Doomdooma, Feb 27: The Assam Tea Employees Provident Fund Organisation (ATEPFO), Tinsukia Zone, lodged FIRs against the management of eight tea gardens of Apeejay Tea Ltd.
The FIRs has been lodged in four police stations of Tinsukia district viz. Doomdooma, Makum, Pengaree and Panitola for financial offence and criminal breach of trust. A notice has been served to the managers of the eight tea gardens of the company in Tinsukia district for recovery of employees' PF amounting to more than Rs. 35.35 crore.
On the other hand, the Assam Chah Karmachari Sangha (ACKS) is also irked over non-payment of employees' salaries for the month of December 21 and January 22.
The Recovery Officer of ATEPFO , Tinsukia Zone issued "Notice of Demand" (No -PF/ZO - TIN/2022/Recovery/E/232/__) to the managers of Khobong, Talap , Hilika, Hukonguri, Budlabeta, Hapjan, Pengaree and Kharjan Tea Estates of Apeejay Tea Ltd. , asking the respective tea gardens to clear the outstanding PF dues within 15 days, failure of which steps will be taken to realise the amount in accordance to the provisions under section 15B to 15G of ATPFF Scheme Act, 1955.
The company is also liable to pay interest for the period of default. The outstanding amount against the gardens is - Khobong Rs. 6.40 crore, Talap Rs. 7 crore, Hilika Rs. 3.22 crore, Hukonguri Rs. 3.72 crore, Budlabeta Rs. 6.9 crore, Kharjan Rs. 5.13 crore, Hapjan Rs. 5.50 crore and Pengaree Rs. 2.98 crore.
The FIRs mentioned that the employers of the gardens committed serious offence like criminal breach of trust and misappropriation by not depositing the collected Provident Fund and their matching contributions.
As such the Managing Director of Apeejay Tea Ltd. is liable to be prosecuted under the relevant provision of law, the FIR stated.
According to police sources, five FIRs were lodged in Doomdooma Police Station while one each was lodged in Makum, Panitola and Pengaree Police Stations on February 22 and 23 by the Assistant Commissioner of PF, ATEPFO, Tinsukia.
Meanwhile, ACKS has threatened to initiate agitation from March 1 if the salary of the employees of Apeejay Tea Ltd. for the month of January is not cleared before February 28. Further, ACKS also urged the management to pay the monthly wages of the employees for the month of February within March 10.
