New Delhi, June 15 -- The Telangana High Court has held that the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) cannot seek recovery of provident fund dues from a retired employee merely because the employer allegedly violated EPF rules after surrendering its exempt trust status.

In a judgment dated 5 May, Justice Nagesh Bheemapaka set aside a recovery notice issued to a retired employee, observing that the Employees' Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952, does not empower EPFO to recover such amounts from an employee who received provident fund benefits due to him, reported Livelaw.

The court, however, clarified that EPFO remains free to initiate appropriate proceedings against the employer and its provident fund trust ...