2016 Supreme(Del) 2846
IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI
SUNIL GAUR, J.
SHRIRAM GENERAL INSURANCE CO LTD. - Appellant
Versus
GULPHAM & ANR. - Respondents
FAO 151 of 2016 & C.M. No. 12685 of 2016
Decided On : 05-08-2016
For the Appellant :Mr. Sameer Nandwani and Mr. P. Acharya, Advocates.
For the Respondent:Ms. Pratima M. Chaudhary & Mr. Vineet Kumar, Advocates.
Reasonable inferences based on established facts can be used to establish the employer-employee relationship in the absence of direct evidence.
Headnote:
Employer-Employee Relationship - Compensation for Disability - The court found that the relationship of employer-employee existed based on the evidence of independent witnesses and upheld the grant of compensation for disability suffered in a vehicular accident.
Fact of the Case:
The impugned order granted compensation to the claimant for 28% disability suffered in a vehicular accident. The insurer challenged the order on the grounds of lack of established employer-employee relationship and proof of disability certificate.
Finding of the Court:
The court found that the relationship of employer-employee existed based on the evidence of independent witnesses and upheld the grant of compensation for disability. It dismissed the appeal and application for stay.
Issues: The issues revolved around the establishment of the employer-employee relationship and the proof of disability certificate.
Ratio Decidendi: In such cases, where direct evidence may be lacking, reasonable inferences have to be drawn based on established facts. The court considered the evidence of independent witnesses and the lack of cross-examination of the injured regarding the disability certificate.
Final Decision: The court dismissed the appeal and application for stay, upholding the impugned order granting compensation for disability.
1. Impugned order of 25th January, 2016 grants compensation of Rs. 2,95,613/- with interest to respondent No.1- claimant on account of 28% disability suffered by him in a vehicular accident.
2. In this appeal, the insurer has challenged the impugned order on the ground that relationship of employer-employee is not established and the disability certificate evidencing 28% disability is not proved by any doctor.
3. At the hearing, learned counsel for appellant has drawn attention of this Court to evidence of respondent No.2 – owner of the vehicle, to point out that he has denied the employer-employee relationship with respondent-claimant and so, grant of compensation to respondent-claimant is wholly unjustified and so, impugned order deserves to be set aside.
4. On the other hand, learned counsel for respondent-claimants submits that judicial notice ought to be taken of the fact that nobody gives employment letter to a cleaner of a vehicle and salary is also paid to such employee in cash and so, there cannot be any direct evidence of employment. It is pointed out that there is evidence of independent witnesses- Javed and Kallu, who have categorically deposed that respondent-claimant was working as a cleaner on the truck of respondent No.2-owner and their evidence has been rightly considered by the learned Commissioner in the impugned order. It is pointed out that the disability certificate has been proved by respondent-claimant in evidence and there is no cross-examination of the injured to dislodge the medical certificate and therefore, there is no merit in this appeal.
5. Upon considering the submissions advanced by both the sides and on perusal of the impugned order and material on record, I find that in such like case, there cannot be direct evidence and on the basis of established facts, reasonable inference have to be drawn. While taking into consideration the evidence of independent witnesses- Javed and Kallu, I find that learned Commissioner has rightly concluded that relationship of employer-employee existed. So far as disability certificate is concerned, I find there is no cross-examination of respondent-injured qua this certificate. No substantial question of law arises for consideration in this appeal.
6. In light of the aforesaid, I do not find any infirmity in the impugned order of 25th January, 2016. Accordingly, interim order of 6th April, 2016 is vacated. This appeal and application for stay are dismissed while leaving the parties to bear their own costs.