CAT Chandigarh Bench quashes an EPFO officer's suspension, holding that new reasons cannot be added to an order later
14 October 2026
The Chandigarh Bench of the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) quashed the suspension of Kumar Punit, Regional Provident Fund Commissioner-I of the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), in an order pronounced on October 14.
He was suspended on July 27, 2026, and his headquarters during suspension was shifted from Chandigarh to Chennai and Puducherry.
Before the tribunal, the EPFO justified the suspension by citing messages in an official WhatsApp group in July that it attributed to him.
The tribunal held that an order must be judged by the reasons recorded in it, and the authority cannot bring in new reasons later.
It relied on the Supreme Court judgment in Mohinder Singh Gill v. Chief Election Commissioner.
The tribunal also set aside the shift of his headquarters, noting that no administrative reason or public interest had been stated.
In plain words
CAT Central Administrative Tribunal — Tribunal set up under the Administrative Tribunals Act, 1985, to decide service disputes of Union government employees.
EPFO Employees' Provident Fund Organisation — Statutory body under the Union Labour Ministry that runs the provident fund and pension schemes for workers.
CPFC Central Provident Fund Commissioner — The chief executive officer of the EPFO.
Mohinder Singh Gill v. Chief Election Commissioner Supreme Court, 1978 — Held that a statutory order must be judged by the reasons stated in it, not by reasons supplied later.