to :-
Regional Provident Fund Commissioner-1 (Legal),
Head Office, Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation,
Bhavishya Nidhi Bhawan,
14 Bhikaiji Cama Place, New Delhi 110066.
Telephone:- -01126175107, 26175106
The envelope should be superscribed as following:-
“Application for Empanelment of Advocate for Supreme Court/High Court, Delhi/EPF Appellate Tribunal, Delhi”
The last date of receiving Applications in the prescribed format along with supporting documents is 03rd March, 2017 till 16.00 hours.
Application for empanelment at EPFO does not confer any right/assurance whatsoever, to an applicant that he/she will be empanelled on the panel of EPFO. Letters to advocates confirming their empanelment will be issued by EPFO separately.
GUIDELINES FOR EMPANELMENT OF ADVOCATES
Following guidelines are designed to provide and regulate the manner and procedure for empanelling the advocates to represent and assist EPFO before various courts and for regulating the referrals of the cases and payment of fee/remuneration. These guidelines shall supersede all existing instructions in this regard, if any, and is subject to change without assigning any reason,
1. Eligibility of Empanelment
Before filling the application form, the candidates are advised to carefully read and follow the eligibility criteria, instructions and terms & conditions for empanelment of Advocates in EPFO mentioned herein below: –
(a) For designation of an advocate to handle the cases before the Supreme Court of India:-
i) Be enrolled/ registered as an advocate with the Bar Council of India.
ii) Be enrolled/ registered and currently practising as an Advocate-on Record of the Supreme Court.
iii) Have a minimum, relevant experience of Ten years of handling Civil, Service, Labour matters, Arbitration matters and other cases before Supreme Court of India with a fair knowledge of labour laws with special reference to Employees. Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952 (E.P.F. and MP, Act, 1952).
(b) Qualification and experience for conducting cases in Delhi High Court
i) Be enrolled/ registered as an advocate with the State Bar Council
ii) Have a minimum, relevant experience of Ten years of handling Civil, Service, Labour, Arbitration matters and other cases before a High Court with a fair knowledge of labour laws with special reference to Employees’ Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952 (E.P.F. and M.P. Act, 1952).
(c) Qualification and experience for conducting cases in EPFAT
1) Be enrolled/ registered as an advocate with the State Bar Council
ii) Have a minimum, relevant experience of Ten years of handling Civil, Criminal, Service, Labour, Arbitration matters and other cases with a fair knowledge of labour laws with special reference to Employees’ Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952 (E.P.F. and M.P. Act, 1952).
2. Tenure of Empanelment
The initial empanelment will be for the period of two years i.e. for the period 1.4.2017 to 31.3.2019. Performance of empanelled advocates shall be reviewed at regular interval for continuance in the panel of Advocate.
3. Payment of Fee and Other Conditions
(I) The fee payable to the Advocates shall be governed by the Schedule of fee annexed as Annexure “C” with these guidelines as amended from time to time.
(ii) The Competent Authority shall have the right in exceptional cases to approve the payment of a higher fee than the fee mentioned in the annexed schedule keeping in view the importance of the matter and the efforts put in by the advocate in a particular case.
(iii) No retainer fee shall be paid to any panel Advocate merely because such advocate has been empanelled.
4. Procedure for Empanelmen
a. The applicant advocate must apply on the format prescribed by the EPFO only. No other format will be entertained.
b. An applicant advocate willing to be empanelled for more than one forum (i.e. for Supreme Court Delhi High Court or EPFAT) may apply separately for each forum in separate envelope superscribed as mentioned earlier.
c. Any a pplicatior received after the last date prescribed in the advertisement shall not be entertained.
d. No applicant advocate shall be called for interview/interaction unless he/ she satisfies the eligibility conditions and is shortlisted for the same.
e. Depending upon the requirement and number of applications received, EPFO reserves the right to shortlist the candidates to be called for interview/interaction and to be empanelled.
f. Merely fulfilling the eligibility criteria will not confer any right on an applicant advocate to be called for interview/interaction and to be selected.
g. The decision of the competent authority regarding short listing and selection of the candidates shall be final,
h. Canvassing in any form shall be treated as a disqualification. The candidature of such applicants shall be cancelled forthwith.
I. A list of shortlisted applicant advocates with the date, time and venue of Interview will be uploaded on our website i.e. www.epfindia.qov.in
j. The applicant advocate shall bring original documents at the time of interview.
k. The list of selected advocates will be made available on EPFO website www.epfindia.qov.in Letter to applicant advocates confirming their empanelment will be issued by EPFO separately.
5. Duties of the Empanelled Advocates:
1. The Advocate shalt not advise any party or accept any case against the EPFO in which he/she has appeared or is likely to be called upon to appear for or advise which is likely to affect or lead to litigation against the EPFO.
2. Timely appearance of the Counsel to contest the cases for EPFO in the Court is a must. His/her absence in the Court, without any reasonable ground and notice in advance, will not be accepted.
3. EPFO sends the information to the panel advocates through email regarding entrustment of a case and after receiving the e-mail, it is duty of the panel Advocates to collect the brief/copy of petition along with assignment letter from the concerned office of EPFO at the earliest.
4. EPFO is free to engage any advocate of its own choice and an empanelled Advocate shall make no claim that he/she alone should be entrusted with EPFO’s legal matter (s).
5. Refusal by any advocate to accept any work withdut any reasonable cause (e.g. on grounds of conflict of interest) may entail removal of such advocate from the panel. forthwith without waiting for the empanelment period to expire.
6. The advocates shall accept the terms and conditions of the empanelment as determined by the EPFO from time to time.
7. In order to ensure that there is effective check on the cases being conducted, the Advocates on the panel must report the status of the cases after each date of hearing. Failure to submit status report will be a ground for removal of the name of the lawyer concerned from the panel.
8. In cases where on the request of the Union of India, Ministry of Labour & Employment have also to be represented, no extra fee shall be paid to the advocate to watch and safeguard the interests of Union of India, Ministry of Labour & Employment.
9. If required, render all assistance-. to Spe. cial or Senior Counsel engaged in a particular cases before the Supreme Court, High Court and other judicial bodies.
10. Keep EPFO informed and updated on all-important developments in the designated cases, dates of hearing, order of the court on the date of its pronouncement, supplying copy of orders/ judgement etc.
11. Furnish monthly statement about the cases represented by him/her before the Supreme Court/ High Court/ EPF Appellate Tribunal or any other authority and their outcomes.
12. When any case attended by him/her is decided against the Organisation, the Advocate concerned must give considered opinion regarding the reasons for such adverse order and the advisability of filing an appeal from such a decision not later than 5 working days of the order (kuchha copy).
13. 30% of the fees payable to the counsel shalt be deducted if the certified copy of the judgement is not handed over to the Legal cell of EPFO within three days (excluding the time taken by the Court in preparation of the copy) from the date of judgement.
6. Removal from Panel:
EPFO reserves the right to terminate the empanelment of a Counsel with one month’s notice in writing without assigning any reason. The counsel may also resign from the Organisation by serving one month’s notice.
Empanelment shall be liable to be cancelled due to occurring of any of the following disablement on the part of the Advocate.
(i) Giving false information in the application for empanelment;
(ii) Failing to attend the hearing of the case without any sufficient reason and/or prior information:
(iii) Not acting as per EPFO’s instructions or going against specific instructions;
(iv) Threatening, intimidating or abusing any of the EPFO’s employees, officers, or representatives;
(v) Passing on information relating to EPFO’s case on to the opposite parties or their advocates or any third party which is likely to cause any damage to theEPFO’s interests; Ar”
(vi) Giving false or misleading information to the EPFO relating to the proceedings of the case; and
(vii) Seeking frequent adjournments or not objecting the adjournment moved by other party without sufficient reason
(viii) Frequent absence from the court proceedings even if “pass over” or “proxy”‘ is obtained by an advocate.
(Samarendra Kumar)
Regional P F Commissioner-I (Legal)
Head Office, EPFO
New Delhi
HI,
I am a practicing advocate since last 5 years in Delhi high court and wanted to explore opportunity to get myself empaneled with EPFO.
As per the details/article above i have missed the dead line to get empaneled, hence is there any other provision to do the same ?