CHODIPALLI MASENU Vs. GAMPALA NARASAMMA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This is an appeal by the owner of a boat who was made liable to pay compensation to the respondent under the Workmen's Compensation Act. The respondent's husband, one Somitri, was engaged as a member of the crew of the boat of one Merugu Masenu. This Merugu Masenu, entered into a contract dated 26-3-1948, with Chodi-palli Masenu, the owner of the boat whereunder it was agreed that in consideration of Merugu Masenu paying to the owner of the boat a sum of Rs. 600 as hire, the boat No. 141 should be allowed to carry 500 bales of palmyra fibre from Kakinada Port to Tuti-corin which Merugu Masenu agreed to carry on behalf of Krishna Company, Kakinada for hire of Rs. 1,500. Under the terms of the agreement the owner was under no responsibility for the expenses of the trip and the salaries of the crew, etc. He was paid Rs. 300 as advance on the date of the agreement and the balance was agreed to be paid after the boat had reached Tuticorin and the goods were unloaded. If however the bales to be carried were more than 500, the owner should be paid one-third of the hire received in excess and should similarly be entitled to hire which might be received by Merugu Masenu on his return trip from Tuticorin to Kakinada in case any goods should be carried on the return voyage. The boat reached safely Tuticorin Port and while returning empty had to face rough weather when Somitri fell down from the boat and died. The petitioner in the lower Court is the unfortunate widow of Somitri and she impleaded as party to the application the owner of the boat Chodipalli Masenu but did not implead Merugu Masenu, the person who hired the boat under the contract already referred to.

(2.) There is no serious dispute that Somitri was a "workman" within the meaning of the Workmen's Compensation Act, and that he had met with his death by accident arising out of and in the course of the employment. The amount of compensation is also not in dispute between the parties. The only point on which there was serious difference between the parties was whether the owner of the boat could be made liable to pay the amount of compensation fixed by the Additional Commissioner.

(3.) The Commissioner was of opinion that the agreement entered into between the owner of the boat and Merugu Masenu was merely a make believe arrangement intended to defeat the rights of persons like the respondents who might claim, compensation under the Workmen's Compensation Act and it was with this object that Merugu Masenu, who it is alleged was a man of straw, was elected. The real dispute therefore has to be decided upon a proper construction and the truth of the agreement, Ex. D. 1. Having read the evidence adduced in the case I have no doubt that the agreement was entered into 'bona fide' and there was no intention to defeat the rights of any person or persons at the time the parties entered into the contract. The opinion of the Commissioner is not warranted by anything which appears in the evidence in the case. It is claimed on behalf of the respondent by his learned Advocate that this agreement. Ex. D. 1, brought about the relationship of principal and agent or master and servant and, as a last resort, the relationship of partners, and that therefore the owner of the boat was either the principal, the master or the partner of Merugu Masenu. It is rather difficult to accept this interpretation of the agreement. In my view the agreement is a mere demise of the boat for hire which was agreed to be paid between the parties, and thereafter the owner had nothing to do with the boat or the trip or the cost of it. The entire amount payable as freight for the carriage of the cargo is receivable under the agreement from Krishna and Company by Merugu Masenu alone. It is not as if Merugu Masenu received the amount on account of the owner of the boat and made himself liable to account to him for the expenses and for the profits. The fact that if there was more cargo to be carried, a portion of the extra hire that might be earned by the trip was made payable to the owner would not, in my opinion, alter in any way the original demise of the boat by the owner to Merugu Masenu. The terms of the agreement are wholly inconsistent with either the relationship of partners or the relationship of master and servant or that of agent and principal. It is not disputed that if the contract is a mere demise of the boat the appellant cannot be made liable for the payment of the compensation.