AHMEDABAD: Around 21 years after the death of private firm employee, Sureshchandra, his wife Varsha Shukla and their son Vikrant will receive his Provident Fund (PF), following a 15-year-long legal battle.Sureshchandra’s other wife, Hinarani, and daughter Vilaspati had objected to Varsha’s PF claim. Last week, city civil court granted a succession certificate to Varsha and Vikrant, stating the deceased employee’s PF amount of over Rs 10 lakh should be handed over to them.Sureshchandra died in May 2004 without a will. In Jan 2009, Varsha received a letter from the commissioner of EPFO, informing her that Hinarani had claimed Sureshchandra’s PF amount as his widow. When Varsha objected, EPFO insisted she obtain a succession certificate. In 2010, a city civil court ordered issuance of the certificate in their names.Hirarani and Vilaspati then moved Gujarat HC in 2016, claiming they were Sureshchandra’s legitimate heirs. They argued that Varsha and Vikrant had suppressed details about pending litigation in UP, and wrongfully obtained the succession certificate. In 2017, HC quashed the succession certificate and directed the city civil court to decide the issue afresh after hearing both parties. Over time, Vilaspati remained the only objector to Varsha and Vikrant’s claim. In 2022, the court was told Vilaspati had died and she had no heir. The court then allowed Varsha and Vikrant’s application, ordering that they be paid the PF amount along with accrued interest.
