14. Protection of action taken in good faith .-No suit or other legal proceeding shall lie against the Secretary or any other officer of the [Central Government] in respect of anything which is in good faith done or intended to be done under this Act.
14A. [ Protection against attachment. [Inserted by Finance Act, 2018 (Act No. 13 of 2018), dated 29.3.2018.]
- The amount standing to the credit of any depositor in the Public Provident Fund Scheme shall not be liable to attachment under any decree or order of any court in respect of any debt or liability incurred by the depositor.]
15. Power to make rules .-(1) The Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, make [rules][for carrying out the purposes of this Act.
(2)
In particular, and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power, such rules may provide for all or any of the following matters, namely:-
[***]
(b)
[ the conditions as to interest or discount relating to deposits generally, or any class of deposits in particular;] [Substituted by Finance Act, 2018 (Act No. 13 of 2018), dated 29.3.2018.]
(c)
the non-accrual of interest on deposits when the maximum limits are exceeded and the recovery of any interest paid in excess in the same manner as an arrear of land revenue or in any other manner;
(d)
the persons to whom and the manner in which deposits may be paid;
(e)
the form of nominations, the manner in which, the persons in whose favour and the conditions and the restrictions subject to which, nominations may be made and the registration of nominations;
(f)
the variation or cancellation of nominations;
(g)
[ the fees that may be levied for discharge of any services under this Act;] [Substituted by Finance Act, 2018 (Act No. 13 of 2018), dated 29.3.2018.]
(h)
the manner in which any person may be appointed for the purpose of sub-section (3) of section 4;
(i)
[ the limit and procedure under clause (a) of sub-section (4) of section 4A; [Substituted by Finance Act, 2018 (Act No. 13 of 2018), dated 29.3.2018.]
(j)
the mode of making deposits, such as physical, electronic or through use of any other tools of communication and information technology;
(k)
benchmark for interest rates on deposits with a view to ensure financial sustainability of Savings Schemes;
(l)
amount to be excluded in computing the court fee chargeable under the Court-fees Act, 1870 for the purpose of section 8 of the Act;
(m)
mechanism for redressal of grievances and settlement of disputes;
(n)
any other matter which is required to be or may be, prescribed.]
(3)
[ Every rule made under this section shall be laid as soon as may be after it is made before each House of Parliament while it is in session for a total period of thirty days which may be comprised in one session or [in two or more successive sessions, and if, before the expiry of the session immediately following the session or the successive sessions aforesaid] [Substituted by Act 45 of 1959, Section 9 (w.e.f. 18.9.1959). ][, both Houses agree in making any modification in the rule or both Houses agree that the rule should not be made, the rule shall thereafter have effect only in such modified form or be of no effect, as the case may be; so, however, that any such modification or annulment shall be without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done under that rule.] [Substituted by Act 45 of 1959, Section 9 (w.e.f. 18.9.1959). ] [Substituted by Act 45 of 1959, Section 9 (w.e.f. 18.9.1959). ]
16. [ Repeal and savings. [Inserted by Finance Act, 2018 (Act No. 13 of 2018), dated 29.3.2018.]
(1)
The Government Savings Certificates Act, 1959 and the Public Provident Fund Act, 1968 are hereby repealed.
(2)
Notwithstanding such repeal and without prejudice to the provisions contained in the General Clauses Act, 1897, with respect to repeals -
(a)
anything done or any action taken or purported to have been done or taken, including any rule, notification, order or notice made or issued or any direction given under the repealed enactments shall be deemed to have been done or taken under the corresponding provisions of this Act;
(b)
subject to the provisions of clause (a), any instrument executed or certificate issued, or anything done under or in pursuance of any repealed enactment shall, if is in force at the commencement of Part I of Chapter VIII of the Finance Act, 2018, continue to be in force in so far as it could have been executed, or issued or done under or in pursuance of such Part, shall have effect as if the same has been executed, issued or done under or in pursuance of the provisions contained in the aforesaid Part;
(c)
all deposits made or accounts or certificates held under the repealed enactments shall be deemed to be deposits or holdings in the Savings Scheme made under the corresponding provisions of this Act; and
(d)
any proceeding under the repealed enactments pending immediately before the commencement of Part I of Chapter VIII of the Finance Act, 2018 before any court shall, subject to the provisions of this Act, continue to be heard and disposed of by the said court.
(3)
The repeal shall not pre-judicially affect the interest of depositors who, before the commencement of Part I of Chapter VIII of the Finance Act, 2018, made deposits or were issued certificates or made contribution to any scheme under the repealed enactments.