Sri Salim Ahmad v. Sri Sarfaraj Ali and another) awarding compensation of Rs
Case Details
Neutral Citation No. - 2023:AHC:116311 Court No. - 44
Legal Reasoning
Appellant :- Oriental Insurance Co Ltd Respondent :- Sri Salim Ahmad And Others Counsel for Appellant :- Vivek Kumar Birla,Amaresh Sinha Hon'ble Dr. Kaushal Jayendra Thaker,J. 1. Heard learned counsel for the appellant. 2. By way of this appeal, Oriental Insurance Company has challenged the judgment and award dated 31.3.2005 passed by Workmen's Compensation Commissioner, Ghaziabad in WCA No.33 of 2004 (Sri Salim Ahmad vs. Sri Sarfaraj Ali and another) awarding compensation of Rs.4,54,944/- with interest at the rate of 10% to the claimants. 3. On perusal memo of appeal, this Court finds that following substantial questions of law has been framed: "(a) Whether the Workmen's Compensation Commissioner had jurisdiction to award higher amount then claimed, admittedly claimants have claimed Rs.4,00,000/- only and he had awarded even higher sum of Rs.4,54,944/- with interest? (b) Whether the Workmen's Compensation Commissioner has jurisdiction to assess the disability of the claimant and substitute his own findings as against the evidence on record in the shape of Disability Certificate? (c) Whether in view of the documentary evidence (although not admitted by the appellant Company) on record in the shape of Medical/Disability Certificate showing disability to the extent of 60% it was open to the Workmen's Compensation Commissioner to hold and substitute his own findings regarding disability and loss of earning capacity of the claimant to the extent of 100%? (d) Whether the Disability Certificate issued by the Chief Medical Officer, Ghaziabad, which specifically mentioned that the same was 'NOT FOR COURT' as such the same could have been used as evidence to prove the disability of the claimant and more so when without the doctors having been produced and certifying the disability and proving the disability certificate? (e) Whether the Appellant Company was liable to pay any interest at all on the amount awarded in absence of any agreement between the Company and the Insured? (f) Whether under the policy issued under the provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 and but the claim petition was moved under the provisions of the Workmen's Compensation Act the negligence of the claimant was to be seen while awarding compensation? (g) Whether the Workmen's Compensation Commissioner committed an error of law in not fixing the liability of the owner regarding penalty and as such the impugned award is incomplete and is no award under the law?" 4. At the outset, it is relevant to discuss the scope of this Court to entertain appeal against the award of Workmen's Compensation Commissioner. The Apex Court in Civil Appeal No.7470 of 2009 North East Karnataka Road Transport Corporation Vs. Smt. Sujatha decided on 2.11.2018 has held as under : "9. At the outset, we may take note of the fact, being a settled principle, that the question as to whether the employee met with an accident, whether the accident occurred during the course of employment, whether it arose out of an employment, how and in what manner the accident occurred, who was negligent in causing the accident, whether there existed any relationship of employee and employer, what was the age and monthly salary of the employee, how many are the dependents of the deceased employee due to injuries suffered in an accident, whether there was any insurance coverage obtained by the employer to cover the incident etc. are some of the material issues which arise for the just decision of the Commissioner in a claim petition when an employee suffers any bodily injury or dies during the course of his employment and he/his LRS sue/s his employer to claim compensation under the Act. 10. The aforementioned questions are essentially the questions of fact and, therefore, they are required to be proved with the aid of evidence. Once, they are proved either way, the findings recorded thereon are regarded as findings of fact." 5. The Apex Court further went on to hold as under : "15. Such appeal is then heard on the question of admission with a view to find out as to whether it involves any substantial question of law or not. Whether the appeal involves a substantial question of law or not depends upon the facts of each case and needs an examination by the High Court. If the substantial question of law arises, the High Court would admit the appeal for final hearing on merit else would dismiss in limini with reasons that it does not involve any substantial question/s of law. 16. Now coming to the facts of this case, we find that the appeal before the High Court did not involve any substantial question of law on the material questions set out above. In other words, in our view, the Commissioner decided all the material questions arising in the case properly on the basis of evidence adduced by the parties and rightly determined the compensation payable to the respondent. It was, therefore, rightly affirmed by the High Court on facts. 17. In this view of the matter, the findings being concurrent findings of fact of the two courts below are binding on this Court. Even otherwise, we find no good ground to call for any interference on any of the factual findings. None of the factual findings are found to be either perverse or arbitrary or based on no evidence or against any provision of law. We accordingly uphold these findings." 6. As far as present appeal is concerned, the so called substantial questions of law framed are the questions of facts and the findings of the Commissioner on the said issues are not perverse. As far as interest is concerned, the same is answered against the Insurance Company in view of the decision of the Apex Court in North East Karnataka Road Transport Corporation Case (Supra). In Golla Rajanna Etc. Etc. Vs. Divisional Manager and Another, 2017 (1) TAC 259 (SC) also it has been held that under Section 30, the High Court cannot enter into the arena of facts unless they are proved to be perverse.
Decision
7. In view of the above, the appeal fails and is dismissed. The so called questions of law framed by the Insurance Company are answered against it. In fact the substantial questions of law raised are the questions of fact. 8. Interim relief, if any, shall stand vacated forthwith. The amount be disbursed to the claimant forthwith. Order Date :- 24.5.2023 LN Tripathi Digitally signed by :- LALIT TRIPATHI High Court of Judicature at Allahabad