The Supreme Court has awarded an enhanced compensation under the Workmen Compensation Act, 1923 to the kin of a deceased employee, while holding that the objective of the Act, 1923 is dispensation of social justice. The Bench took an empathetic view and instead of remanding the matter back to High Court for re-consideration, it has itself awarded enhanced compensation to the deceased’s family.
The Bench comprising of Justice J.K. Maheshwari and Justice Aravind Kumar, while adjudicating the appeal Mamta Devi & Ors. v The Reliance General Insurance Company Limited & Anr., has held that when the wife of the deceased employee deposed his income on oath and the Employer admitted the same, then by no stretch of imagination the Deputy Labour Commissioner could have awarded lower compensation on minimum wage rate.