UNITED INDIA INSURANCE COMPANY LTD. Vs. UMMED KHAN AND ORS.
LAWS(RAJ)-2015-2-202
HIGH COURT OF RAJASTHAN
Decided on February 20,2015

UNITED INDIA INSURANCE COMPANY LTD. Appellant
VERSUS
Ummed Khan And Ors. Respondents

JUDGEMENT

Atul Kumar Jain, J. - (1.) IN this appeal United India Insurance Company has challenged the award dated 17.11.2011 which was passed by the Commissioner (Employee's Compensation) Jaipur District Jaipur in WCC/NF/230/2009 in favour of Ummed Khan who is respondent No. 1 before us.
(2.) MEDICAL Certificate of permanent disability submitted by Ummed Khan before the Commissioner mentions that because of the fracture Ummed Khan is unable to walk or stand or climb. 28.4% permanent disability was mentioned by the doctor giving the certificate. On the basis of 28.4% permanent disability caused to Ummed Khan who was helper/Khalasi on a truck. The Commissioner assessed loss of his earning capacity also as 30%. It has been argued in this court by the appellant that loss of earning capacity was to be assessed only by the doctor and not by the Commissioner. It has also been argued on behalf of the appellant that unless the doctor is examined before the Commissioner, his certificate of permanent disability will be inadmissible in evidence and on this point the award should be quashed and the matter should be remanded to the Commissioner for re -hearing of the matter.
(3.) APPELLANT seeks help from the following rulings; "(1) Rajesh Kumar v. Yudhvir Singh & Anr. : 2008 ACJ 2131 In this case the alleged Permanent Disability Certificate submitted by the claimant was suspicious, it was obtained after two years of accident, it was not proved that the Civil Surgeon who issued the certificate had treated the injured or not and it was also doubtful that the said Civil Surgeon was competent to issue it or not. In the circumstances, in absence of the examination of the concerned doctor. Hon'ble the Apex Court thought it fit not to rely upon such a suspicious certificate. (2) National Insurance Co. Ltd. v. Mubasir Ahmed & Anr. : 2007 ACJ (SC) 845 para 7. In the opinion of the doctor loss of earning was assessed in proportion to the permanent disablement of the claimant but the High Court without indicating any reason or basis held that there was 100% loss of earning capacity. The Apex Court held that such an order of the High Court could not be maintained. (3) New India Assurance Company Ltd. v. Bharat Yadav alias B.P. Yadav & Anr. : 2003 ACJ (Calcutta) page 44. In this case it was held by the Calcutta High Court that the Medical Practitioner failed to assess loss of earning capacity of the claimants and so the Commissioner was held not entitled to assess the actual loss of earning capacity of claimant to the extent of 100%. It was held that for the purpose of calculating the compensation, it is incumbent upon the Commissioner to assess actual loss of earning capacity. (4) Divisional Manager United India Insurance Co. Ltd. v. Bhagaban Das and Anr. : 1998 (1) TAC 558 (Ori.) In this case Orissa High Court held that in view of the specific requirement of the provision of Section 4(1)(c)(ii) of the Employee's Compensation Act 1923, loss of earning capacity of a 'Workman" is to be assessed by a qualified Medical practitioner and it cannot be said to be a mere formality. The qualified Medical Practitioner also cannot assess the loss of earning capacity in his guess work but he should look into the nature of injuries, the percentage of Physical Disability, the capacity of the injured to perform the work with specific reference to the type of work he was engaged in and other such factors to come to a finding with regard to the loss of earning capacity. In that view of the matter, in absence of the evidence of the doctor in that regard it is not permissible for the court to find out only from the evidence of Physical Disability, the extent of loss of earning capacity. Commissioner (WC) in the present case at hand having assessed the loss, without any specific evidence of the doctor, as required under law, the award was held not sustainable by Orissa High Court in the matter. (5) National Insurance Company Ltd. v. Jitendra Kumar & Anr. Civil Misc. Appeal No. 2473/2004 decided by this court on 21.01.2014 In this case it was held that the certificate of disability to be admissible in evidence must be proved by the doctor issuing it by entering into the witness box. Circular No. 2/F/16(5)/Medical Health/2/1998 dated 30.8.2010 issued by the Government of Rajasthan Medical and Health Group 2 Department Circular dated 21.8.2010, Circular dated 25.5.2010 and letter dated 21.01.2011 of Government of Rajasthan have also been relied upon by the appellant in which it was mentioned that Certificate of Permanent Disability cannot be given by each and every doctor unless authorised by the Government and particularly doctors of Dhanvantary Hospital Mansarovar, Jaipur were debarred to issue any such certificate.";


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