CHOTTELAL Vs. DHALLOOMAL SINDHI

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THIS order shall also dispose of Miscellaneous Appeal No. 285 of 1979 and Miscellaneous Appeal No. 286 of 1979. All these appeals arise out of a common award by the Commissioner for Workmen's Compensation on September 17, 1979.

(2.) THREE workmen, namely, Chottelal, Lakhanlal and Darshan Singh, who were employed by one Dhalloomal Sindhi, were working on his truck when another vehicle collided with the truck and the truck overturned. In this accident, Lakhanlal died and Darshan Singh and Chottelal suffered some injuries. Chottelal instituted claim No. 10 of 1978 and the dependants of Lakhanlal instituted claim No. 7 of 1978. Chottelal's claim was dismissed by the Commissioner. Darshan Singh's claim was allowed to the extent of Rs. 15,724 and the claim of the dependants of Lakhanlal was allowed to the extent of Rs. 19,200. The insurance company with which the truck was insured was also made liable for payment of the compensation allowed to Darshan Singh and the dependants of Lakhanlal. Chottelal has filed Miscellaneous Appeal No. 279 against the dismissal of his claim. The insurance company has filed Miscellaneous Appeals Nos. 285 of 1979 and 286 of 1979 in respect of the claims of Darshan Singh and the dependants of Lakhanlal which were allowed by the Commissioner.

(3.) LEARNED counsel for the appellant, Chottelal, submitted before us that the evidence produced by the appellant relating to his injuries was not properly appreciated and that on a proper appreciation of evidence, it ought to have been held that there was a permanent total disability and that the appellant was not in a position to do any work which he was doing when the accident happened. In our opinion, there is no merit in this submission. The oral evidence in this respect consisted of Chottelal himself and Dr. Wasudeo. Chottelal was examined by a civil surgeon also whose evidence was also recorded. According to the evidence of the civil surgeon, there was no weakness in the hands of Chottelal and there was absolutely no sign of any permanent disability. The Commissioner has accepted the evidence of the civil surgeon in preference to the evidence of Dr. Wasudeo. Apart from the question that this is purely a question of fact, we have gone through the evidence of both the doctors and we find no good reason to take a view different from that taken by the Commissioner. The evidence of Dr. Wasudeo is conjectural. According to him, there is weakness in the hands of Chottelal which has resulted in permanent total disablement. Chottelal was first examined in the Victoria Hospital. The medical report relating to him in the Victoria Hospital does not show any disability. The civil surgeon also examined Chottelal before giving his evidence and he found no evidence of weakness of hands in Chottelal. We accept the evidence of the civil surgeon and reject the case of permanent total disablement. We, however, find that Chottelal was hospitalised for a week. During this period, he was unable to work. He, therefore, suffered temporary disablement within the meaning of Section 4 (1) (d) of the Workmen's Compensation Act, 1923, for a period of seven days. According to Schedule IV, for the disablement he was entitled to receive Rs. 100 as compensation. We are also of opinion that he should further be allowed interest at the rate of 6% and penalty of Rs. 50 in accordance with Section 4a (3 ). Learned counsel appearing for the insurance company has agreed that a lump sum of Rs. 200 be allowed to Chottelal.