Penalty under Section 4A(3)(b) requires separate adjudication after notice and hearing.

The appellants challenged the award of the Commissioner under the Employees’ Compensation Act, 1923, principally disputing the computation of compensation and the non-consideration of penalty under Section 4A(3)(b) of the Act

The Commissioner had assessed the deceased’s age as 48 years and applied the factor of 159.80.

During the appeal, the appellants sought to place on record the deceased’s School Leaving Certificate, which recorded his date of birth as 21 February 1964.

Since the document was relevant, uncontroverted, and its admission caused no prejudice to the respondents, the High Court allowed the application and took it on record as Ex.A-1.

The Court also condoned the 137-day delay in filing the appeal.

The Court applied the Employees’ Compensation Act, 1923, particularly Section 4A(3)(a), which provides for statutory interest on delayed payment of compensation, and Section 4A(3)(b), which permits the Commissioner to impose a penalty of up to 50% of the arrears where the employer defaults in payment without justification, after being given a reasonable opportunity to show cause.

Compensation for death was calculated by applying 50% of the deceased’s monthly wages to the relevant factor prescribed in Schedule IV to the Act.

The Court also adopted a pragmatic approach to the reception of relevant evidence in proceedings under the Employees’ Compensation Act, holding that strict technicalities should not defeat consideration of an otherwise admissible document where no prejudice is caused.

The School Leaving Certificate established the deceased’s date of birth as 21 February 1964 and was not controverted by the respondents. The Court therefore held that the deceased’s age was 47 years, attracting the Schedule IV factor of 163.07 rather than 159.80.

On the Commissioner’s finding of monthly wages of ₹8,000, 50% thereof amounted to ₹4,000 per month; multiplied by 163.07, the compensation was recalculated at ₹6,52,280.

The Court further found that although compensation and interest had been awarded, the Commissioner had not addressed the statutory question of penalty under Section 4A(3)(b). Since penalty requires a determination of whether the employer had justification for the delay and a prior opportunity to show cause, the High Court remanded that limited issue to the Commissioner without reopening the findings that had attained finality.

The compensation was enhanced/recalculated to ₹6,52,280, subject to adjustment of any amount already paid or deposited, with statutory interest under Section 4A(3)(a) continuing as awarded by the Commissioner.

The matter was remanded to the Commissioner solely to decide whether penalty should be imposed upon respondent No. 1-employer under Section 4A(3)(b), after issuing notice and providing adequate opportunity of hearing.

The Commissioner was directed not to reopen concluded findings and to complete the exercise within six months after the appellants’ appearance in September 2026.

The appeal and pending miscellaneous applications were disposed of accordingly.