The Karnal Cooperative Marketi v. Tilak Raj
Employees’ Compensation Act, 1923 – Death of workman while on duty
Case brief
What is this about?
Punjab & Haryana High Court, FAO-3595-1999 (O&M), decided 28.01.2026 by Pankaj Jain, J. – Karnal Co-operative Marketing-cumProcessing Society v. Tilak Raj (minor) – appeal by employer against Commissioner's award under the Employees’ Compensation Act, 1923 dismissed; death of employee Telu Ram held to be an accident arising out of and during the course of employment; admission of attendance shifted onus to employer, who failed to prove half-day leave; co-workers proved death while on duty; no substantial question of law under Section 30; cross objections (XOBJC-32-CII-2002) seeking enhancement dismissed as award exceeded 1980 statutory entitlement; compensation Rs.86,764/- with 6% interest left undisturbed.
What did the court decide?
Once the employer admitted that the deceased was on duty, the onus shifted upon the employer to prove that at the time of death the deceased was not on duty; the employer produced no evidence apart from bald assertion.