In Brief
A labourer engaged by a contractor to cut sugarcane died from a snake bite. His heirs claimed compensation under the Employee's Compensation Act, 1923. The Commissioner awarded Rs. 3,06,180 with 12% interest from the date of accident (29.11.2009) and a 50% penalty. The High Court dismissed the appeal on compensation but set aside the penalty and modified interest to run from one month after the Commissioner's order (25.01.2017). The Supreme Court held that interest accrues from the date of the incident under Section 4A(3)(a), not from the Commissioner's order, as compensation liability arises immediately upon death. The High Court's modification was quashed, and interest was restored from the accident date.
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