Kishore
Lal Vs. Chairman, Employees State Insurance Corporation [2007] Insc 519 (8 May
2007)
B.N. AGRAWAL, P.P. NAOLEKAR & DALVEER BHANDARI
P.P. NAOLEKAR, J.:
1. The appellant was insured with the respondent-Employees' State Insurance
Corporation (for short "the Corporation") with Insurance No. 913644.
The employee's/appellant's contribution towards the insurance scheme under the
Employees' State Insurance Act, 1948 (hereinafter referred to as "the ESI
Act") was being deducted regularly from his salary and deposited by his
employer with the Corporation. In 1993, the appellant's wife was admitted in
the ESI dispensary at Sonepat for her treatment for diabetes. However, the
condition of his wife continued to deteriorate. As alleged by the appellant,
there were instances when the doctors were not available even during
emergencies.
Later, the appellant got his wife medically examined in a private hospital.
The tests done revealed that his wife had been diagnosed incorrectly in the ESI
dispensary; and that the deterioration in the condition of the appellant's wife
was a direct result of the wrong diagnosis. The appellant filed a complaint
under the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 (hereinafter referred to as "the
CP Act") before the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum seeking (i)
compensation towards mental agony, harassment, physical torture, pains,
sufferings and monetary loss for the negligence of the authorities; (ii)
direction for removal of, and improvement in, the deficiencies; and (iii)
direction for payment of interest on the amount of reimbursement bills. The
Corporation through its officers entered appearance and raised certain
preliminary objections, namely, (i) that the complaint filed is not
maintainable in the District Consumer Forum and is liable to be dismissed as
the wife of the complainant was treated in the ESI dispensary, Sonepat, which
is a government dispensary and the complainant cannot be treated as a consumer;
and (ii) that the complainant is not a consumer within the definition of `consumer'
in the CP Act and he is not entitled to file a complaint against the ESI
dispensary. It was also contended that the facility of medical treatment in
government hospital cannot be regarded as a `service' hired for consideration,
apart from the other defences raised in the written statement.
2. The District Consumer Forum relied on the ratio of Birbal Singh v. ESI
Corporation, 1993 II CPJ 1028, wherein on a complaint filed for compensation
for being aggrieved by poor medical attention received by the late wife of the
complainant at an ESI hospital, the Haryana State Commission had held that the
complainants did not come within the ambit of the definition of `consumer'
under the CP Act because of the gratuitous nature of the medical services
provided. On this basis, the District Forum held that the services rendered by
the ESI dispensary are gratuitous in nature and, therefore, out of the purview
of the CP Act. Appeal was preferred to the Haryana State Consumer Disputes
Redressal Commission and it was urged by the appellant that ESI is a scheme of
insurance and hence the service rendered by the Corporation was not gratuitous.
The State Commission relying on the judgment in Birbal Singh (supra) and Indian
Medical Association v. V.P. Shantha and Others, (1995) 6 SCC 651 held that free
medical services were not covered by the CP Act and upheld the judgment of the
District Forum.
Appellant preferred a revision before the National Consumer Disputes
Redressal Commission, but the same was also dismissed in limine. Hence, this
appeal by special leave.
3. By second counter affidavit filed in August, 2000, the
respondent-Corporation have also raised the question of the jurisdiction of a
consumer forum. The respondent contended that by virtue of Section 75 of the ESI
Act, the dispute raised by the appellant is covered and is to be decided by the
Employees' Insurance Court
established under Section 74 of the ESI Act and it being a special Act the
jurisdiction of the consumer forum is ousted.
4. From the decisions rendered by the District Forum, the State Commission
and the National Commission, and the questions raised by the appellant and the
respondent, the question that falls for our consideration is two-fold:
1. Whether the service rendered by an ESI hospital is gratuitous or not, and
consequently whether it falls within the ambit of `service' as defined in the Consumer Protection Act,
1986?
2. Whether Section 74 read with Section 75 of the Employees' State
Insurance Act, 1948 ousts the jurisdiction of the consumer forum as regards
the issues involved for consideration?
5. It is contended by Shri Dayan Krishnan, the learned counsel for the
appellant, that in the case of Indian Medical Association (supra) although it
was held that the free medical service was not covered under the CP Act, the
very same judgment in conclusion No. (11) in para 55 includes any medical
service given under the scheme of insurance within the scope of the CP Act and,
therefore, the claim made by the appellant squarely falls within the
jurisdiction of the consumer forum, the appellant being a consumer and the
respondent's dispensary having rendered a service to him for consideration.
6. At this stage, it would be appropriate to refer to certain statutory
provisions of the Consumer
Protection Act, 1986.
`Consumer' is defined in clause (d) and `service' in clause (o) of Section
2(1) of the CP Act as under:
"2. Definitions.- (1) In this Act, unless the context otherwise
requires, - xxx xxx xxx (d) "consumer" means any person who, - (i)
buys any goods for consideration which has been paid or promised or partly paid
and partly promised, or under any system of deferred payment and includes any
user of such goods other than the person who buys such goods for consideration
paid or promised or partly paid or partly promised, or under any system of
deferred payment, when such use is made with the approval of such person, but
does not include a person who obtains such goods for resale or for any
commercial purpose; or (ii) hires or avails of any services for a consideration
which has been paid or promised or partly paid and partly promised, or under
any system of deferred payment and includes any beneficiary of such services
other than the person who hires or avails of the services for consideration
paid or promised, or partly paid and partly promised, or under any system of
deferred payment, when such services are availed of with the approval of the
first mentioned person but does not include a person who avails of such services
for any commercial purpose;
Explanation.- For the purposes of this clause, "commercial
purpose" does not include use by a person of goods bought and used by him
and services availed by him exclusively for the purposes of earning his
livelihood by means of self-employment;"
xxx xxx xxx "(o) "Service" means service of any description
which is made available to potential users and includes, but not limited to,
the provision of facilities in connection with banking, financing, insurance,
transport, processing, supply of electrical or other energy, board or lodging
or both, housing construction, entertainment, amusement or the purveying of
news or other information, but does not include the rendering of any service
free of charge or under a contract of personal service;"
7. The definition of `consumer' in the CP Act is apparently wide enough and
encompasses within its fold not only the goods but also the services, bought or
hired, for consideration. Such consideration may be paid or promised or partly
paid or partly promised under any system of deferred payment and includes any
beneficiary of such person other than the person who hires the service for
consideration. The Act being a beneficial legislation, aims to protect the
interests of a consumer as understood in the business parlance. The important
characteristics of goods and services under the Act are that they are supplied
at a price to cover the costs and generate profit or income for the seller of
goods or provider of services. The comprehensive definition aims at covering
every man who pays money as the price or cost of goods and services. However,
by virtue of the definition, the person who obtains goods for resale or for any
commercial purpose is excluded, but the services hired for consideration even
for commercial purposes are not excluded. The term `service' unambiguously
indicates in the definition that the definition is not restrictive and includes
within its ambit such services as well which are specified therein. However, a
service hired or availed, which does not cost anything or can be said free of
charge, or under a contract of personal service, is not included within the
meaning of `service' for the purposes of the CP Act.
8. A 3-Judge Bench of this Court in Indian Medical Association (supra) has
extensively considered the provisions of the CP Act and particularly what shall
be a `service' within the meaning of Section 2(1)(o) of the said Act. The Court
was considering whether the service rendered by the doctors would fall within
the purview of the CP Act, it being a service rendered for the charges; and
whether the patients, who are treated by the doctors, are `consumers' as
defined in Section 2(1)(d) of the CP Act. The Court said that the definition of
`service' in Section 2(1)(o) can be split into three parts: the main part, the
inclusionary part and the exclusionary part. The main part is explanatory in
nature and defines service to mean service of any description which is made
available to the potential users. The inclusionary part expressly includes the
provision of facilities in connection with banking, financing, insurance,
transport, processing, supply of electrical or other energy, board or lodging
or both, housing construction, entertainment, amusement or the purveying of
news or other information, whereas the exclusionary part excludes rendering of
any service free of charge or under a contract of personal service. The
exclusionary part in Section 2(1)(o) excludes from the main part service
rendered (i) free of charge; or (ii) under a contract of personal service. The
expression 'contract of personal service' in the exclusionary part of Section
2(1)(o) must be construed as excluding the services rendered by an employee to
his employer under the contract of personal service from the ambit of the
expression `service'.
There is a distinction between a 'contract of service' and a `contract for
service'. A `contract for service' implies a contract whereby one party
undertakes to render service e.g.
professional or technical service, to or for another in the performance of
which he is not subject to detailed direction and control and exercises
professional or technical skill and uses his own knowledge and discretion,
whereas a `contract of service' implies relationship of master and servant and
involves an obligation to obey orders in the work to be performed and as to its
mode and manner of performance. A contract of service is excluded for
consideration from the ambit of definition of `service' in the CP Act, whereas
a contract for service is included. As regards service rendered free of charge
under Section 2(1)(o), the Court held that the medical practitioners,
government hospitals/nursing homes and private hospitals/nursing homes, who
render service without any charge whatsoever to every person availing of the
service would not fall within the ambit of `service' under Section 2(1)(o) of
the Act. The payment of a token amount for registration purposes only would,
however, not alter the position in respect of such doctors and hospitals, but the
service rendered for which charges are required to be paid by everybody
availing the service would fall within the purview of the expression `service'
as defined in Section 2(1)(o) of the Act. The Court held that the relationship
between a medical practitioner and a patient carries within it a certain degree
of mutual confidence and trust and, therefore, the service rendered by the
medical practitioners can be regarded as a service of personal nature, but
since there is no relationship of master and servant between the doctor and the
patient the contract between the medical practitioner and his patient cannot be
treated as a contract of personal service and it is a contract for service and
the service rendered by the medical practitioner to his patient under such
contract is not covered by the exclusionary part of the definition of `service'
contained in Section 2(1)(o) of the CP Act. In paragraph 55 of the judgment,
the Court summarized its conclusions. We are really concerned in this case with
conclusions Nos. (9), (10), (11) and (12). Conclusion No. (9) is in regard to
the service rendered at a government hospital/health center/dispensary where no
charges whatsoever are made from any person and they are given free service,
which would not be a service under Section 2(1)(o) of the CP Act.
Conclusion No. (10) lays down that where the service is rendered at a
government hospital/health center/dispensary on payment of charges and also
rendered free of charge, then it would fall within the ambit of the expression
`service'. Conclusion No. (11) says that if a patient or his relation availed
of the service of a medical practitioner or hospital/nursing home where the
charges for consultation, diagnosis and medical treatment are borne by the
insurance company, then such service would fall within the ambit of service.
Similarly, under conclusion No. (12), where as a part of the conditions of
service the employer bears the expenses of medical treatment of an employee and
his family members dependent on him, then the service rendered by a medical
practitioner or a hospital/nursing home would not be treated to be free of
charge and would constitute `service' under Section 2(1)(o).
9. In the case of Laxman Thamappa Kotgiri v. G.M. Central Railway &
Ors., 2005 (1) Scale 600, where an employee of the railways had filed a
complaint on the ground that his wife had been negligently treated at a
hospital of the Central Railway as a result of which she had died, the State
Commission concluded that since the hospital had been set up to treat railway
employees predominantly and the service provided was free of charge it did not
come within the definition of `service' under the CP Act and hence the
complaint was not maintainable. On appeal to the National Commission, the
judgment of the State Commission was upheld and the appeal filed by the
employee was rejected. Thereafter, appeal was preferred to this Court.
Allowing the appeal, this Court in paras 6 and 7 has held as under:
"6. There is no dispute that the Hospital in question has been set up
for the purpose of granting medical treatment to the Railway employees and
their dependents. Apart from the nominal charges which are taken from such an
employee, this facility is part of the service conditions of the Railway
employees.
V.P. Shantha's case has made a distinction between non-Governmental
hospital/nursing home where no charge whatsoever was made from any person
availing of the service and all patients are given free service (vide para
55(6) at page 681) and services rendered at Government Hospital/Health
Centre/Dispensary where no charge whatsoever is made from any person availing
of the services and all patients are given free service (vide para 55(9)) on
the hand and service rendered to an employee and his family members by a
medical practitioner or a hospital/nursing home which are given as part of the
conditions of service to the employee and where the employer bears expenses of
the medical treatment of the employee and his family members, (paragraph 55(12)
on the other. In the first two circumstances, it would not be free service
within the definition of the Sec. 2(1)(o) of the Act. In the third circumstance
it would be.
7. Since it is not in dispute that the medical treatment in the said
Hospital is given to employees like the appellant and his family members is
part of the conditions of service of the appellant and that the Hospital is run
and subsidised by the appellants employer, namely, the Union of India, the
appellant's case would fall within the parameters laid down in paragraph 55(12)
of the judgment in V.P. Shantha's case and not within the parameters of either
para 55(6) or para 55(9) of the said case."
10. Further, the appellant has brought to our notice a judgment of this
Court in the case of Regional Provident Fund Commissioner v. Shiv Kumar Joshi,
(2000) 1 SCC 98, wherein the Employees' Provident Fund Scheme, 1952, framed
under Section 5 of the Employees' Provident Fund Act came for consideration of
the Court and the Court held in para 11 as under:
" A perusal of the Scheme
unambiguously shows that it is for consideration which is applicable to all
those factories and establishments covered under the Act and the Scheme who are
required to become a member of the fund under the Scheme. The contribution of the employee has to be
equal to the contribution payable by the employer in respect of such employee.
The words "in respect of" are significant as they indicate the
liability of the employer to pay his part of the contribution in consideration
of the employee working with him. But for the employment of the employee there
is no obligation upon the employer to pay his part of the contribution to the
Scheme. The administrative charges, as required to be paid under Para 30 of the
Scheme are also paid for consideration of the employee being the member of the
Scheme and for the services rendered under the Scheme. It is immaterial as to
whether such charges are deducted actually from the wages of the employee or
paid by his employer in respect of the member-employee of the Scheme working
for such employer. It cannot be held
that even though the employee is a member of the Scheme, yet the employer would
only be deemed to be a consumer for having made payments of the administrative
charges. .."
11. It is contended by the learned counsel for the appellant that the
appellant is a member of the insurance scheme applicable in the establishment
where he is serving and, therefore, the insurance policy which takes care of
the medical treatment of the appellant as well as his dependents which is given
in the ESI hospital/dispensary would be a service falling within the purview of
Section 2(1)(o) of the CP Act. To appreciate this contention of the learned
counsel, it would be necessary to consider the insurance scheme which is
applicable in the establishment under various provisions of the ESI Act.
12. It is an admitted fact that the appellant's wife was given treatment in
the ESI dispensary at Sonepat. Under Section 38 of the ESI Act, all employees
in a factory or establishment where the Act applies are required to be insured
under the insurance scheme. Section 39 speaks of the contribution which is
required to be paid to the Corporation for the insurance scheme which shall
comprise the contribution payable by the employer and the contribution payable
by the employee. The contribution is required to be paid at such rates as may
be prescribed by the Central Government. By virtue of Section 40, the principal
employer is liable to pay the contributions, both the employer's contribution
and the employee's contribution, in the first instance of the employees
directly employed by him or by or through an immediate employer. Sub-section
(2) of Section 40 authorises the principal employer to recover the contribution
made for the employee by deducting the same from the wages of the employee.
Chapter V of the ESI Act deals with benefits. Sub-section (1) of Section 46
falling within this Chapter contemplates that the insured persons, their
dependents and the persons mentioned under the Section shall be entitled to the
various benefits referred to in clauses (a) to (f). Clause (e) reads:
"medical treatment for an attendance on insured persons (hereinafter
referred to as medical benefit)". Section 56 is a specific Section which has
reference to the medical benefits available to an insured person or to his
family member whose condition requires medical treatment and attendance and
they shall be entitled to receive medical benefit. Under Section 59, the
Corporation is called upon with the approval of the State Government to
establish and maintain in a State such hospitals, dispensaries and other
medical and surgical services as it may think fit for the benefit of insured
persons and, where such medical benefit is extended, to their families.
13. On a plain reading of the aforesaid provisions of the ESI Act, it is
apparent that the Corporation is required to maintain and establish the
hospitals and dispensaries and to provide medical and surgical services.
Service rendered in the hospital to the insured person or his family member for
medical treatment is not free, in the sense that the expense incurred for the
service rendered in the hospital would be borne from the contributions made to
the insurance scheme by the employer and the employee and, therefore, the
principle enunciated in conclusion No. (11) in para 55 in the case of Indian
Medical Association (supra) will squarely apply to the facts of the present
case, where the appellant has availed the services under the insurance policy
which is compulsory under the statute. Wherever the charges for medical
treatment are borne under the insurance policy, it would be a service rendered
within the ambit of Section 2(1)(o) of the CP Act. It cannot be said to be a
free service rendered by the ESI hospital/dispensary.
14. The service rendered by the medical practitioners of hospitals/nursing
homes run by the ESI Corporation cannot be regarded as a service rendered free
of charge. The person availing of such service under an insurance scheme of
medical care, whereunder the charges for consultation, diagnosis and medical
treatment are borne by the insurer, such service would fall within the ambit of
`service' as defined in Section 2(1)(o) of the CP Act. We are of the opinion
that the service provided by the ESI hospital/dispensary falls within the ambit
of `service' as defined in Section 2(1)(o) of the CP Act. ESI scheme is an
insurance scheme and it contributes for the service rendered by the ESI
hospitals/dispensaries, of medical care in its hospitals/dispensaries, and as
such service given in the ESI hospitals/dispensaries to a member of the Scheme
or his family cannot be treated as gratuitous.
15. We shall now proceed to consider the second question raised by Shri
Vijay K. Mehta, the learned counsel for the respondent that by virtue of
Section 74 read with Section 75, and particularly Section 75(e), of the ESI
Act, the claim made by the appellant would exclusively fall for decision within
the jurisdiction of the Employees' Insurance Court and that being the position
the consumer forum has no jurisdiction to adjudicate upon the issue.
16. Relevant portions of Sections 74 and 75 of the ESI Act are reproduced
below:
"74. Constitution of Employees' Insurance Court.- (1) The State
Government shall, by notification in the Official Gazette, constitute an
Employees' Insurance Court of such local area as may be specified in the
notification.
xxx xxx xxx"
"75. Matters to be decided by Employees' Insurance Court.- (1) If any
question or dispute arises as to (a)
whether any person is an employee within the meaning of this Act or whether he
is liable to pay the employee's contribution, or (b) the rate of wages or
average daily wages of an employee for the purpose of this Act, or (c) the rate
of contribution payable by the principal employer in respect of any employee,
or (d) the person who is or was the principal employer in respect of any
employee, or (e) the right of any person to any benefit and as to the amount
and duration thereof, or (ee) any direction issued by the Corporation under
Section 55-A on a review of any payment of dependants' benefits, or, (f)
[Omitted], or (g) any other matter which is in dispute between a principal
employer and the Corporation, or between a principal employer and an immediate employer,
or between a person and the Corporation or between an employee and a principal
or immediate employer, in respect of any contribution or benefit or other dues
payable or recoverable under this Act, or any other matter required to be or
which may be decided by the Employees' Insurance Court under this Act, such
question or dispute subject to the provisions of sub-section (2-A) shall be
decided by the Employees' Insurance Court in accordance with the provisions of
this Act.
(2) Subject to the provisions of sub-section (2- A), the following claims
shall be decided by the Employees' Insurance Court, namely, - (a) claim for the
recovery of contributions from the principal employer;
(b) claim by a principal employer to recover contributions from any immediate
employer;
(c) (Omitted);
(d) claim against a principal employer under Section 68;
(e) claim under Section 70 for the recovery of the value or amount of the
benefits received by a person when he is not lawfully entitled thereto;
and (f) any claim for the recovery of any benefit admissible under this Act.
xxx xxx xxx (3). No Civil Court shall have jurisdiction to decide or deal
with any question or dispute as aforesaid or to adjudicate on any liability
which by or under this Act is to be decided by a medical board, or by a medical
appeal tribunal or by the Employees' Insurance Court."
17. It has been held in numerous cases of this Court that the jurisdiction
of a consumer forum has to be construed liberally so as to bring many cases
under it for their speedy disposal. In the case of M/s. Spring Meadows Hospital
and Another v. Harjol Ahluwalia and Another, AIR 1998 SC 1801, it was held that
the CP Act creates a framework for speedy disposal of consumer disputes and an
attempt has been made to remove the existing evils of the ordinary court
system. The Act being a beneficial legislation should receive a liberal
construction. In State of Karnataka v. Vishwabarathi House Building Co-op.
Society and Others, AIR 2003 SC 1043, the Court speaking on the jurisdiction of
the consumer fora held that the provisions of the said Act are required to be
interpreted as broadly as possible and the fora under the CP Act have
jurisdiction to entertain a complaint despite the fact that other fora/courts
would also have jurisdiction to adjudicate upon the lis. These judgments have
been cited with approval in paras 16 and 17 of the judgment in Secretary,
Thirumurugan Cooperative Agricultural Credit Society v. M. Lalitha and Others,
(2004) 1 SCC 305. The trend of the decisions of this Court is that the
jurisdiction of the consumer forum should not and would not be curtailed unless
there is an express provision prohibiting the consumer forum to take up the
matter which falls within the jurisdiction of civil court or any other forum as
established under some enactment.
The Court had gone to the extent of saying that if two different fora have
jurisdiction to entertain the dispute in regard to the same subject, the
jurisdiction of the consumer forum would not be barred and the power of the
consumer forum to adjudicate upon the dispute could not be negated.
18. The submission of the learned counsel for the respondent is that the
claim made by the appellant before the consumer forum raises a dispute in
regard to damages for negligence of doctors in the ESI hospital/dispensary and
would tantamount to claiming benefit and the amount under the ESI Act
provisions and would fall within clause (e) of Section 75(1) and, therefore, it
is the Employees' Insurance Court alone which has the jurisdiction to decide
it. We are afraid that we cannot agree with the submission made by the learned
counsel. Section 75 provides for the subjects on which the jurisdiction shall
be exercised by the Employees' Insurance Court. Clause (e) of Section 75(1) gives
power to the Employees' Insurance Court to adjudicate upon the dispute of the
right of any person to any benefit and as to the amount and duration thereof.
The benefit which has been referred to, has a reference to the benefits under
the Act, i.e., the ESI Act. The Employees' State Insurance (Central) Rules,
1950 (hereinafter referred to as "the Rules") have been framed in
exercise of the powers under Section 95 of the ESI Act. Rule 56 provides for
maternity benefits, Rule 57 for disablement benefits, Rule 58 for dependents'
benefits, Rule 60 for medical benefits to insured person who ceases to be in an
insurable employment on account of permanent disablement and Rule 61 for
medical benefits to retired insured persons. Thus, these are the benefits which
are provided under the Rules to the employees and the ex-employees for which
claim can be made in the Employees' Insurance Court. The appellant's claim has
no relation to any of the benefits which are provided in the Rules for which
the claim can be made in the Employees' Insurance Court. The appellant's claim
is for damages for the negligence on the part of the ESI hospital/dispensary
and the doctors working therein.
19. A bare perusal of the provisions of clauses (a) to (g) of Section 75(1)
clearly shows that it does not include claim for damages for medical
negligence, like the present case which we are dealing with. Although the
question does not directly arise before us, we shall consider what in the
ordinary course shall constitute negligence.
20. This Court has considered the principles of the law on negligence in
Jacob Mathew v. State of Punjab and Another, (2005) 6 SCC 1. The
jurisprudential concept of negligence defies any precise definition. Eminent
jurists and leading judgments have assigned various meanings to negligence. The
concept as has been acceptable to Indian jurisprudential thought is well-stated
in the Law of Torts, Ratanlal & Dhirajlal (24th Ed. 2002, edited by Justice
G.P. Singh). It is stated (at pp. 441-442) :
"Negligence is the breach of a duty caused by the omission to do
something which a reasonable man, guided by those considerations which
ordinarily regulate the conduct of human affairs would do, or doing something
which a prudent and reasonable man would not do. Actionable negligence consists
in the neglect of the use of ordinary care or skill towards a person to whom
the defendant owes the duty of observing ordinary care and skill, by which
neglect the plaintiff has suffered injury to his person or property . the
definition involves three constituents of negligence: (1) A legal duty to
exercise due care on the part of the party complained of towards the party
complaining the former's conduct within the scope of the duty; (2) breach of
the said duty; and (3) consequential damage. Cause of action for negligence
arises only when damage occurs; for, damage is a necessary ingredient of this
tort."
Cause of action for negligence arises only when damage occurs and thus the
claimant has to satisfy the court on the evidence that three ingredients of
negligence, namely, (a) existence of duty to take care; (b) failure to attain
that standard of care; and (c) damage suffered on account of breach of duty,
are present for the defendant to be held liable for negligence. Therefore, the
claimant has to satisfy these ingredients before he can claim damages for
medical negligence of the doctors and that could not be a question which could
be adjudicated upon by the Employees' Insurance Courts which have been given
specific powers of the issues, which they can adjudicate and decide. Claim for
damages for negligence of the doctors or the ESI hospital/dispensary is clearly
beyond the jurisdictional power of the Employees' Insurance
Court. An Employees' Insurance
Court has jurisdiction to decide certain claims
which fall under sub-section (2) of Section 75 of the ESI Act. A bare reading
of Section 75(2) also does not indicate, in any manner, that the claim for
damages for negligence would fall within the purview of the decisions being
made by the Employees' Insurance Court.
Further, it can be seen that any claim arising out of and within the purview of
the Employees' Insurance Court is expressly barred by virtue of sub- section
(3) to be adjudicated upon by a civil court, but there is no such express bar for
the consumer forum to exercise the jurisdiction even if the subject matter of
the claim or dispute falls within clauses (a) to (g) of sub-section (1) of
Section 75 or where the jurisdiction to adjudicate upon the claim is vested
with the Employees' Insurance Court under clauses (a) to (f) of sub- section
(2) of Section 75 if it is a consumer's dispute falling under the CP Act.
21. Having considered all these aspects, we are of the view that the
appellant is a consumer within the ambit of Section 2(1)(d) of the Consumer
Protection Act, 1986 and the medical service rendered in the ESI
hospital/dispensary by the respondent Corporation falls within the ambit of
Section 2(1)(o) of the Consumer
Protection Act and, therefore, the consumer forum has jurisdiction to
adjudicate upon the case of the appellant. We further hold that the
jurisdiction of the consumer forum is not ousted by virtue of sub-section (1)
or (2) or (3) of Section 75 of the Employees' State
Insurance Act, 1948.
22. For the aforesaid reasons, the appeal is allowed. The impugned order is set
aside and the matter is remitted back to the District Consumer Disputes
Redressal Forum, Sonepat, for decision in accordance with law laid down herein.
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