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Issues Involved:
1. Whether the complainant, as an ex-employee, was entitled to inspection of Provident Fund securities under Section 419 of the Indian Companies Act, 1956. 2. Interpretation of the term "employee" in Section 419 of the Indian Companies Act, 1956. 3. Compliance with the provisions of Section 417 of the Indian Companies Act, 1956 by the trustees. Issue-wise Detailed Analysis: 1. Entitlement of Ex-Employee to Inspection under Section 419: The primary issue was whether the complainant, who had been dismissed from service, was entitled to inspect the Provident Fund securities under Section 419 of the Indian Companies Act, 1956. The court noted that the complainant requested an inspection of the Provident Fund securities through his attorneys, which was denied by the trustees on the grounds that he was dismissed for misconduct and was only entitled to his contribution to the Provident Fund, not the company's contribution. The Additional Chief Presidency Magistrate ruled that the complainant, as a past employee, was not entitled to the inspection under Section 419. 2. Interpretation of the Term "Employee" in Section 419: The court examined whether the term "employee" in Section 419 includes ex-employees or past employees. The complainant's counsel argued that the term should be interpreted to include ex-employees to ensure the protection of Provident Fund rights. However, the court emphasized that the plain language of Section 419 refers to current employees. The court cited the principles of statutory interpretation, noting that words should be understood in their ordinary sense unless there is ambiguity. The court referenced the decision in Wilkinson v. Barking Corporation but distinguished it based on the specific statutory context of that case, which was not applicable here. 3. Compliance with Section 417 by Trustees: During the proceedings, allegations were made that the trustees did not comply with Section 417 of the Indian Companies Act, which mandates keeping Provident Fund contributions in a separate account. The court ordered the trustees to file an affidavit regarding the management of the Provident Fund. The trustees refused to file the affidavit, leading the court to infer probable non-compliance with Section 417. However, since the complaint was limited to breaches of Section 419 and 420, the court did not make a definitive ruling on this issue but left it open for further legal action by the complainant. Conclusion: The court concluded that the term "employee" in Section 419 of the Indian Companies Act, 1956, refers only to current employees and does not include ex-employees or past employees. Consequently, the complainant, as a past employee, was not entitled to inspect the Provident Fund securities. The appeal by the State was dismissed, and the court clarified that this judgment would not affect any ongoing civil suit filed by the complainant for wrongful dismissal.
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