Karnataka High Court
The Branch Manager, United India ... vs Srinivasa S/O Late Velayudhan And Ors. on 3 November, 2006
Equivalent citations: 2007ACJ718, 2007 LAB. I. C. (NOC) 147 (KAR.) = 2007 (1) AIR KAR R 380, 2007 (1) AIR KAR R 380
Author: V. Jagannathan
Bench: V. Jagannathan
JUDGMENT V. Jagannathan, J.
1. In this appeal, the questioTN-2006-2341.bgmn for consideration is whether the death of one Velayudhan following heart attack can be attributed to an accident arising out of and in the course of his employment. The appellant-Insurance Company is aggrieved by the order of the Commissioner for workmen's Compensation, Madikeri, in holding that the deceased died during the course of employment.
2. The learned Counsel for the appellant Shri A.N. Krsihnaswamy submitted that it is an admitted fact that the deceased though was a driver by occupation, vent home as he had a pain in the heart and there afterwards, he was taken to the hospital where he died out of heart attack. Both sides had not disputed this aspect of the matter, but the question is whether the death which occurred in the hospital could be linked to the employment of the deceased under 5th respondent.
3. The learned Counsel for the appellant/insurance company referring to the decision of the Apex Court in the case of Regional Director, ESI Corporation and Anr. v. Francis De Costa and Anr., submitted that by no stretch of imagination can it be inferred from the facts and circumstances of this case that the death of velayudhan come within the ambit expression of arising out of and in the course of employment.
4. On the other hand, learned Counsel for the respondents-claimants submitted that the deceased was driving the Lorry belonging to the 5th respondent and while the Lorry was going from Kudlur on the way the deceased had a pain in the heart and thereafter, the deceased went to his home and then he was brought to the hospital where he died and therefore, in the instant case the death will have to be construed as one having taken place during the course of employment and arising out of employment.
5. I am unable to support the view expressed by the learned Counsel for the claimants respondents. The facts of this case which are not in dispute does not give impression that death of valayudhan took place while he was on duty and that it had happened in the course of his employment. The Hon'ble Supreme Court has laid down the law in this regard in number of cases and the said question also came up for consideration in the decision cited by the learned Counsel for the appellant.
6. In the case or Regional Director, KSI corporation and Anr. v. Francis DA Costa and Anr. , it has been observed by the Hon'ble Apex Court at paragraph No. 11 thus:
Construing the meaning of the phrase "in the course of his employment", it was noted by Lord Damning that the meaning of the phrase had gradually been widened over the last 30 years to include doing something which was reasonably incidental to the employee's employment. The test of "reasonably incidental"' was applied in a large number of English decisions. But Lord Denning pointed out that in all those cases the workman was at the premises where he or she worked and was injured whila on a visit to the canteen or other place for a break. Lord Denning, however, cautioned that the words "reasonably incidental" should be read in that context and should be limited to the cases of that kind. Lord Denning observed:
Take a case where a man is going to or from his place of work on his own bicycle, or in his own car. He might be said to be doing something ''reasonably incidental" to his employment. But if he has an accident on the way, it is well settled that it does not "arise out of and in the course of his employment". Even if his employer provides the transport, so that he is going to work as a passenger in his employer's vehicle (which is surely "reasonably incidental" to his employment), nevertheless if he is injured in an accident, it does not arise out of and in the course of his employment. It needed a special "deeming" provision in a statute to make it "deemed" to arise out of and in the course of his employment.
7. In a recent decision of the Hon'ble Supreme court in the case of Jyothi Ademma v. Plant Engineer, Nellore and Anr. it has been held at paragraph-6 thug:
Under Section 3(1) it has to be established that there was some causal connection between the death of the workman and his employment. If the workman dies as natural result, of the disease which he was suffering or while suffering from a particular disease he dies of that disease as a result of wear and tear, of the employment no liability would be fixed upon the employer. But if the employment is a contributory cause or has accelerated the death, or if the death was due not only to the decease but also the disease coupled with the employment, then it can be said that the death arose out or the employment and the employer would be liable.
8. In the light of the above-cited provision of law, the instant case is not one coming within the ambit of Section 3 of the Act and neither can it be said that death of Velayudan arose out of and in the course of his employment. Therefore, no liability can be fastened on the insurance company.
9. One other submission made by the appellant's Counsel is that the policy in question was a policy taken under the M.V. Act and it is an exclusive policy under the said act and therefore, even on this ground also, no liability can be put on the appellant/company.
10. Having held that the death of a deceased did not take place in the course of his employment as there toeing no nexus between the employment and the death which took place following heart attack, the impugned order fastening the liability on the Insurance company will have to be set-aside.
11. In the result, I proceed to pass the following order:
The appeal is allowed. The impugned order of the commissioner fastening the liability on the appellant/insurance company is set-aside. The amount in deposit shall, be refunded to the appellant/insurance company.