EPFO intensifies efforts for reduction of litigation through mission mode disposal drives: Mansukh Mandaviya
New Delhi, May 19
Union Minister for Labour & Employment Mansukh Mandaviya on Tuesday said that the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation has undertaken focused, mission-mode initiatives to reduce litigation and ensure the timely resolution of pending cases across various legal forums.
Union Minister Mandaviya said that EPFO launched a dedicated mission-mode drive for the disposal of cases pending before consumer courts. Under the "Nidhi Aapke Nikat (NAN)" programme, cases were identified in advance and taken up for expedited resolution.As a result, the number of pending consumer cases declined significantly from 4,936 as on 1 April 2024 to 2,646 as on 31 March 2026.
"EPFO is also proactively identifying cases pending before consumer courts and reaching out to citizens through Nidhi Aapke Nikat to facilitate faster grievance redressal," he added
Mansukh Mandaviya further added that the overall pendency of litigation cases has reduced from 31,036 cases as on 1 April 2025 to 27,639 cases as on 1 April 2026, reflecting a reduction of 3,397 cases. This marks the lowest ever level of litigation pendency in EPFO.
"Special emphasis was also placed on reducing long-pending cases. Consequently, the number of cases pending for more than 10 years declined from 8,539 to 4,665, registering a reduction of 3,874 cases, or nearly 45.4 per cent," the Minister added
In another important initiative to reduce litigation, EPFO conducted a nationwide Special Campaign during February-March 2026 for cases pending before Central Government Industrial Tribunals (CGITs). The campaign focused on disputes relating to interest payable by employers on delayed remittances under the Employees' Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952. Zone-wise Nodal Officers were appointed to coordinate with stakeholders and various CGITs.
This initiative resulted in the disposal of 353 appeals, while efforts are continuing for the expeditious disposal of another 650 related cases.
Labour and Employment Minister Mandaviya also said that the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) is planning to use the WhatsApp platform with the objective of enhancing outreach and streamlining member services.
"The major reasons for using the WhatsApp channel for communications include that most mobile users already use WhatsApp for their communication. Members can simply type 'Hello' to EPFO's registered WhatsApp number, which is verified by a green Tick mark for safety and assurance, to initiate the conversation with EPFO. They can also choose to receive messages from EPFO on their mobile number registered with EPFO," he added
Mandaviya further added that all communication will be through local/vernacular language, enabling greater comfort for members to engage with EPFO in their language. 24/7 access - Automated systems can handle repetitive queries round the clock.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Good to see the government taking proactive steps, but let's be honest—EPFO customer service is still a mess. Even with Nidhi Aapke Nikat, many people in smaller towns have no idea how to access these services. The vernacular language support for WhatsApp is a step in the right direction though. I just hope they also train their employees properly to handle queries in local languages. Otherwise, it's just another fancy initiative on paper.
As someone who works in HR, I can say this is a significant achievement. The number of pending cases going down from 31,036 to 27,639 is not trivial. But what really caught my attention is the 10-year-old cases dropping by 45%! That's real progress. The WhatsApp integration is cool, but security is a concern—they need to ensure no fraudsters create fake EPFO WhatsApp accounts. The green tick verification is good, but awareness is key.
Meanwhile, I still haven't received my EPFO passbook update from January 2025! 🙄 These numbers are impressive on paper, but ground reality is different for many of us. The WhatsApp initiative is welcome, but what about people who don't use smartphones? Digital divide is real in India. Hope they maintain traditional helplines as well. Still, any reduction in court cases is good for the economy.
This is refreshing to see. My father had a PF claim stuck for 4 years in a consumer forum case. Finally got resolved last year after we approached the local EPFO office repeatedly. If Nidhi Aapke Nikat can speed up such cases, it's a game-changer. The 3,397 case reduction in just a year is commendable. But I wish they'd also address the delay in processing new claims—many young professionals struggle with that.
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