In Brief
Pawan Hans Limited sought exemption from the Employees' Provident Fund Act, claiming contractual workers were covered under its own provident fund trust. The Supreme Court held that true exemption requires providing equivalent benefits to all employees. Since Pawan Hans's trust regulations excluded contractual workers and the workers were directly employed, directly paid by the Company, and in continuous long-term employment, they were entitled to statutory EPF benefits. The Company's exemption claim failed, and it must contribute to the statutory scheme. The appeal was disposed with modifications to the High Court's directions.
The lawyer headnote and full judgment text are available to registered users.