Suresh Paswan v. M/S. Kla Construction Technologies Pvt. Ltd. & Ors.

M. R. SHAH, J. 1. Feeling aggrieved and dissatisfied with the impugned judgment and order passed by the High Court of Delhi at New Delhi i n First Appeal No. 511 of 2016, by which the High Court has allowed the said appeal preferred by the respondent – employer and has set a side the order passed by the Commissioner, Employees’ Compensation awarding compensation of Rs. 3,74,364/- to the appellant herein, the in jured employee has preferred the present appeal. 2. That the appellant filed an application for compensation before the Commissioner, Employees’ Compensation. It was the case on behalf of the appellant that while he was working at the construction site under the respondent-employer, he fell down from the roof of the fir st floor and suffered grievous injuries, which resulted in 60% permanent disability. The appellant relied upon the disability certificate dated 13.09.2009 issued by Dr. Umesh Kumar Singh, Civil Surgeon-cum-Medical Officer, Gardiner Road Hospital, Patna certifying that the appella nt sustained 60% disability, which was as a result of the accident. It appears that the respondent – employer disputed the disability certificate dated 13.09.2009 SURESH PASWAN v. M/S. KLA CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGIES PVT. LTD. as well as his disability as assessed 60% under the sa id disability certificate. The learned Commissioner, Employees’ Co mpensation awarded a total sum of Rs. 3,74,364/- towards the compensation taking the permanent disability of the appellant as 60%. 2.1 Feeling aggrieved and dissatisfied with the order p assed by the Commissioner, Employees’ Compensation awarding Rs. 3,74,364/- towards the compensation considering the permanent disabilit y of the appellant as 60%, the respondent – employer preferred appeal b efore the High Court. Before the High Court, an application was submitted by the employer to constitute a Medical Board to examine the perma nent disability of the appellant. By order dated 21.03.2017, the High Co urt directed the Medical Superintendent of Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital to constitute a Medical Board to examine the disability of the appellant. The Medical Board submitted the report dated 09.11.2017 and according to the said report the appellant did not suffer any permanent disability. Therefore, the High Court by the impugned judgment and order h as allowed the said appeal preferred by the respondent No.1 her ein and has set aside the order passed by the Commissioner, Employees’ Compensation. Hence, the present appeal is at the instance of the original claimant – employee. 3. We have heard the learned counsel for the respective parties at length. We have also gone through and considered the earlier disability certificate dated 13.09.2009 relied upon by the claimant as well as the learned Commissioner, Employees’ Compensation as well as the report dated 09.11.2017 of the Medical Board constituted pursuant to the order passed by the High Court dated 21.03.2017. It is true that the Medical Board in its report dated 09.11.2017 has opined that the appellant has not suffered any permanent disability. However, at the same time, it is required to be noted that the disability certificate issued by Dr. Umesh Kumar Singh, Civil Surgeon-cum-Medical Officer, Gardiner Road Hospital, Patna was of the year 2009 and the Medical Board constituted pursuant to the order passed by the High Court examined the injured e mployee after a period of approximately nine years from the date of accident. At the relevant time, the employer did not make any application before the Commissioner, Employees’ Compensation to constitute a Medical Board and the injured be examined by the Medical Board. The employer ought to have made such a request before the Commissioner, Employees’ Compensation at the earliest opportunity. Be that as it may, considering 221 the fact that the appellant did suffer the injuries due t o fall and at the relevant time, it affected his 60% earning capacity, it ma y not be that nothing was to be awarded to the appellant – injured employee by way of compensation. 4. It is reported that pursuant to the earlier order pass ed by the High Court, out of total sum of Rs. 7,52,471/- depos ited by the respondent, the appellant has already withdrawn 50% of the amount, i.e., Rs. 3,76,236/-. Under the circumstances and in the facts of the case, we are of the opinion that the appellant is entitled to Rs. 3,76,236/- by way of compensation with interest, which the appellant has already withdrawn, it shall meet the ends of justice. 5. In view of the above and for the reasons stated above, present appeal succeeds in part. The impugned judgment and order pass ed by the High Court is hereby quashed and set aside. It is directed th at the appellant is entitled to a total sum of Rs.3,76,236/- towards compensation with interest for the disability suffered by him, which the appellant has already withdrawn earlier. Therefore, the aforesaid amou nt of Rs. 3,76,236/- withdrawn by the appellant be treated as fu ll and final settlement of the claim of the appellant towards compensation with interest for the disability suffered by him. The balance amount lying in deposit with the High Court/Commissioner may be withdrawn by the respondent/ employer, if not withdrawn so far. 6. Present appeal is accordingly disposed of in terms of the above. Divya Pandey Appeal partly allowed. (Assisted by : Deepak Panwar, LCRA) SURESH PASWAN v. M/S. KLA CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGIES PVT. LTD. [M. R. SHAH, J.]