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2018 DIGILAW 1055 (GAU)

NEW INDIA ASSURANCE CO LTD v. GIAS UDDIN S/O MD. RAHIM UDDIN

2018-07-19

KALYAN RAI SURANA

body2018
JUDGMENT AND ORDER : 1. Heard Mr. R. K. Bhatra, learned counsel appearing for the appellant. None appears on call for the respondents No. 1 and 2, i.e. the claimant as well as the owner of the vehicle, despite service of notices. 2. The learned counsel for the appellant submits that pursuant to order dated 25.11.2013, as a part of the award, the appellant had deposited a sum of Rs.1,50,000/- before the learned Commissioner, Workmen’s Compensation, Tezpur, by Cheque No. 822548 dated 12.12.2013, which was duly acknowledged by the Commissioner, Workmen’s Compensation, Tezpur. Therefore, it appears that the respondent No. 1 is fully aware of the proceedings of this appeal. Therefore, in view of the non-appearance of the respondents No. 1 and 2 despite service of notice, the matter is heard ex-parte against them. 3. This appeal under Section 30 of the Workmen’s Compensation Act, 1923 is directed against the judgment and order dated 19.04.2012, passed by the learned Commissioner, Workmen’s Compensation, Tezpur, Zone III, in SWC Case No. 14/2011. The said appeal was admitted by this Court by order dated 25.11.2013, on the following substantial question of law:- “Whether the learned commissioner, Workmen’s Compensation, in view of the evidence of PW-2, Munin Borkotoky, was justified in awarding the compensation under the provisions of Section 4 (1)(c)(ii) of the Employees’ Compensation Act?” 4. The case of the respondent No. 1/claimant is that he was employed as a labourer in a truck bearing Registration No. ASW-6735, owned by the respondent No. 2. It was claimed that he was earning a monthly wage of Rs.6,000/-excluding allowances. In course of his employment, he was travelling as a labourer on the said truck from Misa to Nagaon on 04.07.2010. On N.H.-37 at Rongagorah, to avoid accident with another vehicle, the driver of the truck applied brakes, but the axel bar of the truck came out of the chasis and the truck turned turtle on the road at about 7 A.M. The police took him for treatment to B.P. Civil Hospital, Nagaon. In the accident, he has claimed to have suffered grievous injuries. Later on, he was treated privately and the said accident was registered as Samaguri P.S. G.D. Entry No. 07.04.2010. The respondent No.1 claimed that due to injury he could not recover from his injury and could not perform his earlier job as labourer and therefore, made a claim for Rs.4,00,000/-with interest thereon. Later on, he was treated privately and the said accident was registered as Samaguri P.S. G.D. Entry No. 07.04.2010. The respondent No.1 claimed that due to injury he could not recover from his injury and could not perform his earlier job as labourer and therefore, made a claim for Rs.4,00,000/-with interest thereon. Further, it was also claimed that the respondent No. 2, who was aware of the accident, had paid him some money for treatment and therefore, no notice under Section 10 of the Workmen’s Compensation Act was necessary. 5. The appellant herein contested the claim petition and by taking usual plea, the liability to pay any compensation was disowned. 6. The respondent No. 1 examined himself as P.W. 1 and also examined one doctor as P.W. 2 and the following documents are exhibited viz., (1) accident information report (Ext. 1), (2) prescription (Ext. 2 to 10), (3) injury report and X-ray report (Ext. 11 to Ext. 13), and (4) copy of notice under Section 10 (Ext. 14). 7. In respect of issue No. 1, the learned Commissioner had held that the respondent No. 1 was working as the labourer in the concerned truck and he was the employee within the meaning of clause I(c) of section 2(1)(dd) of the Workmen’s Compensation Act. In respect of issue No. 2, it was held that the accident had occurred in course of and arising out of employment under the respondent No. 2. In respect of issue No. 3, it was held that as per the evidence of the doctor (P.W. 2), the respondent No. 1 had suffered fracture in the both bones of right leg and in view of the assessment of the doctor, it was held that the respondent No. 1 had suffered permanent partial disablement of 30% and had suffered a loss of earning capacity of 40% and the issues were decided in favour of the respondent No. 1. In respect of issue No. 4, on the basis of the medical records, it was held that the respondent No. 1 was 23 years old at the time of the accident and holding the monthly income of the respondent No. 1 to be Rs.4,000/-, compensation was computed as follows:- (a) 60% of the monthly wage of Rs.4,000/- PM Rs.2400/- (b) Factor for 23 years of age Rs.219.95 (c) Loss of earning capacity 40% (d) Compensation due Rs.2400 X 219.95 X 40% Total Rs.2,11,152.00 only. (Rupees two lakh eleven thousand one hundred fifty two only). The award was directed to be paid within a period of one month from the date of the order failing which the appellant was directed to pay a simple interest @ 6% per annum from the order date of realization. 8. The learned counsel for the appellant has submitted that no X-Ray plate has been exhibited. Therefore, the primary evidence, however, not being available, the X-Ray report could not have been a basis of holding that the respondent No. 1 suffered any fracture injuries. Moreover, it is submitted that more severe injuries than the one suffered by the respondent No. 1, were entitled to lower loss of earning capacity as per the entries contained in Schedule 1 of the Employees’ Compensation Act and in this context, it is submitted that more severe injuries like loss of one eye entitles one to loss of earning capacity of 40% whereas loss of all toes/feet etc. entitle compensation on account of loss of earning capacity by 20%, 30% and 40% and therefore, it is submitted that the assessment of loss of earning capacity assessed by the learned Commissioner is not sustainable. In this context, by referring to the case of National Insurance Com. Ltd. Vs. Bimal Nath, 2009 1 GLT 370, it is submitted that loss of earning capacity is required to be assessed in relation to any employment which the injured could have undertaken and therefore, the computation of loss of income by the learned Commissioner is not sustainable without following the ratio laid down in the case of Bimal Nath (supra). It is also submitted that the award of compensation without any assessment as to the period of disability is also not sustainable. It is also submitted that the award of compensation without any assessment as to the period of disability is also not sustainable. It is also submitted that there was no medical evidence in form of X-Ray plate as well as X-Ray reports to indicate that there was an onset of Osteo-arthritis in respect of the respondent No. 1. It is submitted that X-Ray report (Ext. 13) dated 03.09.2010, indicated that joint spaces and articular margins are intact and therefore, it is submitted that the finding recorded in the injury report (Ext. 11) was not sustainable in the light of the medical evidence available on record. It is further submitted that the respondent No. 1 had filed the claim petition on 07.04.2011 and at that time, the said injury report (Ext. 11) was not in existence because the same was signed on 21.12.2011, which can be seen at place containing the mark of Ext. 11(i). In this context, it is submitted that the doctor (P.W. 2) had not certified in Ext. 11 i.e. the injury report that the doctor had examined any X-Ray plate or report, to find the onset of Osteo-arthritis. Further questioning the correctness of the injury report, the learned counsel for the appellant has submitted that in the injury report (Ext. 11), it has been recorded that the “Check X-ray showed that old fracture with mal-union both bones of tibia and fabula vide X-ray dt. 03.09.2010.” Referring to the said x-ray report dt. 03.09.2010 (Ext. 13), it is submitted that as per the said x-ray report, the entry made therein is as follows :- “Old fracture is seen at the lower thirds of both bones of right leg. Joint spaces and articular margins are intact.” Therefore, it is submitted that the injury report (Ext. 11) was not believable because in one side, the doctor (P.W. 2), has referred that the fracture was mal-united, whereas the xray report does not indicate the same. Therefore, in the absence of any x-ray plate, going by the x-ray report (Ext.12 and 13), neither any mal-united fracture was reported nor it contained a report of any sign of Osteo-arthritis when the articular margins are intact. 9. Having heard the submissions made by the learned counsel for the appellant and on examining the records, this court has to agree with the meticulous submissions made by the learned counsel for the appellant. 9. Having heard the submissions made by the learned counsel for the appellant and on examining the records, this court has to agree with the meticulous submissions made by the learned counsel for the appellant. It is seen that the learned Commissioner did not do the exercise of assessment of loss of earning capacity with relation to any employment which the respondent No. 1 could not have undertaken. Moreover, having seen the X-Ray report (Ext. 12 and 13), this Court is inclined to agree with the learned counsel for the appellant that there is no medical evidence of a mal-united joint or of onset of Osteo-arthritis as opened by the P.W. 2 in his injury report (Ext.11). As per the New Concise Medical Dictionary, 4th Revised Edition published by AITB Publishers, India, “Osteo-arthiritis is characterized by degeneration of the cartilage that lines joints or by osteophytes which lead to pain and stiffness. Affected joints become enlarged and distorted by ostephytes”. Therefore, the X-Ray report dated 03.10.2010 (Ext. 13) would have indicated such a Medical Condition, which was conspicuously absent. Admittedly, the doctor (P.W.-2) is not a orthopaedic specialist. Thus, the finding recorded in the injury report (Ext. 13) regarding the respondent No. 1 suffering from oesteo-arthiritis is found to be contrary to the Medical Prescription and X-Ray reports on record. Thus, this Court is compelled to discard the contents of the injury report (Ext. 11). Therefore, this appeal is allowed by holding that the assessment of the disability at 30%, on loss of earning capacity of 40% is not sustainable merely on the basis of entries made in the injury report (Ext. 11) as the contents of the said injury report is not found to be sustainable from the X-ray reports indicated above. In view of the ratio laid down by the Hon’ble Apex Court in the case of Golla Ranjana Vs. Divisional Manager, (2017) 1 SCC 45 , wherein the Apex Court had held that the Commissioner, Workmen’s Compensation is the last authority on facts, this Court is not inclined to make it own assessment as to the loss of earning capacity and the nature of disability suffered the respondent No. 1. Divisional Manager, (2017) 1 SCC 45 , wherein the Apex Court had held that the Commissioner, Workmen’s Compensation is the last authority on facts, this Court is not inclined to make it own assessment as to the loss of earning capacity and the nature of disability suffered the respondent No. 1. Therefore, this Court is inclined to allow the appeal by remanding the matter back to the learned Commissioner, Workmen’s Compensation, Sonitpur, Tezpur for a fresh decision in accordance with law by granting an opportunity of hearing to both sides, if require, by adducing additional evidence. 10. It is needless to say that as the appeal has been allowed, the appellant is exempted from making any further payment of the awarded sum. However, it is provided that the amount already withdrawn by the respondent No. 1 would be subject to the outcome of the fresh trial. 11. Before parting with the records, this Court is inclined to observe that when the appellant had filed the written statement, the said injury report did not exist in the record of the learned Tribunal and therefore, the introduction of a document subsequently without notice to the appellant is found to be contrary to the provisions of Rule 21(3) of the Workmen’s Compensation Rules, 1924. It is found from the LCR that no leave was obtained from the learned Commissioner for introduction of document which was not produced within the time specified in sub-Rule (1) or (2) of Rule 21. Therefore, it is expected that the learned Commissioner, Workmen’s Compensation, Sonitpur, Tezpur, shall scrupulously follow the provisions of Rule 21 of the Workmen’s Compensation Rules so that for technical reasons, the award passed in claim cases in the beneficial legislation of Employees Compensation Act, 1923 are not frustrated for non-compliance of the various provisions of the Act and Rules framed thereunder. 12. The appeal stands allowed with the order of remand as indicated above. 13. Let the LCR be returned back. 14. The appellant, who is duly represented by their learned counsel shall appear before the learned Commissioner, Workmen’s/Employees Compensation, Sonitpur, Tezpur on 03.09.2018, and by producing a certified copy of this order, the appellant shall seek further instructions from the said learned Commissioner.