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Supreme Court rules that liability under Section 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 requires a direct causal connection between death and vehicle use. Compensation awarded without establishing such link set aside, clarifying the threshold for motor accident claims.
The Kerala High Court ruled that even when work is awarded via public tender, an individual who personally performs the tasks - such as welding or construction - qualifies as an employee under the Employees Compensation Act, 1923. This clarifies that contractual form cannot override substantive control and hands-on involvement, extending protection to informal workers often excluded by employers through sham contractor arrangements.
The Tripura High Court has ruled that linking a death to accident-related injuries-such as gangrene progressing to cancer-requires conclusive medical expert testimony. Without it, compensation awards based on speculative causation are unsustainable, setting a new benchmark for evidentiary rigor in personal injury claims involving delayed or complex medical outcomes.
The Himachal Pradesh High Court ruled that an employer’s liability under the Workmen’s Compensation Act arises from factual employment, irrespective of formal records. The ESI Act’s bar applies only if the deceased was an insured person, ensuring compensation for dependents even in informal employment scenarios.
J&K High Court holds the State strictly liable for failing to fence a hazardous forebay tank, resulting in the drowning of three children. The ruling reinforces that Article 21 imposes a positive duty on authorities to secure dangerous public infrastructure, entitling victims to compensation even without proven negligence.