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2005 Supreme(Kar) 226

Karnataka High Court
Judges : K.SREEDHAR RAO
MANOHAR BHIMAPPA MORE - Appellant
Versus
MAHADEV BHIMAPPA MORE - Respondent
M. F. A. 1541 Of 2001
Decided On : 03/28/2005

Headnote:Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 - Section 166 -Rejection of claim -Injured was brother of owner of Tractor-Trailer - Injured engaged by his brother as coolie - Rejection of claim on the ground - Legality. See, Workmen s compensation Act, 1923 - Section 30 (1).

       Workmen s Compensation Act, 1923 - Section 30 (1) -Rejection of claim - Injured was brother of owner of Tractor-Trailer - Injured engaged by his brother as coolie - Rejection of claim on the ground - Legality. [K. Sreedhar Rao, J.] - After all the tractor-trailer is meant to be used. for agricultural purpose and it requires employment of people. In the rural life styles, it is not uncommon to find the practice of oral appointment for specific purpose and time. Many a time, the persons in the family would be employed for doing the work instead of employing the strangers. The fact that the injured is the brother and guarantor for repayment of the loan is not a valid reason to hold that he was not a workman employed in connection with the tractor-trailer. The member of the family so employed cannot be considered as a workman in law only when he is the registered owner of the vehicle. Hence there is no inhibition in law for employment of member of the family in connection with the tractor-trailer. In view of the peculiar family relationship it is artificial to insist documentary proof of appointment and payment of wages by cash as the only mode of consideration for proof of employment.

K. SREEDHAR RAO, J.

( 1 ) THE claimant-injured made an application before the workmen's Compensation Commissioner seeking compensation for the injuries sustained in the course of and out of employment. The respondent No. 1 is the owner of the tractor-trailer. The injured is the brother of respondent No. 1 and contends that he was employed as a coolie in the tractor-trailer at the time of accident. The injured also stood as guarantor for repayment of loan borrowed by the respondent no, 1 for purchase of the tractor-trailer in question. The insurer, respondent No. 2, took up the plea that the injured is the brother of the respondent No. 1 and cannot be considered as a workman and sought exoneration of liability.

( 2 ) THE Commissioner for Workmen's compensation upheld the contention of the insurer and rejected the claim without considering the other aspects.

( 3 ) ON thorough consideration of the facts, the view taken by the Workmen's compensation Commissioner is bad in law. After all the tractor-trailer is meant to be used for agriculture purpose and it requires employment of people. In the rural lifestyle, it is not uncommon to find the practice of oral appointment for specific purpose and time. Many a time, the persons in the family would be employed for doing the work instead of employing strangers. The fact that the injured is the brother and the guarantor for repayment of the loan is not a valid reason to hold that he was not a workman employed in connection with the tractor-trailer. The member of the family so employed cannot be considered as a workman in law only when he is the registered owner of the vehicle. Hence there is no inhibition in law for employment of member of the family in connection with the tractor-trailer. In view of the peculiar family relationship it is absurd to insist on documentary proof of appointment and the payment of wages by cash as the only mode of consideration for proof of employment.

( 4 ) FOR the reasons and discussions made above, the view taken by the Workmen's compensation Commissioner is bad in law. Accordingly, the order of the Workmen's compensation Commissioner is set aside. The matter is remanded to the Workmen's compensation Commissioner for assessment of the income, disability and the compensation payable in accordance with law. Accordingly, the appeal is allowed as indicated above. Appeal allowed.

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