Sunshine Process v. Director General Esi Corporation & Ors

ORDER %

01.12.2010 C.M.21478/2010(exemDtions) Allowed. FAO No.439/2010

¶1This appeal has been filed by the appellant under Section 82 of the EmployeesState Insurance Act, 1948 (hereinafterreferredto as 'the Act') for assailing the judgment dated 07.10.2010 passed by the ESI Court in ESIC No.83/2005 whereby a petition filed by the appellant under Section 75(2) of the Act was dismissed.

¶2Briefly stating the facts giving rise to the filing of this case are that the establishment of appellant which is already covered under the provisionsof the Act was regularlyinspectedby the officialsofthe ESI Corporation (for short 'the corporation'). The officials of the respondents also carried out an inspection on 17.12.2004when it was found that 16 employees had been working in the premises of the appellantwhose names were not shownin the wage roll and accordingly a letter was issued by the respondent to take action against appellant under Section68, 45-A, 84 and 85 of the Act. A show cause notice was then issued to appellant by the respondents on

04.03.2005 inter alia proposing to determine the contribution on ad hoc FAO No.439/2010 ^ Certify that the digital file and physical file have been compared and the digital data is as per the physical file and no page is missing. basis from 01.04.1999 to 28.02.2005 with regard to 16 employees who were found working in the factory premises of the appellant on

17.12.2004 and whose name was not appearing in the wage roll.

¶3Even though, a reply was givento the aforesaid show cause notice by the appellant but vide order dated 25.05.2005 the respondents determined the liability of the appellant under Section 45-A of the Act and demanded a sum of ?2,70,270/- to be paid by the appellant for contribution towards the said employees. The appellant was also asked to pay interest on the said amount.

¶4It is against this order, the appellant filed a suit under Section 75(2) of the Act before the ESI Courtwhich came up for hearingbefore the Court, the Court then framed following issues: "1. Whether the recovery sought by the corporation vide its letter dated06.7.05 for ^ 3,96,801/- is liable to be set aside/quash?OPP

¶2Relief."

¶5After recording the evidence as led by the parties, the ESI Court decided issue No.l against the appellant primarily for the reason that the onus of proving the said issue was upon the appellant but they failed to discharge the onus and failed to produce the record before the Court showingthat what was the number of employeesin the relevant periodincludingthose engagedand doing the job work. In this regard, the Court also observed that PW-1, who was the only witness examined by the appellantwas evasive. Referringto his statement,the Courthas observed that the witness, in his deposition, stated that they used to get the job done on job work basis but have not producedthe bills of the job work booked in his cash books. The witnessadmittedthat he has not entered the names of the employees in the salary register despite admission that the job work was being carried out at their premises. The witness stated that while he used to get his office repaired and would make the paymentand at one point oftime, he also employed25 FAONo.439/2010 Page2of4 persons. He categoricallyadmitted that he entered their names in the registers but the said register was not brought by him in the Court. The Court also observed that the witness even failed to produce salary register for the period 1999-2003. He vaguely stated that he does not remember when he appointed 16 employees and when their names were entered in the record. It may be observed here that number of employees as noticed by inspector of the respondents as on date of inspection is not disputed.

¶6In these circumstances, taking note of the judgment in the case of Smt. Niranian Kaur vs. M/S New Delhi Hotels Ltd. and ors. AIR 1988 Delhi 332 and Goval Krishnaii Ketkar Vs. Mohammed Haii Latif and Others. AIR 1968 SC 1413 the ESI Court held that it is duty of the party holding the best evidenceavailablewith him to produce the same and in the event of not producing the same evidence, to suffer and that adverse inference can be drawn by the Court in this regard.

¶7Referring to the cross-examination of PW-1, the Court further observed that; "In cross-examination he admitted that inspection was carried out correctly as per his record. If any calculation has been carried out by the department wronglyby ignoring the some of the registers he could have very much produced the same before this court. The record produced pertains from the period April 2004 and thereafter and he should have brought the record before this court showing the actual number of employees working in the relevant period. If the previous Inspector has not reported and get the calculation done, it will not absolve the petitioner from its liability. It has come on the record that on the day of inspection, 16 employees were found working and the submissions that they were not engaged earlier was to be proved by petitioner by producing relevant record so that the exact date of appointment could have come. Thus, from the findings above, I do not find any substance in the arguments of petitioner and impugned demand cannot be quashed. Thus, this issue is decided against the petitioner and in favour of the respondent." FAQ No.439/2010 Page3 of4 d IP V

¶8Before this Court also, record which ought to have been produced has not been produced by the appellant. Even though, it is not a dispute raised by the appellant that 16 employees were found working in their premises whose name was not shown in salaiy register at the time of inspection, the only submission made by the appellant is that calculation of the amount payable is calculated by respondent does not have any sanctity. However, a perusal of the calculation goes to show that the calculation has been made on the basis of minimum wages, number of workmen and period in question. Thus, the said calculation also cannot be faulted.

¶9In these circumstances, there is no merit in the appeal and the same is hereby dismissed at this stage itself.

¶10No costs. DECEMBER 01, 2010 'anh' FAONo.439 /2010 (^AND GARG,J

* IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI + FAO.No.439/2010 M/S. SUNSHINEPROCESS •••• Appellants Through: Mr. Manish Kapoor, Adv. Versus DIRECTOR GENERAL,ESI CORPORATION& ORS Respondents Through: Nemo. CORAIVl* HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE MOOL CHAND GARG