Claim for permanent disability by the workman.

Respondent-Jayapalan is a worker in the appellant-Tamil Nadu Cements Corporation, Ariyalur, Trichy District On July 29, 1988 at 3.45 p.m., when he was on his way to take his tool box in the factory, unexpectedly the stainless steel rod under drilling in the HMT lathe got twisted and hit on him violently with great velocity as a result of which he had sustained injuries in his hip, left forearm and beneath right eye on his cheek. He was immediately given first aid and later on treated at Raja Mirasudar Hospital, Thanjavur and A.K.C. Nursing Home. Contending that the accident arose out of and in the course of the employment, he claimed Rs. 19, 940/- as damages from the Management in W.C. No. 61 of 1990 on the file of the Commissioner for Workmen's Compensation. The appellant-Cements Corporation though conceded that the worker was on duty in the factory at the relevant time resisted the claim on the ground that the worker had no necessity to go near the lathe without taking necessary precautions under safety rules and in contravention of the orders of the Management. The Commissioner holding that only because the tool box was placed near the lathe, the respondent had to go there and sustained injuries, awarded Rs. 19, 940/- as damages for the 20% permanent disability suffered by the worker. Aggrieved by the said decision the employer-Cements Corporation has come forward with this appeal.

2. Learned counsel for the appellant did not dispute during arguments that the respondent sustained injury due to accident caused out of and in the course of his employment. However, he contended that the Commissioner for Workmen's Compensation went wrong in awarding damages on the ground that the respondent has suffered permanent disability of 20% as disclosed by Ex. P-4 certificate issued by the Doctor. We find from the records that one Dr. S. Joseph, M.S. (Ortho) has been examined on the side of the respondent. He has stated in his evidence that there was compound fracture in the left forearm of the worker. They were joined by metal sheets inside by a surgical operation. Though there is now fusion of the bones the flexibility of the forearm has been reduced. This reduction in flexibility may be a hindrance to this worker as a machine tool operator and the Doctor is of opinion that the permanent disability suffered by the worker is 20% Ex. P-4 is the permanent disability certificate issued by this Doctor on August 6, 1989. It reads that the movement of the left forearm, the rotation is limited. This may be a partial disability for him as machine tool operator. The percentage of permanent disability is 20%. Learned counsel for the appellant laid emphasis on the expression "may be a partial disability" occurring in Ex. P-4 and submitted that the Doctor was not definite of the nature of disability suffered by the worker and so, the Commissioner was not justified in assessing the permanent disability of the respondent at 20%. But it is seen that we have to read Ex.P-4 in the light of the evidence of the Doctor. A combined reading of the two would indicate that the worker had definitely suffered permanent disability which was assessed at 20% by the Doctor.

3. Besides, learned counsel for the respondent drew my attention to the fact that the injuries sustained by the worker herein are not covered by Schedule-I of the Workmen's Compensation Act, 1923. Under Sec. 4(1)(c)(ii) of the Act the amount of compensation shall be in the case of an injury not specified in Schedule I, such percentage of the compensation payable in the case of permanent total disablement as is proportionate to the loss of earning capacity (as assessed by the qualified medical practitioner) permanently caused by the injury. So the assessment of the Doctor has been given a finality by virtue of sec. 4(1)(c)(ii) of the Act and that the medical evidence is conclusive on this aspect. However, I am unable to find any support in the language of the section for such a propositio