PUNJAB WATER SUPPLY & SEWERAGE BOARD Vs. VEERO

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Challenge in the present appeal is to the order passed by the Commissioner, Workmen's Compensation Act-cum-Assistant Labour Commissioner, Ferozepur, awarding a sum of Rs. 3,89,280/- as compensation and interest to the respondents on account of death of Hadiat, husband of respondent no. 1 and father of respondents no. 2 and 6.

(2.) Brief facts of the case are that deceased Hadiat was employed as Sewerman with the appellant. On 2.8.2001, when he was cleaning the sewer in Basti Tankan Wali, Ferozepur City, he became unconscious due to inhalation of gas and died due to asphyxia. Thereafter, the widow of the deceased (respondent no. 1) made several requests for releasing the payment of compensation. The respondents-claimants filed claim petition. Their claim petition was accepted against which the present appeal is preferred by the Board.

(3.) Learned counsel for the appellants submitted that in the present case the claim petition was filed after a delay of 7 years whereas in terms of the provisions of Section 10 of the Workmen's Compensation Act, 1923 (for short, 'the Act') such an application could be filed within a period of two years.