Dismissed

Munshi Ram and Anr. v. U.I.I.Co.Ltd.and Ors.

Rajasthan HC7 Apr 2022CMA/1810/2006

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

This second appeal challenged the High Court's order fixing the employer's liability at Rs. 2000 for a deceased workman, excluding interest and incidental claims. The High Court held the claim was misplaced and dismissed the petition against the insurance co.

What did the court decide?

Settled the liability at Rs. 2000 statutory pension; held insurer not liable for penalty under Section 4(1) of workmen's comp. act.

Munshi Ram and Anr. Vs U.I.I.Co.Ltd.and Ors. — Pension and Retirement Benefits | Rajasthan HC (2022)

¶1

HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE FOR RAJASTHAN AT JODHPUR

¶2

S.B. Civil Misc. Appeal No. 1810/2006

¶3

Munshi Ram S/o Shri Khushi Ram, R/o Indrapura, Tehsil & Dist. Churu.

¶4

Kumari Poonam miner D/o Shri Munshi Ram R/o Indrapura, Tehsil & Dist. Churu.

¶5

----Appellant

¶6

Versus

¶7

United India Insurance Company Ltd., through Branch Manager, Branch Devipura, Jaipur Road, Sikar (Raj.)

¶8

Shri Prameshwar Lal S/o Shri Shyam Sunder Sharma, R/o Narodara, Tehsil Laxmangarh, Dist. Siker (Raj.) Contractor Jaipur Vidut Vitran Nigam, Sikar (Raj.)

¶9

----Respondent

¶10

For Appellant(s) : Mr. J. Gehlot For Respondent(s) : Mr. Jagdish Vyas

¶11

HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE MADAN GOPAL VYAS

¶12

Judgment

¶13

Pronounced on 07/04/2022

¶14

01/kkjk 30 deZdkj {kfriwfrZ vf/kfu;e] 1923 ds v/khu ;g vihy vihykFkhZx.k&izkFkhZx.k us fo}ku vk;qDr] deZdkj {kfriwfrZ vf/kfu;e pw: ds vkns'k fnukad 14-07-2006 ds fo#) izLrqr dh gSA fo}ku vk;qDr us izkFkhZx.k dks erd gseUr 'kekZ dh eR;q ds laca/k esa eqvkotk jkf'k 2]19]950@&#i;s o nkg laLdkj ds 2]000@&#i;s] dqy 2]21]950@&#i;s vkns'k dh frfFk ls 60 fnol esa U;k;ky; esa tek djokus vU;Fkk 6 izfr'kr okf"kZd C;kt lfgr olwyuh; gksus dk vkns'k fn;k] ftlls O;fFkr gksdj ;g vihy izLrqr dh xbZ gSA

¶15

02laf{kIr esa izdj.k ds rF; bl izdkj gSa fd erd gseUr 'kekZ ds fof/kd izfrfuf/k;ksa us gtkZus dk vkosnu&i= vk;qDr ds le{k izLrqr dj O;Dr fd;k fd erd] vizkFkhZ la[;k 01 o 02 ds ;gka ykbuesu ds :i esa dk;Zjr FkkA fnukad 25-09-2004 dks gseUr 'kekZ vizkFkhZx.k ds Bsds ij fy, x, fo|qr lc&LVs'ku]

¶16

(2 of 7)

¶17

[CMA-1810/2006]

¶18

ihijkyh ¼lhdj½ esa dk;Zjr Fkk] rc [kjkc ykbu dks Bhd djus ds nkSjku vpkud fo|qr izokg c<+ tkus ls nq?kZVuk esa gseUr 'kekZ xaHkhj :i ls ?kk;y gks x;kA gseUr 'kekZ dks vizkFkhZx.k }kjk 4]000@&#i;s izfrekg osru fn;k tkrk Fkk rFkk [kpsZ ds :i esa 1]000@&#i;s izfrekg vfrfjDr osru fn;k tkrk FkkA ?kVuk ds le; gseUr 'kekZ 24 o"kZ dk ;qod FkkA fnukad 07-02-2005 dks gseUr 'kekZ dh e`R;q gks xbZA izkFkhZx.k us vizkFkhZx.k ls dqy 30]50]000@&#i;s dh eqvkotk jkf'k dh ekax dhA

¶19

03vizkFkhZ la[;k 01 chek dEiuh o vizkFkhZ la[;k 02 ijes'oj yky dh vksj ls tokc izLrqr fd, x,A

¶20

04i{kdkjku~ ds vfHkopuksa ds vk/kkj ij fo}ku fopkj.k U;k;ky; }kjk dqy ikap fook|d fojfpr fd, x,A

¶21

05fook|dksa dh iqf"V esa izkFkhZx.k dh vksj ls 03 lk{khx.k ds dFku ys[kc) djok, o 70 izys[k iznf'kZr gq,A vizkFkhZx.k dh vksj ls nks xokg ijhf{kr gq,A

¶22

06rRi'pkr~ mHk; i{kksa dh cgl lqudj fo}ku fopkj.k U;k;ky; us mi;qZDrkuqlkj vk{ksfir vkns'k ikfjr fd;kA

¶23

07eSaus ;ksX; vf/koDrk vihykFkhZx.k&izkFkhZx.k ,oa ;ksX; vf/koDrk vizkFkhZ la[;k 01 dh cgl lquh] vfHkys[k o vk{ksfir fu.kZ; dk voyksdu fd;kA

¶24

08vihy esa fook|d la[;k 01 o 04 dks pqukSrh ugha nh xbZ gS] dsoy ek= eqvkots dh jkf'k] C;kt o isuYVh ds laca/k esa fook|d la[;k 02 o 03 dks gh pqukSrh nh xbZ gSA

¶25

09;ksX; vf/koDrk vihykFkhZx.k&izkFkhZx.k us ;g rdZ fn;k fd fo}ku fopkj.k U;k;ky; us erd dh ekfld vk; 2]000@&#i;s fu/kkZfjr dh gS] tks xyr gSA okLro esa erd dh ekfld vk; 4]000@&#i;s FkhA erd ds bZykt esa djhc 3]00]000@&#i;s [kpZ gks x,] tks ugha fnyok,A tcfd /kkjk 4¼4½ deZdkj {kfriwfrZ vf/kfu;e] 1923 ds v/khu bZykt esa [kpZ jkf'k izFkhZx.k dks fnyokbZ tkuh pkfg,A /kkjk 4¼1½ deZpkjh {kfriwfrZ vf/kfu;e] 1923 ds rgr C;kt@isuYVh dh jkf'k Hkh ugha fnyokbZ gSA bl izdkj fo}ku fopkj.k U;k;ky; us vk{ksfir fu.kZ; ds }kjk eqvkots dk mfpr ,oa fof/k lEer fu/kkZj.k ugha fd;k gSA blfy, eqvkots dh jkf'k esa of) fd, tkus dk fuosnu fd;kA

¶26

(3 of 7)

¶27

[CMA-1810/2006]

¶28

10;ksX; vf/koDrk izR;FkhZ&vizkFkhZ la[;k 01 chek dEiuh us mDr rdksZa dk fojks/k djrs gq, ;g rdZ fn;k fd vizkFkhZ la[;k 02 Bsdsnkj us vius tokc esa erd dk ekfld osru 2]000@&#i;s vafdr fd;k gSA izkFkhZx.k us erd dh vk; ds laca/k esa dksbZ nLrkosth lk{; izLrqr ugha dh gSA izkFkhZx.k us Rejoinder izLrqr dj 2]000@&#i;s ekfld osru ds rF; ls budkj Hkh ugha fd;k gSA nq?kZVuk fnukad 2509-2004 dks ?kfVr gqbZ] rc vdq'ky Jfed dh U;wure etnwjh 1898 #i;s FkhA erd vdq'ky Jfed dh Js.kh esa vkrk Fkk] blfy, erd dk ekfld osru 2]000@&#i;s lgh :i ls ekuk gSA /kkjk 30 deZdkj {kfriwfrZ vf/kfu;e] 1923 ds v/khu vihy dsoy ek= fof/k ds lkjoku iz'u ij gh gks ldrh gS] ysfdu vihykFkhZx.k us tks fcUnq izLrqr fd,] os rF; ls lacaf/kr gSaA blfy, vihy iks"k.kh; ugha gSA ?kVuk ds le; /kkjk 4¼1½ deZdkj {kfriwfrZ vf/kfu;e] 1923 ds rgr esfMdy fcyksa dh jkf'k fnyok, tkus dk izko/kku ugha FkkA isuYVh dk Hkqxrku Hkh fu;kstd }kjk fd;k tkrk gS] chek dEiuh }kjk Hkqxrku ugha fd;k tkrk gSA vr% fo}ku fopkj.k U;k;ky; }kjk ikfjr fu.kZ; dk leFkZu djrs gq, vk{ksfir vkns'k dh iqf"V fd, tkus dk fuosnu fd;kA mUgksaus vius bu rdksZa ds leFkZu esa fuEufyf[kr uthjsa is'k dh] ftudk eSaus llEeku voyksdu fd;k %&

¶29

S.B. Civil Miscellaneous Appeal No. 301/2013, Reliance General Insurance Company Ltd. Versus Shyam @ Jagdish & Shiv Lal, Rajasthan High Court, Jaipur, Order Dated 28.01.2022.

¶30

(2006) 5 Supreme Court Cases 192, New India Assurance Co. Ltd. Versus Harshadbhai Amrutbhai Modhiya and Another.

¶31

1998 ACJ 1, Ved Prakash Garg Versus Premi Devi and others.

¶32

2001 ACJ 950, Oriental Insurance Co. Ltd. Versus Vilas Devi and others.

¶33

2002 ACJ 145, Oriental Insurance Co. Ltd. Versus Momina Begum and others.

¶34

11eSaus mi;qZDr ijLij fojks/kh rdksZa ij fopkj fd;kA tgka rd erd gsear 'kekZ dh ekfld vk; dk iz'u gS] vf/kdj.k us vk{ksfir fu.kZ; ds }kjk erd dh ekfld vk; 2]000@&#i;s fu/kkZfjr dh gSA vihykFkhZx.k&izkFkhZx.k us izkFkZuk&i= esa nq?kZVuk ds le; erd dh ekfld vk; 4]000@&#i;s vafdr dh gSA ;g Hkh vafdr fd;k gS fd nq?kZVuk ds le; erd vizkFkhZ Bsdsnkj ds ;gka dk;Z djrk FkkA

¶35

(4 of 7)

¶36

[CMA-1810/2006]

¶37

vizkFkhZ Bsdsnkj vFkkZr~ vizkFkhZ la[;k 02 us vius tokc ds iSjk la[;k 02 esa ;g vafdr fd;k gS fd erd gsear 'kekZ dks vizkFkhZ QeZ }kjk 2]000@&#i;s ekfld fQDl osru ij gh j[kk gqvk FkkA vizkFkhZ la[;k 02 Bsdsnkj us vius l'kiFk c;kuksa esa Hkh gseUr dk ekfld osru 2000@&#i;s gh crk;k gSA vizkFkhZ ds tokc esa vafdr bl rF; dk izkFkhZx.k us Rejoinder izLrqr djds [kaMu ugha fd;k gSA 4]000@&#i;s ekfld osru dh iqf"V esa dksbZ izys[kh; lk{; Hkh izLrqr ugha dh xbZ gSA rRle; vdq'ky Jfed dh ekfld etnwjh 1898@&#i;s FkhA vr% ,slh fLFkfr esa fo}ku vk;qDr us nq?kZVuk ds le; erd dk ekfld osru 2]000@&#i;s fu/kkZfjr djds dksbZ fof/kd ,oa rF;kRed Hkwy ugha dh gSA

¶38

12erd ds bZykt esa O;; jkf'k dk tgka rd iz'u gS] bl laca/k esa vk{ksfir fu.kZ; esa dksbZ foospu fd;k tkuk nf"Vxr ugha gksrk gSA nq?kZVuk fnukad 25-09-2004 dh gSA /kkjk 4 ¼2,½ deZdkj {kfriwfrZ vf/kfu;e] 1923 esa la'kks/ku fnukad 22-12-2009 ds }kjk fpfdRlh; O;; fnyk, tkus dk izko/kku fd;k x;k gSA nq?kZVuk ds le; fpfdRlh; O;; dh jkf'k fnyok, tkus dk deZdkj {kfriwfrZ vf/kfu;e] 1923 esa dksbZ izko/kku ugha FkkA ;g la'kksf/kr izko/kku fnukad 22-12-2009 ls izHkkoh gSA ysfdu gLrxr izdj.k dh nq?kZVuk fnukad 25-09-2004 dh gS] tks mi;qZDr la'kksf/kr izko/kku ds iwoZ dh gS] blfy, vihykFkhZx.k fpfdRlh; O;; ds en esa dksbZ jkf'k izkIr djus ds vf/kdkjh ugha gSA

¶39

13tgka rd C;kt@isuYVh dh jkf'k dk iz'u gS] bl laca/k esa vk{ksfir fu.kZ; ds }kjk eqvkotk jkf'k vkns'k dh frfFk ls 60 fnol esa tek djokus vFkok 6 izfr'kr okf"kZd C;kt lfgr olwyuh; gksuk vknsf'kr fd;k x;k gSA Bsdsnkj ijes'oj yky }kjk mDr Jfed dk chek djok;k gqvk Fkk] blfy, {kfriwfrZ jkf'k pqdkus ds fy, ijes'oj yky dks mRrjnk;h ugha ekukA vk{ksfir vkns'k ds }kjk ns; eqvkotk jkf'k vkns'k dh frfFk ls 60 fnol ds Hkhrj U;k;ky; esa tek ugha djokbZ xbZ gks] ,slk vihykFkhZx.k }kjk izdV ugha fd;k x;k gSA eqvkotk jkf'k vkns'k dh frfFk ls 60 fnol ds Hkhrj U;k;ky; esa tek djokus ij eqvkotk jkf'k ij C;kt ns; ugha gksuk n`f"Vxr gksrk gSA

¶40

14tgka rd 'kkfLr jkf'k dk iz'u gS] eqvkotk jkf'k vnk;xh ds fy, chek daiuh dks mRrjnk;h Bgjk;k x;k gSA bl laca/k esa ekuuh; mPpre U;k;ky; dh

¶41

(5 of 7)

¶42

[CMA-1810/2006]

¶43

1998 ACJ 1 Ved Prakash Garg Versus Premi Devi and others uthj ds iSjk la[;k 14 esa ;g vfHkfu/kkZfjr fd;k x;k gS fd %&

¶44

"So far as this penalty amount is concerned it cannot be said that it automatically flows from the main liability incurred by the insured employer under the Workmen's Compensation Act. To that extent such penalty amount as imposed upon the insured employer would get out of the sweep of the term 'liability incurred' by the insured employer as contemplated by the proviso to Section 147(1)(b) of the Motor Vehicle Act as well as by the terms of the Insurance Policy found in provisos (b) and (c) to subsection (1) of section II thereof......"

¶45

"But so far as the amount of penalty imposed on the insured employer under contingencies contemplated by Section 4A(3)(b) is concerned as that is on account of personal fault of the insured not backed up by any justifiable cause, the insurance company cannot be made liable to reimburse that part of the penalty amount imposed on the employer....."

¶46

15bl laca/k esa bl U;k;ky; dh [kaMihB dh uthj 2001 ACJ 950 Oriental Insurance Co. Ltd. Versus Vilas Devi And Others esa ;g fl)kar izfrikfnr fd;k x;k gS fd %&

¶47

"Workmen's Compensation Act, 1923, section 4-A (3) (b) and Motor Vehicles Act, 1939, section 95 (1) [section 147 (1) of 1988 Act]-Penelty-Motor insurance-Liability of insurance company-Death of employee of owner of motor vehicle in accident during the course of his employment-Whether the insurance company is liable for payment of penalty in addition to compensation and interest-Held: no; penalty is not a legal liability which automatically arises out of injury but is a result of default committed by the employer."

¶48

16blds vfrfjDr gLrxr vihy esa fof/k dk dksbZ lkjHkwr iz'u vUrofyZr gksuk nf'kZr ugha gksrk gSA bl laca/k esa bl U;k;ky; dh t;iqj ihB }kjk SB Civil Miscellaneous Appeal No. 301/2013 Reliance General Insurance

¶49

(6 of 7)

¶50

[CMA-1810/2006]

¶51

Company Ltd. Versus Shyam @ Jagdish esa ikfjr fu.kZ; fnukad 28-01-2022 ds

¶52

i`"B 05 esa ;g er O;Dr fd;k x;k gS fd %&

¶53

"In "M/s Krishna Weaving Mills, Ajmer Vs. Smt. Chandra Bhaga Devi wide of Mool Chand & Anr. ", reported in 1985(1) WLN 455, this Court while dealing with Workmen's Compensation Act has laid down law that unless there is as question of public importance and there is no final interpretation available while the substantial question of law is arising, the appeal under the Workmen's Compensation Act cannot be entertained. Relevant portion of the judgment reads as follows:-

¶54

"8. Moreover, under S. 30 of the Workmen Compensation Act only substantial question of law can be agitated. In the present case, I am convinced that there is no substantial question of law involved.

¶55

The question of public importance and question on which no final interpretation is available are known as substantial question of law. Even if this definition is further extended, it will have to bear in mind that there is vast difference between the question of law and substantial question of law. It is only when the question of law is not well settled and it is of importance, it would become a substantial questions of law."

¶56

It is the settled position of law that limited jurisdiction has been given to the High Court confined to the substantial question of law only and the High Court cannot venture and reappreciate the evidence and finding of fact recorded on the evidence led by both the parties "

¶57

17dqy feykdj mi;qZDr foospu ds ifj.kkeLo:i fo}ku~ vk;qDr }kjk ikfjr fu.kZ; mfpr ,oa fof/klEer gS] ftlesa gLr{ksi fd, tkus ds dksbZ i;kZIr vk/kkj ugha gS] blfy, vihykFkhZx.k dh vihy [kkfjt fd, tkus ;ksX; gSA

¶58

18ifj.kker% vihykFkhZx.k&izkFkhZx.k }kjk izLrqr vihy [kkfjt dh tkrh gS rFkk fo}ku vk;qDr] deZdkj {kfriwfrZ vf/kfu;e pw: ds }kjk okn la[;k

¶59

(7 of 7)

¶60

[CMA-1810/2006]

¶61

MCY;qlh@,Q@1@2005 esa ikfjr fu.kZ; fnukad 14-07-2006 eqa'khjke vkfn cuke ;wukbZVsM bafM;k ba';ksjsal dEiuh fyfeVsM vkfn dh iqf"V dh tkrh gSA 19bl vkns'k dh izfr lfgr fo}ku v/khuLFk U;k;ky; dk vfHkys[k 'kh?kz izsf"kr gksA

¶62

(MADAN GOPAL VYAS),J

¶63

82-Rajendra/-

¶64

;g vkns'[email protected]; Hkkjrh; lafo/kku ds vuqPNsn 348(i) ds rgr Hkkjr ljdkj dh vf/klwpuk jkti= la[;k 1] fnuakd 2 tuojh 1999 ,oa jktLFkku jkti= fnukafdr 10-3-1971 ds rgr fgUnh Hkk"kk ds iz;ksx dk s izkf/kd`r fd, tkus ds ifj.kkeLo:i fgUnh Hkk"kk esa fy[kk;k x;kA

Munshi Ram and Anr. v. U.I.I.Co.Ltd.and Ors.

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

Munshi Ram and Anr. v. U.I.I.Co.Ltd.and Ors.

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

What the court decided

A compact analysis

Issues for consideration

Cases cited

Statutes considered

Parties & counsel

Coram

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