Karnataka High Court: The Division Bench of Alok Aradhe and P.G.M. Patil, JJ. while allowing the appeal set aside the award of the Commissioner as he committed an error of law in applying the provisions of the Act, which was already repealed.
In the instant case, the appeal under Section 30 of the Workmen’s Compensation Act, 2009 was filed to assail the validity of the award of the Commissioner for Workmen’s Compensation. The commissioner had allowed the claim in part and awarded compensation to the tune of Rs 8,61,120.
Prashant (deceased) was working as an Assistant Manager in a factory when at on 02.08.2011 he fell inside the water pit and sustained injuries and thereafter died of it in the hospital. The deceased was 26 and was drawing a salary of Rs 41,062 per month.
Counsel for the appellant, Sangram S. Kulkarni submitted that the Commissioner erred in assessing the compensation as per the provisions of Workmen’s Compensation Act, which was already repealed.
The substantial question of law before the Court was that whether Commissioner committed an error of law in deciding the claim of the appellant in view of the fact that the provisions of Employee’s Compensation Act, 1923, came into force with effect from 18.01.2010 and the accident took place on 02.08.2011.
The Court after considering the facts and circumstances of the case observed that provisions of Employees Compensation Act, 1923, came into force with effect from 18.01.2010 and the accident took place on 02.08.2011. Therefore, the computation of compensation has to be made under the Employee’s Compensation Act, 1923 not under Workmen’s Compensation Act, which was already repealed.
Taking half of the net salary payable to the deceased which comes to Rs 16, 463 and after applying the factor of 215.28, the amount of compensation comes to Rs 35,44,154. The enhanced amount shall carry interest at the rate of 12% per annum from the date of death, till its realization. [B. Basappa v. J.S.W. Steel Ltd., 2019 SCC OnLine Kar 2185, decided on 06-11-2019]
