The appropriate Government may grant exemption to any establishment or class of establishment from the operation of this Scheme, if the employees of the establishments are either members of any other Pension Scheme or propose to be members of a Pension Scheme wherein the pensionary benefits are at par or more favourable than the benefits provided under this Scheme. Where exemption is granted to any establishment or class of establishments under this paragraph, withdrawal benefits available to the credit of the employees of such establishment(s) under
the ceased Family Pension Scheme, 1971 shall be paid, subject to the consent of the employees, to the Pension Fund of the establishment(s) so exempted. An application for exemption under this paragraph shall be presented to the Regional Provident Fund commissioner having jurisdiction by the establishment or class of establishments together with a copy of the Pension Scheme of the establishment(s) and other relevant documents as may be called for by him. On receipt of such an application, the Regional Provident Fund Commissioner shall scrutinise it, obtain the recommendations of the Central Provident Fund commissioner and submit the same to the appropriate Government for decision. Pending disposal of application for exemption under this paragraph, employers share of the contribution shall not be remitted to the Pension Fund as envisaged in sub-paragraph (1) of Paragraph 3. An application for exemption presented under this paragraph shall be disposed of within a period of six months from the date of its receipt or such further time as may be extended for reasons to be recorded in writing. If the application for exemption is not disposed of within the period so specified, the exemption applied for shall be deemed to have been granted.
Explanation.- For the purpose of this paragraph, the period of six months will count from the date on which, the application for exemption is given in complete form to the satisfaction of the Regional Provident Fund Commissioner.
