PLC 1994

1994 PLP 7 (PLC)

Mst. ZAINAB BIBI Versus MANAGING DIRECTOR/GENERAL MANAGER, MULTAN WOOLLEN SPINNERY, MULTAN and another

Jurisdiction / Court
Labour Appellate Tribunal Punjab
Decided Date
Appeal No. 36 of 1991, decided on 24th October, 1992.
Honorable Judges
Sh. Abdul Waheed Appellate Tribunal
Case Reference Summary (AEO Optimized)
Citation 1994 PLP 7 (PLC)
Forum / Court Labour Appellate Tribunal Punjab
Bench Members Sh. Abdul Waheed Appellate Tribunal
Parties Mst. ZAINAB BIBI Versus MANAGING DIRECTOR/GENERAL MANAGER, MULTAN WOOLLEN SPINNERY, MULTAN and another
💡 Quick Legal QA & Summary / سوال و جواب خلاصہ
Q1: What are the key laws and sections cited in 1994 PLP 7 (PLC)?

This judgment primarily cites: statutory provisions as referenced in Pakistani case law index.

Q2: Which judicial bench decided the case 1994 PLP 7 (PLC)?

The case was heard and decided by the Labour Appellate Tribunal Punjab bench comprising: Sh. Abdul Waheed Appellate Tribunal.

Q3: What is the official citation format for this judgment on Pakistan Law Portal?

Cite this legal precedent as: 1994 PLP 7 (PLC) (Mst. ZAINAB BIBI Versus MANAGING DIRECTOR/GENERAL MANAGER, MULTAN WOOLLEN SPINNERY, MULTAN and another). Read the full summary and cross-referenced laws free on Pakistan Law Portal.

Representation

  • Rab Nawaz, Attorney for Appellant.
  • Riaz ul Hassan for Respondents.
  • Date of hearing: 24th October, 1992.
  • 4. I have heard the attorney of the appellant and learned counsel for respondent No. 1 and perused the record. I am afraid, the impugned order is unsustainable. It is not denied that the appellant is the widow of Rahim Bakhsh deceased. Therefore, she being a legal heir was quite competent to apply to the Commissioner for the claim preferred by her. The other two grounds that the application was not in the prescribed form and that proper fee had not been paid are merely defects of procedure and could not, under the law, constitute a valid basis for throwing out the claim. These defects could be rectified with the permission of the Commissioner at any stage. This position is not controverted by learned counsel for respondent No. 1.

Headnotes / Summary

Workmen's Compensation Act (VIII of 1923)‑‑‑ ‑‑‑‑Ss. 22 & 30‑‑‑Payment of group insurance and gratuity‑‑Application filed by widow of deceased employee for payment of amount of group insurance and gratuity of deceased to her was dismissed by Commissioner on grounds firstly that same was' not presented by a competent person, secondly that same was not in prescribed form and thirdly that proper fee was not paid‑‑‑Widow of deceased employee being legal heir of deceased was quite competent to apply to Commissioner for claim preferred by her‑‑‑Other two grounds that application was not filed in prescribed form and that proper fee was not paid, were merely defects of procedure which could not under law, constitute a valid basis for throwing out her claim‑‑‑Such defects could be rectified with permission of Commissioner at any stage Case was remanded to Commissioner for its decision on merits in accordance with law.

Judgment & Decree

This is an appeal under section 30 of the Workmen's Compensation Act, 1923 by Mst. Zainab Bibi from an order passed by the Commissioner, Workmen's Compensation, Multan on 7‑9‑1991 dismissing her application claiming an amount of Rs.30,000 as Group Insurance and Rs.2,666 as gratuity in respect of her husband namely, Rahim Bakhsh who died while in the service of respondent No. 1.

2. On 20‑2‑1991 the appellant applied to the Commissioner, Workmen's Compensation for a payment of Rs.30,000 as group insurance and Rs.2,666 as gratuity in respect of Rahim Bakhsh, her deceased husband. She alleged that her husband was in the service of respondent No. 1 when he died on 6‑9‑1988 and, therefore, she was entitled to the payment of group insurance and gratuity as claimed by her. This application was opposed by respondent No.

1. It was contended that Rahim Bakhsh, deceased had never been in the employment of respondent No.

1. Certain preliminary objections were also raised.

3. During the pendency of the application respondent No. 1 moved an application before the Commissioner that before proceeding to adjudicate upon the application on merits the preliminary objections raised in the written statement may be disposed of in the first instance. The Commissioner allowed the miscellaneous application and after hearing the parties dismissed the main application holding that the same had not been presented by a competent person, that the same was not in the prescribed form and that proper fee had not been paid, vide 'his impugned order dated 7‑9‑1991. The appellant has assailed this order in this appeal.

4. I have heard the attorney of the appellant and learned counsel for respondent No. 1 and perused the record. I am afraid, the impugned order is unsustainable. It is not denied that the appellant is the widow of Rahim Bakhsh deceased. Therefore, she being a legal heir was quite competent to apply to the Commissioner for the claim preferred by her. The other two grounds that the application was not in the prescribed form and that proper fee had not been paid are merely defects of procedure and could not, under the law, constitute a valid basis for throwing out the claim. These defects could be rectified with the permission of the Commissioner at any stage. This position is not controverted by learned counsel for respondent No. 1.

5. Accordingly, this appeal is accepted, the impugned order set aside and the application is remanded to the commissioner for Workmen's Compensation, Multan for its decision on merits in accordance with law. The appellant shall .be allowed to remove the procedural defects, if any, in the application.

6. The parties shall appear before the Commissioner on 15‑11‑1992. H.B.T./759/Lb.P Appeal accepted.