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CGHC010373172022 2026:CGHC:38956 NAFR Digitally signed by AJAY KUMAR DWIVEDI DN: cn=AJAY HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR KUMAR DWIVEDI, ou=HIGH COURT, o=HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH, st=Chhattisgarh, c=IN MAC No. 1311 of 2022 Smt. Nanda Soni W/o. Krishna Soni Aged About 35 Years R/o House No. 21/1022 Fokatpara Fafadih Raipur, Behind Bharat Seva Asharam Road Tahsil Raipur District Raipur, Chhattisgarh(Claimant)

--- Appellant.

Versus M/s Suraj Pulses Industries Bhanpuri Industrial Area Bhanpuri Near Traffic Thana Khamtarai Raipur District Raipur, Chhattisgarh Through Its Partner (Employer)

--- Respondent.

With MAC No. 1494 of 2022 M/s Suraj Pulses Industries, Bhanpuri, Industrial Area, Bhanpuri Near Traffic Police Station Bhanpuri, Police Station-Khamtarai, District- Raipur, Chhattisgarh Through Its Partner Shri Shiva Goyal, Aged About 29 Years, R/o

17, Jalashay Marg, Choubey Colony, Raipur, Chhattisgarh ---Appellant.

Versus Smt. Nanda Soni W/o Krishna Soni Aged About 35 Years Caste- Sunaar, R/o House No. 21/1022, Fokatpara, Fafadih, Raipur, Behind Bharat Seva Ashram Tehsil And District- Raipur, Chhattisgarh --- Respondent.

(cause title downloaded from CIS Periphery)

( Hon’ble Shri Justice Naresh Kumar Chandravanshi )

Judgment on Board

02/09/2026

1. Since both these appeals arise out of a common judgment, they have been heard together and are being decided by this common judgment.

2. For convenience, hereinafter the parties shall be referred to as per their status before the Court below: Smt. Nanda Soni shall be referred to as the "Appellant/Claimant" and M/s Suraj Pulses Industries shall be referred to as the "Respondent/Employer". Further, late Padum Bahadur Soni, who was the alleged employee of the Respondent, shall be referred to as the "Deceased Employee". Suraji Bai Soni, wife of late Padum Bahadur Soni, shall be referred to as the "Original Claimant", as she died during the pendency of the claim petition before the learned Labour Court.

3. Both appeals arise out of the judgment and award dated 13.09.2022 passed by the Commissioner under the Employees' Compensation Act, 1923, Labour Court No. 1, Raipur¹ in Case No. 45/E.C. Act/2015/Fatal (Smt. Nanda Soni v. M/s Suraj Pulses Industries), whereby compensation to the tune of Rs.6,12,360/- along with interest @ 10% per annum from the date of filing of the claim application was awarded in favour of the Appellant/Claimant.

4. MAC No. 1311 of 2022 (Smt. Nanda Soni v. M/s Suraj Pulses Industries) has been preferred by the Appellant/Claimant seeking enhancement of

1 hereinafter referred to as the "learned Commissioner cum Labour Court"

compensation, higher rate of interest from the date of incident, and imposition of statutory penalty.

5. MAC No. 1494 of 2022 (M/s Suraj Pulses Industries v. Smt. Nanda Soni) has been preferred by the Respondent/Employer seeking quashing and setting aside of the impugned judgment and award.

6. At the outset, learned counsel appearing for the Respondent/Employer submitted that he does not press the three substantial questions of law that were initially formulated on 04.01.2023 in MAC No. 1494 of 2022. However, he submitted that he seeks to contest the additional substantial question of law framed by this Court on 16.04.2026, as it touches the core root of the matter.

7. In view of the aforesaid submission and upon due consideration, the three questions of law framed on 04.01.2023 are not required to be answered.

8. Brief facts essential for disposal of these appeals are that: (i) The deceased employee, Padum Bahadur Soni, was allegedly working under the Respondent, M/s Suraj Pulses Industries. Unfortunately, during the course of his employment, on 26.04.2015, a boundary wall of the factory collapsed upon him, due to which he sustained grievous injuries and succumbed to the same on the very same day. Subsequently, his wife, namely Suraji Bai Soni (Original Claimant), instituted a claim application under Section 22 of the Employees' Com