The Code on Social Security, 2020
Chapter IV EMPLOYEES STATE INSURANCE CORPORATION
Chapter IV EMPLOYEES STATE INSURANCE CORPORATION
24. Principal Officers and other staff.
- (1) The Central Government may appoint a Director General of the Corporation and a Financial Commissioner, who shall be the Principal Officers of the Corporation.
- (2) The Director General and the Financial Commissioner shall hold office for such period, not exceeding five years, as may be specified in the order of appointment: Provided that outgoing Director General or Financial Commissioner, as the case may be, shall be eligible for re-appointment if he is otherwise qualified.
- (3) The Director General or the Financial Commissioner shall receive such salary and allowances as may be prescribed by the Central Government.
- (4) The Director General and the Financial Commissioner shall exercise such powers and discharge such duties as may be prescribed by the Central Government and shall perform such other functions as may be specified in the regulations.
- (5) A person shall be disqualified from being appointed as or for being the Director General of the Corporation or the Financial Commissioner if he is subject to any of the disqualifications specified in section 8.
- (6) The Central Government may at any time remove the Director General of the Corporation or the Financial Commissioner from office and shall do so if such removal is recommended by a resolution of the Corporation passed at a special meeting called for the purpose and supported by the votes of not less than two-third of the total strength of the Corporation.
- (7) The Corporation may employ such other officers and employees as may be necessary for the efficient transaction of its business and for discharge of any other responsibilities assigned to the Corporation from time to time by the Central Government: Provided that the sanction of the Central Government shall be obtained for the creation of any post the maximum monthly salary of which exceeds such salary as may be prescribed by the Central Government.
- (8) (a) The method of recruitment, salary and allowances, discipline and other conditions of service of the officers and employees of the Corporation shall be such as may be specified in the regulations in accordance with the rules and orders applicable to the officers and employees of the Central Government drawing corresponding scales of pay: Provided that the terms and conditions of service including pay and allowances of such posts of medical specialists and super specialists in the Corporation possessing comparable qualifications and expertise, as may be notified by the Central Government, with the equivalent posts of the specialists and super specialists in the All India Institute of Medical Sciences or in the Post Graduate Institutes of Medical Sciences and Research or other similar institutions established by the Central Government, shall respectively be similar: Provided further that where the Corporation is of the opinion that it is necessary to make a departure from the said rules or orders in respect of any of the matters aforesaid, it shall obtain the prior approval of the Central Government: Provided also that this sub-section shall not apply to appointment of consultants and specialists in various fields appointed on contract basis.
- (b) In determining the corresponding scales of pay of officers and employees under clause (a), the Corporation shall have regard to the educational qualifications, method of recruitment, duties and responsibilities of such officers and employees under the Central Government and in case of any doubt, the Corporation shall refer the matter to the Central Government whose decision thereon shall be final.
- (9) Every appointment to posts (other than medical, nursing or para-medical posts) corresponding to Group 'A' and Group 'B' Gazetted posts under the Central Government shall be made in consultation with the Union Public Service Commission: Provided that the provisions of this sub-section shall not apply to an officiating or temporary appointment for a period not exceeding one year: Provided further that any such officiating or temporary appointment shall not confer any claim for regular appointment and the services rendered in that capacity shall not count towards seniority or minimum qualifying service specified in the regulations for promotion to next higher grade.
- (10) If any question arises whether a post corresponds to a Group 'A' and Group 'B' posts under the Central Government, the question shall be referred to that Government whose decision thereon shall be final.
Chapter IV EMPLOYEES STATE INSURANCE CORPORATION
25. Employees’ State Insurance Fund.
- (1) All contributions and user charges paid under this Chapter and all other moneys received on behalf of the Corporation shall be paid into a fund (hereinafter referred to as the Employees' State Insurance Fund) which shall be held and administered by the Corporation for the purposes of this Code: Provided that the user charges collected from the other beneficiaries referred to in section 44 shall be deemed to be contribution and shall form part of Employees' State Insurance Corporation.
- (2) The Corporation may accept grants, donations, Corporate Social Responsibility Fund and gifts from the Central or any State Government, local authority, or any individual or body whether incorporated or not, for all or any of the purposes of this Chapter.
- (3) Subject to the other provisions contained in this Code and to any rules or regulations made in this behalf, all moneys accruing or payable to the said Fund shall be deposited in such bank or banks as may be approved by the Central Government to the credit of an account styled the account of the Employees' State Insurance Fund.
- (4) The Employees State Insurance Fund or any other money which is held by the Corporation shall be deposited or invested in the manner prescribed by the Central Government and the account referred to in sub-section (3) shall be operated by such officers as may be authorised by the Committee constituted under sub-section (3) of section 5 (hereinafter referred to as the Standing Committee) with the approval of the Corporation.
Chapter IV EMPLOYEES STATE INSURANCE CORPORATION
26. Purposes for which Employees’ State Insurance Fund may be expended.
Subject to the provisions of this Chapter and the rules and regulations relating thereto, made under this Code, the Employees' State Insurance Fund shall be expended only for the following purposes, namely:—
- (a) payment of benefits and provision of medical treatment and attendance to Insured Persons referred to in section 28 and, where the medical benefit is extended to their families, the provision of such medical benefit to their families, in accordance with the provisions of this Chapter and the rules and regulations relating thereto and defraying the charges and costs in connection therewith;
- (b) payment of fees and allowances to members of the Corporation, the Standing Committee, the Medical Benefit Committee or other Committees thereof;
- (c) payment of salaries, leave and joining time allowances, travelling and compensatory allowances, gratuities and compassionate allowances, pensions, contributions to provident or other benefit fund of officers and staff of the Corporation and meeting the expenditure in respect of offices and other services set up for the purpose of giving effect to the provisions of this Code relating to this Chapter;
- (d) establishment and maintenance of hospitals, dispensaries and other institutions and the provision of medical and other ancillary services for the benefit of Insured Persons referred to in section 28 and, where the medical benefit is extended to their families;
- (e) payment of contributions to any State Government, local authority or any private body or individual, towards the cost of medical treatment and attendance provided to Insured Persons referred to in section 28 and, where the medical benefit is extended to their families, their families, including the cost of any building and equipment, in accordance with any agreement entered into by the Corporation;
- (f) defraying the cost (including all expenses) of auditing the accounts of the Corporation and of the valuation of its assets and liabilities;
- (g) defraying the cost (including all expenses) of the Employees' Insurance Courts set up under this Chapter;
- (h) payment of any sums under any contract entered into for the purposes of this Code by Corporation or the Standing Committee or by any officer duly authorised by the Corporation or the Standing Committee in that behalf;
- (i) payment of sums under any decree, order or award of any Court or Tribunal against the Corporation or any of its officers or staff for any act done in the execution of his duty or under a compromise or settlement of any suit or other legal proceeding or claim instituted or made against the Corporation;
- (j) defraying the cost and other charges of instituting or defending any civil or criminal proceedings arising out of any action taken under this Code relating to this Chapter;
- (k) defraying expenditure, within the limits prescribed by the Central Government after consultation with the Corporation, on measures for the improvement of the health and welfare of Insured Persons and for the rehabilitation and re-employment of Insured Persons referred to in section 28 who have been disabled or injured; and
- (l) such other purposes as may be authorised by the Corporation with the previous approval of the Central Government.
Chapter IV EMPLOYEES STATE INSURANCE CORPORATION
27. Holding of property, etc.
- (1) The Corporation may, subject to such conditions as may be prescribed by the Central Government, acquire and hold property, both movable and immovable, sell or otherwise transfer any movable or immovable property which may have become vested in or have been acquired by it and do all things necessary for the purposes for which the Corporation is established.
- (2) Subject to such conditions as may be prescribed by the Central Government, the Corporation may from time to time invest any moneys which are not immediately required for expenses properly defrayable under this Code and may, subject to as aforesaid, from time to time re-invest or realise such investments.
- (3) The Corporation may, with the previous sanction of the Central Government and on such terms as may be prescribed by it, raise loans and take measures for discharging such loans.
- (4) The Corporation may constitute for the benefit of its officers and staff or any class of them, such provident or other benefit fund as it may think fit.
Chapter IV EMPLOYEES STATE INSURANCE CORPORATION
28. All employees to be insured.
- (1) Subject to the provisions of this Code, every employee in an establishment to which this Chapter applies shall be insured in such manner whether electronically or otherwise, as may be prescribed by the Central Government.
- (2) An employee whether insured or insurable under sub-section (1) in respect of whom contributions are or were payable and who is by reason thereof, entitled to any of the benefits provided under this Chapter, shall be called “Insured Person”.
Chapter IV EMPLOYEES STATE INSURANCE CORPORATION
29. Contributions.
- (1) The contribution payable under this Chapter in respect of an employee shall comprise contribution payable by the employer (hereinafter referred to as the employer's contribution) and contribution payable by the employee (hereinafter referred to as the employee's contribution) and shall be paid to the Corporation.
- (2) The contributions (employer's contribution and the employees contribution both) shall be paid at such rates as may be prescribed by the Central Government.
- (3) The wage period in relation to an employee shall be the unit as specified in the regulations (hereinafter referred to as the wage period) in respect of which all contributions shall be payable under this Chapter.
- (4) The contributions payable in respect of each wage period shall ordinarily fall due on the last day of the wage period, and where an employee is employed for part of the wage period, or is employed under two or more employers during the same wage period, the contributions shall fall due on such days as may be specified in the regulations.
Chapter IV EMPLOYEES STATE INSURANCE CORPORATION
30. Administrative expenses.
The types of expenses which may be termed as administrative expenses and the percentage of the income of the Corporation which may be spent for such expenses shall be such as may be prescribed by the Central Government and the Corporation shall keep its administrative expenses within the limit so prescribed by the Central Government.
Chapter IV EMPLOYEES STATE INSURANCE CORPORATION
31. Provisions as to payment of contributions by employer, etc.
- (1) The employer shall pay in respect of every employee, whether directly employed by him or by or through a contractor, both the employer's contribution and the employee's contribution.
- (2) Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being in force, but subject to the provisions of this Code and the rules and regulations, if any, made thereunder in this behalf, the employer shall, in the case of an employee directly employed by him (not being an exempted employee), be entitled to recover from the employee the employee's contribution by reduction from his wages and not otherwise: Provided that no such deduction shall be made from any wages other than such as relates to the period or part of the period in respect of which the contribution is payable or in excess of the sum representing the employee's contribution for the period.
- (3) Notwithstanding any contract to the contrary, neither the employer nor the contractor shall be entitled to deduct the employer's contribution from any wages payable to an employee or otherwise to recover it from him.
- (4) Any sum deducted by the employer from wages under this Chapter shall be deemed to have been entrusted to him by the employee for the purpose of paying the contribution in respect of which it was deducted.
- (5) The employer shall bear the expenses of remitting the contributions to the Corporation.
- (6) An employer, who has paid contribution in respect of an employee employed by or through a contractor, shall be entitled to recover the amount of the contribution so paid (that is to say the employer's contribution as well as the employee's contribution, if any,) from the contractor, either by deduction from any amount payable to him by the employer under any contract, or as a debt payable by the contractor.
- (7) The contractor shall maintain a register of employees employed by or through him as provided in the regulations and submit the same to the employer before the settlement of any amount payable under sub-section (6).
- (8) In the case referred to in sub-section (6), the contractor shall be entitled to recover the employee's contribution from the employee employed by or through him by deduction from wages and not otherwise, subject to such conditions as specified in the proviso to sub-section (2).
- (9) Subject to the provisions of this Code, the Corporation may make regulations for any matter relating or incidental to the payment and collection of contributions payable under this Chapter.
Chapter IV EMPLOYEES STATE INSURANCE CORPORATION
32. Benefits.
- (1) Subject to the provisions of this Code, the Insured Persons, their dependants or the persons hereinafter mentioned, as the case may be, shall be entitled to the following benefits, namely:—
- (a) periodical payments to any Insured Person in case of his sickness certified by a duly appointed medical practitioner or by any other person possessing such qualifications and experience as the Corporation may, by the regulations, specify in this behalf (hereinafter referred to as sickness benefit);
- (b) periodical payments to an Insured Person being a woman in case of confinement or miscarriage or sickness arising out of pregnancy, confinement, premature birth of child or miscarriage, such woman being certified to be eligible for such payments by an authority specified in this behalf by the regulations (hereinafter referred to as maternity benefit);
- (c) periodical payments to an Insured Person suffering from disablement as a result of an employment injury sustained by him as an employee for the purposes of this Chapter and certified to be eligible for such payments by an authority specified in this behalf by the regulations (hereinafter referred to as disablement benefit);
- (d) periodical payments to such dependants of an Insured Person who dies as a result of an employment injury sustained by him as an employee for the purposes of this Chapter, as are entitled under this Chapter (hereinafter referred to as dependents’ benefit);
- (e) medical treatment for and attendance on Insured Persons (hereinafter referred to as medical benefit); and
- (f) payment to the eldest surviving member of the family of an Insured Person who has died, towards the expenditure on the funeral of the deceased Insured Person, or, where the Insured Person did not have a family or was not living with his family at the time of his death, to the person who actually incurs the expenditure on the funeral of the deceased Insured Person (to be known as funeral expenses): Provided that the amount of payment under this clause shall not exceed such amount as may be prescribed by the Central Government and the claim for such payment shall be made within three months of the death of the Insured Person or within such extended period as the Corporation or any officer or authority authorised by it in this behalf may allow.
- (2) The Corporation may, subject to such conditions as may be laid down in the regulations, extend the medical benefits to the family of an Insured Person.
- (3) The qualification of a person to claim sickness benefit, maternity benefit, disablement benefit and dependants' benefit and the conditions subject to which such benefit may be given and the rate and period thereof, shall be such as may be prescribed by the Central Government.
- (4) Subject to the provisions of this Code and the rules made thereunder relating to this Chapter, the Corporation may make regulations for any matter relating or incidental to the accrual and payment of benefits payable under this Chapter.
Chapter IV EMPLOYEES STATE INSURANCE CORPORATION
33. Corporation’s power to promote measures for health, etc., of Insured Persons.
The Corporation may, in addition to the benefits specified in this Chapter, promote measures for the improvement of the health and welfare of Insured Persons and for the rehabilitation and re-employment of Insured Persons who have been disabled or injured and may incur in respect of such measures, expenditure from the Employees' State Insurance Fund within such limits as may be prescribed by the Central Government.
Chapter IV EMPLOYEES STATE INSURANCE CORPORATION
34. Presumption as to accident arising in course of employment.
- (1) For the purposes of this Chapter, an accident arising in the course of an employee's employment shall be presumed, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, to have arisen out of that employment.
- (2) An accident happening to an employee in or about any premises at which he is for the time being employed for the purpose of his employer's trade or business shall be deemed to arise out of and in the course of his employment, if it happens while he is taking steps, on an actual or supposed emergency at those premises, to rescue, succour or protect persons who are, or are thought to be or possibly to be, injured or imperilled, or to avert or minimise serious damage to property.
- (3) An accident occurring to an employee while commuting from his residence to the place of employment for duty or from the place of employment to his residence after performing duty, shall be deemed to have arisen out of and in the course of employment if nexus between the circumstances, time and place in which the accident occurred and the employment is established.
- (4) An accident happening while an employee is, with the express or implied permission of his employer, travelling as a passenger by any vehicle to or from his place of work shall, notwithstanding that he is under no obligation to his employer to travel by that vehicle, be deemed to arise out of and in the course of his employment, if---
- (a) the accident would have been deemed so to have arisen had he been under such obligation; and
- (b) at the time of the accident, the vehicle---
- (i) is being operated by or on behalf of his employer or some other person by whom it is provided in pursuance of arrangements made with his employer; and
- (ii) is not being operated in the ordinary course of public transport service. Explanation.--- In this section, vehicle includes a vessel and an aircraft.
Chapter IV EMPLOYEES STATE INSURANCE CORPORATION
35. Accidents happening while acting in breach of law, etc.
An accident shall be deemed to arise out of and in the course of an employee's employment notwithstanding that he is at the time of the accident acting in contravention of the provisions of any law applicable to him, or of any orders given by or on behalf of his employer or that he is acting without instructions from his employer, if—
- (a) the accident would have been deemed so to have arisen had the act not been done in contravention as aforesaid or without instructions from his employer, as the case may be; and
- (b) the act is done for the purpose of and in connection with the employer's trade or business.
Chapter IV EMPLOYEES STATE INSURANCE CORPORATION
36. Occupational disease.
- (1) If an employee employed in any employment specified in Part A of the Third Schedule contracts any disease specified therein as an occupational disease peculiar to that employment, or if an employee employed in the employment specified in Part B of that Schedule for a continuous period of not less than six months contracts any disease specified therein as an occupational disease peculiar to that employment or if an employee employed in any employment specified in Part C of that Schedule for such continuous period as the Corporation may specify by regulations in respect of each such employment, contracts any disease specified in such Part C as an occupational disease peculiar to that employment, the contracting of the disease shall, unless the contrary is proved, be deemed to be an “employment injury “, arising out of and in the course of employment.
- (2) Save as provided by sub-section (1), no benefit shall be payable to an employee in respect of any disease unless the disease is directly attributable to a specific injury by accident arising out of and in the course of his employment.
- (3) The provisions of sub-section (1) of section 34 shall not apply to the cases to which this section applies.
Chapter IV EMPLOYEES STATE INSURANCE CORPORATION
37. References to medical board.
- (1) Any question---
- (a) whether the relevant accident has resulted in permanent disablement; or
- (b) whether the extent of loss of earning capacity can be assessed provisionally or finally; or
- (c) whether the assessment of the proportion of the loss of earning capacity is provisional or final; or
- (d) in the case of provisional assessment, as to the period for which such assessment shall hold good, shall be determined by a medical board constituted in accordance with the provisions of the regulations (hereinafter referred to as medical board) and any such question shall hereafter be referred to as the "disablement question".
- (2) The case of any Insured Person for permanent disablement benefit shall be referred by the Corporation to a medical board for determination of the disablement in question and if, on that or any subsequent reference, the extent of loss of earning capacity of the Insured Person is provisionally assessed, it shall again be so referred to the medical board not later than the end of the period taken into account by the provisional assessment.
- (3) Any decision under this Chapter of a medical board may be reviewed at any time by the medical board if it is satisfied by fresh evidence that the decision was given in consequence of the non-disclosure or misrepresentation by the employee or any other person of a material fact whether the non-disclosure or misrepresentation was or was not fraudulent.
- (4) Any assessment of the extent of the disablement resulting from the relevant employment injury may also be reviewed by a medical board if it is satisfied that since the making of the assessment there has been a substantial and unforeseen aggravation of the results of the relevant injury: Provided that an assessment shall not be reviewed under this sub-section unless the medical board is of the opinion, having regard to the period taken into account by the assessment and the probable duration of the aggravation aforesaid, that substantial injustice will be done by not reviewing it.
- (5) Except with the leave of a medical appeal tribunal constituted by regulations, an assessment shall not be reviewed under sub-section (4) on any application made less than five years, or in the case of a provisional assessment, six months, from the date thereof and on such a review the period to be taken into account by any revised assessment shall not include any period before the date of the application.
- (6) Subject to the foregoing provisions of this section, a medical board may deal with a case of review in any manner in which it could deal with it on an original reference to it, and in particular may make a provisional assessment notwithstanding that the assessment under review was final and the provisions of sub-section (2) shall apply to an application for review under this sub-section and to a decision of a medical board in connection with such application as they apply to a case for disablement benefit under that subsection and to a decision of the medical board in connection with such case.
- (7) (a) If the Insured Person or the Corporation is aggrieved by any decision of the medical board, the Insured Person or the Corporation, as the case may be, may appeal in such manner and within such time as may be prescribed by the Central Government to---
- (i) the medical appeal tribunal constituted in accordance with the provisions of the regulations; or
- (ii) the Employees' Insurance Court directly: Provided that no appeal by an Insured Person shall lie under this sub-section if such person has applied for commutation of disablement benefit on the basis of the decision of the medical board and received the commuted value of such benefits: Provided further that no appeal by the Corporation shall lie under this sub-section if the Corporation paid the commuted value of the disablement benefit on the basis of the decision of the medical board.
- (b) Where the Insured Person or the Corporation preferred appeal to the medical appeal tribunal under sub-clause (i) of clause (a) instead of to the Employees' Insurance Court under sub-clause (ii) of that clause, then, he or it, as the case may be, shall have the further right to file second appeal to the Employees' Insurance Court in such manner and within such time as may be prescribed by the appropriate Government.
Chapter IV EMPLOYEES STATE INSURANCE CORPORATION
38. Dependants’ benefit.
- (1) If an Insured Person dies as a result of an employment injury sustained as an employee under this Chapter (whether or not he was in receipt of any periodical payment for temporary disablement in respect of the injury), dependants' benefit shall be payable to his dependants specified in sub-clause (a) and sub-clause (b) of clause (24) of section 2 at such rates and for such periods and subject to such conditions as may be prescribed by the Central Government.
- (2) In case the Insured Person dies without leaving behind him the dependants as aforesaid, the dependants' benefit shall be paid to the other dependants of the deceased at such rates and for such periods and subject to such conditions as may be prescribed by the Central Government.
- (3) Any decision awarding dependants' benefit under this Chapter may be reviewed at any time by the Corporation if it is satisfied by fresh evidence that the decision was given in consequence of non-disclosure or misrepresentation by the claimant or any other person of a material fact (whether the non-disclosure or misrepresentation was or was not fraudulent) or that the decision is no longer in accordance with this Chapter due to any birth or death or due to the marriage, re-marriage, or ceasing of infirmity, or attainment of the age of twenty-five years by, a claimant.
- (4) Subject to the provisions of this Chapter, the Corporation may, on such review under sub-section (3), direct that the dependants' benefit be continued, increased, reduced or discontinued.
Chapter IV EMPLOYEES STATE INSURANCE CORPORATION
39. Medical benefit.
- (1) An Insured Person or (where such medical benefit is extended to his family) a member of his family whose condition requires medical treatment and attendance shall be entitled to receive medical benefit.
- (2) Such medical benefit may be given either in the form of out-patient treatment and attendance in a hospital or dispensary, clinic or other institution or by visits to the home of the Insured Person or treatment as in-patient in a hospital or other institution.
- (3) The qualification of an Insured Person and (where such medical benefit is extended to his family) his family, to claim medical benefit and the conditions subject to which such benefit may be given, the scale and period thereof shall be such as may be prescribed by the Central Government: Provided that a person in respect of whom contribution ceases to be payable under this Chapter may be allowed medical benefit for such period and of such nature as may be provided by the regulations: Provided further that an Insured Person who has attained the age of superannuation, a person who retires under a Voluntary Retirement Scheme or takes premature retirement, and his spouse shall be eligible to receive medical benefits subject to payment of contribution and such other conditions as may be specified in the regulations: Provided also that an Insured Person who ceases to be in insurable employment on account of permanent disablement caused due to employment injury shall continue to receive medical benefits, subject to payment of contribution and other conditions as may be prescribed by the Central Government: Provided also that the conditions for grant of medical benefits to the Insured Person during employment injury shall be as specified in the regulations.
- (4) (a) The Corporation may establish medical education institutions, including colleges, dental colleges, nursing colleges and the training institutes for its officers and staff with a view to improve the quality of their services.
- (b) The medical education institutions referred to in clause (a) shall require its students to furnish a bond for serving the Corporation for such time and in such manner, as may be specified in the regulations.
- (5) The medical education institutions and training institutes referred to in sub-section (4) may be run by the Corporation itself or on the request of the Corporation, by the Central Government, any State Government, Public Sector Undertaking of the Central Government or the State Government or any other body notified by the Central Government. Explanation.-For the purposes of this sub-section, the expression other body means any such organisation of persons which the Central Government considers capable to run colleges and training institutions referred to in sub-section (4).
- (6) The Corporation may, in order to take preventive and curative measures for welfare of the Insured Persons, carry out such occupational and epidemiological surveys and studies for assessment of health and working conditions of Insured Persons in such manner as may be specified in the regulations.
Chapter IV EMPLOYEES STATE INSURANCE CORPORATION
40. Provision of medical treatment by State Government or by Corporation.
- (1) The State Government shall provide for Insured Persons and (where such benefit is extended to their families) their families in the State, reasonable medical, surgical and obstetric treatment: Provided that the State Government may, with the approval of the Corporation, arrange for medical treatment at clinics of medical practitioners on such scale and subject to such terms and conditions as may be agreed upon.
- (2) Where the incidence of sickness benefit payment to Insured Persons in any State is found to exceed the all-India average, the amount of such excess shall be shared between the Corporation and the State Government in such proportion as may be fixed by agreement between them: Provided that the Corporation may in any case waive the recovery of the whole or any part of the share which is to be borne by the State Government.
- (3) The Corporation may enter into an agreement with a State Government in regard to the nature and scale of the medical treatment that should be provided to Insured Persons and (where such medical benefit is extended to the families) their families (including provision of buildings, equipment, medicines, and staff) and for the sharing of the cost thereof and of any excess in the incidence of sickness benefit to Insured Persons between the Corporation and the State Government.
- (4) In default of agreement between the Corporation and any State Government as aforesaid, the nature and extent of the medical treatment to be provided by the State Government and the proportion in which the cost thereof and of the excess in the incidence of sickness benefit shall be shared between the Corporation and that Government, shall be determined by an arbitrator who shall be appointed by the Central Government in consultation with the State Government.
- (5) The State Government may, in addition to the Corporation under this Code, with the previous approval of the Central Government, establish such organisation (by whatever name called) to provide for certain benefits to employees in case of sickness, maternity and employment injury: Provided that any reference to the State Government in this Code relating to this Chapter shall also include reference to the organisation as and when such organisation is established by the State Government.
- (6) The organisation referred to in sub-section (5) shall have such structure, discharge functions, exercise powers and undertake such activities as may be prescribed by the Central Government.
- (7) The Corporation may 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), their families.
- (8) The Corporation may enter into agreement with any local authority, private body or individual in regard to the provision of medical treatment and attendance for Insured Persons and (where such medical benefit is extended to their families) their families, in any area and sharing the cost thereof.
- (9) The Corporation may also enter into agreement with any local authority, local body or private body for commissioning and running Employees' State Insurance hospitals through third party participation for providing medical treatment and attendance to Insured Persons and (where such medical benefit has been extended to their families), to their families.
- (10) Notwithstanding anything contained in any other provision of this Chapter, the Corporation may, in consultation with the State Government, undertake the responsibility for providing medical benefit to Insured Persons and (where such medical benefit is extended to their families), to the families of such Insured Persons in the State subject to the condition that the State Government shall share the cost of such medical benefit in such proportion as may be agreed upon between the State Government and the Corporation.
- (11) In the event of the Corporation exercising its power under sub-section (10), the provisions relating to medical benefit under this Chapter shall apply, so far as may be, as if a reference therein to the State Government were a reference to the Corporation.
- (12) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Code, in respect of establishments located in the States where medical benefit is provided by the Corporation, the Central Government shall be the appropriate Government.
Chapter IV EMPLOYEES STATE INSURANCE CORPORATION
41. General provisions as to benefits.
- (1) Save as may be provided in the regulations, no person shall be entitled to commute for a lump sum any disablement benefit admissible under this Chapter.
- (2) Save as may be provided in the regulations, no person shall be entitled to sickness benefit or disablement benefit for temporary disablement on any day on which he works or remains on leave or on a holiday in respect of which he receives wages or on any day on which he remains on strike.
- (3) A person who is in receipt of sickness benefit or disablement benefit (other than benefit granted on permanent disablement)-
- (a) shall remain under medical treatment at a dispensary, hospital, clinic or other institution provided under this Chapter, and shall carry out the instructions given by the medical officer or medical attendant in-charge thereof;
- (b) shall not while under treatment do anything which might retard or prejudice his chances of recovery;
- (c) shall not leave the area in which medical treatment provided by this Chapter is being given, without the permission of the medical officer, medical attendant or such other authority as may be specified in this behalf by the regulations; and
- (d) shall allow himself to be examined by any duly appointed medical officer or other person authorised by the Corporation in this behalf.
- (4) An Insured Person shall not be entitled to receive for the same period—
- (a) both sickness benefit and maternity benefit; or
- (b) both sickness benefit and disablement benefit for temporary disablement; or
- (c) both maternity benefit and disablement benefit for temporary disablement.
- (5) Where a person is entitled to more than one of the benefits mentioned in sub-section (4), he shall be entitled to choose which benefit he shall receive.
- (6) If a person dies during any period for which he is entitled to a cash benefit under this Chapter, the amount of such benefit up to and including the day of his death shall be paid to any person nominated by the deceased person in writing in such form as may be specified in the regulations or, if there is no such nomination, to the heir or legal representative of the deceased person.
- (7) (a) Any person eligible for availing dependant or disablement benefit under this Chapter shall not be entitled to claim Employees’ Compensation from his employer under Chapter VII.
- (b) Any women employee eligible for availing maternity benefit under this Chapter shall not be entitled to claim maternity benefit from her employer under Chapter VI.
- (8) Where any person has received any benefit or payment under this Chapter when he is not lawfully entitled thereto, he shall be liable to repay to the Corporation the value of the benefit or the amount of such payment, or in the case of death, his legal representative shall be liable to repay the same from the assets of the deceased devolved on him.
- (9) The value of any benefits received other than cash payments shall be determined by such authority as may be specified in the regulations made in this behalf and the decision of such authority shall be final.
- (10) The amount recoverable under this section may be recovered in the manner specified under sections 129 to 132.
Chapter IV EMPLOYEES STATE INSURANCE CORPORATION
42. Corporation’s rights when an employer fails to register, etc.
- (1) If any employer,—
- (a) fails or neglects to insure under section 28, an employee at the time of his appointment or within such extended period as may be prescribed by the Central Government, as a result of which the employee becomes disentitled to any benefit under this Chapter; or
- (b) insures under section 28, an employee on or after the date of accident which resulted in personal injury to such employee which has the effect of making such employee disentitled to receive any dependant benefit or disablement benefit from the Corporation; or
- (c) fails or neglects to pay any contribution which under this Chapter he is liable to pay in respect of any employee and by reason thereof such employee becomes disentitled to any benefit or becomes entitled to a benefit on a lower scale, then, the Corporation may, on being satisfied in the manner prescribed by the Central Government that the benefit is payable to the employee, pay to the employee benefit at such rate to which he is entitled or would have been entitled if the failure or neglect would not have occurred, and the Corporation shall be entitled to recover from the employer, subject to the employer being given an opportunity of being heard, the capitalised value of the benefit paid to the employee, to be calculated in such manner as may be prescribed by the Central Government: Provided that the capitalised value to be calculated may be adjusted for the payment of any contribution and interest or damages that the employer is liable to pay for delay in the payment of or non-payment of such contribution.
- (2) The amount recoverable under this section may be recovered as if it were an arrear of land revenue or recovered in the manner specified under sections 129 to 132.
Chapter IV EMPLOYEES STATE INSURANCE CORPORATION
43. Liability of owner or occupier of factories, etc, for excessive sickness benefit.
- (1) Where the Corporation considers that the incidence of sickness among Insured Persons is excessive by reason of—
- (a) insanitary working conditions in a factory or other establishment or the neglect of the owner or occupier of the factory or other establishment to observe any health regulations enjoined on him by or under any enactment for the time being in force, or
- (b) insanitary conditions of any tenements or lodgings occupied by Insured Persons and such insanitary conditions are attributable to the neglect of the owner of the tenements or lodgings to observe any health regulations enjoined on him by or under any enactments for the time being in force, then, the Corporation may send to the owner or occupier of the factory or other establishment or to the owner of the tenements or lodgings, as the case may be, a claim for the payment of the amount of the extra expenditure incurred by the Corporation as sickness benefit; and if the claim is not settled by agreement, the Corporation may refer the matter, with a statement in support of its claim, to the appropriate Government.
- (2) If the appropriate Government is of the opinion that a prima facie case for inquiry is made out, it may appoint a competent person or persons to hold an inquiry into the matter referred under sub-section (1).
- (3) If upon inquiry under sub-section (2), it is proved to the satisfaction of the person or persons holding the inquiry that the excess in incidence of sickness among the Insured Persons is due to the default or neglect of the owner or occupier of the factory or other establishment or the owner of the tenements or lodgings, as the case may be, the said person or persons shall determine, the amount of the extra expenditure incurred as sickness benefit as well as the person or persons by whom the whole or any part of such amount shall be paid to the Corporation.
- (4) A determination under sub-section (3) may be enforced as if it were a decree for payment of money passed in a suit by a Civil Court.
- (5) For the purposes of this section, “owner” of tenements or lodgings shall include any agent of the owner and any person who is entitled to collect the rent of the tenements or lodgings as a lessee of the owner.
Chapter IV EMPLOYEES STATE INSURANCE CORPORATION
44. Scheme for other beneficiaries.
Notwithstanding anything contained in this Chapter, the Central Government may, by notification, frame, amend, vary or rescind scheme for other beneficiaries and the members of their families for providing medical facility in any hospital established by the Corporation in any area which is underutilised on payment of user charges, and prescribe the terms and conditions subject to which the scheme may be operated. Explanation.---For the purposes of this section,---
- (a) "other beneficiaries"means persons other than employees insured under section 28;
- (b) "underutilised hospital" means any hospital not fully utilised by the employees insured under section 28; and
- (c) "user charges" means the amount which is to be charged from other beneficiaries for medical facilities as may be specified in the regulations after prior approval of the Central Government.
Chapter IV EMPLOYEES STATE INSURANCE CORPORATION
45. Scheme for unorganised workers, gig workers and platform workers.
- (1) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Chapter, the Central Government may, by notification, frame scheme for unorganised workers, gig workers and platform workers and the members of their families for providing benefits admissible under this Chapter by the Corporation.
- (2) The contribution, user charges, scale of benefits, qualifying and eligibility conditions and other terms and conditions subject to which the scheme may be operated shall be such as may be specified in the scheme.
Chapter IV EMPLOYEES STATE INSURANCE CORPORATION
46. Exemption of factories or other establishments belonging to Government or any local authority.
The appropriate Government may, after consultation with the Corporation, by notification and subject to such conditions as may be specified in the notification, exempt any factory or other establishment belonging to the Government or any local authority, from the operation of this Chapter if the employees in any such factory or other establishment are otherwise in receipt of benefits substantially similar or superior to the benefits provided under this Chapter.
Chapter IV EMPLOYEES STATE INSURANCE CORPORATION
47. Contributions, etc., due to corporation to have priority over other debts.
Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being in force, any amount due under this Chapter shall be the charge on the assets of the establishment to which it relates and shall be paid in priority in accordance with the provisions of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (31 of 2016).
Chapter IV EMPLOYEES STATE INSURANCE CORPORATION
48. Constitution of Employees Insurance Court.
- (1) The State Government shall, by notification, constitute an Employees' Insurance Court for such local area as may be specified in the notification.
- (2) The Employees’ Insurance Court shall consist of such number of Judges as the State Government may think fit.
- (3) Any person who is or has been a judicial officer or is a legal practitioner of five years' standing shall be qualified to be a Judge of the Employees' Insurance Court.
- (4) The State Government may appoint the same Court for two or more local areas or two or more Employees’ Insurance Courts for the same local area.
- (5) Where more than one Employees’ Insurance Court has been appointed for the same local area, the State Government may by general or special order regulate the distribution of business between them.
Chapter IV EMPLOYEES STATE INSURANCE CORPORATION
49. Matters to be decided by Employees Insurance court.
- (1) If any question or dispute or claim arises as to—
- (a) whether any person is an employee within the meaning of this Code relating to this Chapter 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 purposes of this Chapter; or
- (c) the rate of contribution payable by an employer in respect of any employee under this Chapter; or
- (d) the person who is or was the employer in respect of any employee for the purposes of this Chapter; or
- (e) the right of any person to any benefit under this Chapter and as to the amount and duration thereof; or
- (f) any direction issued by the Corporation on a review of any payment of dependants' benefit under this Chapter; or
- (g) any other matter which is in dispute between an employer and the Corporation relating to this Chapter, or between an employer and a Contractor relating to this Chapter or between a person and the Corporation relating to this Chapter or between an employee and an employer or Contractor relating to this Chapter, in respect of any contribution or benefit or other dues payable or recoverable under this Code relating to this Chapter; or
- (h) claim for the recovery of contributions from the employer under this Code relating to this Chapter; or
- (i) claim under sub-section (8) of section 41 for the recovery of the value or amount of the benefits received by a person when he is not lawfully entitled thereto; or
- (j) claim against an employer under section 42; or
- (k) order of the appellate authority under section 126 in respect of Chapter IV; or
- (l) claim by an employer to recover contributions from any contractor under this Code relating to this Chapter; or
- (m) any other claim for the recovery of any benefit admissible under this Chapter, such matter shall be decided by the Employers' Insurance Court.
- (2) No matter which is in dispute between an employer and the Corporation in respect of any contribution or any other dues under this Chapter shall be raised by the employer in the Employees' Insurance Court unless he has deposited with that Court fifty per cent. of the amount due from him as claimed by the Corporation: Provided that the Employees' Insurance Court may, for reasons to be recorded in writing, waive or reduce the amount to be deposited under this sub-section.
- (3) No Civil Court shall have jurisdiction to decide or deal with any question or dispute as specified in sub-section (1) or to adjudicate on any liability which by or under this Code relating to this Chapter is to be decided by a medical board, or by a medical appeal tribunal or by the Employees' Insurance Court.
Chapter IV EMPLOYEES STATE INSURANCE CORPORATION
50. Powers of Employees Insurance court.
- (1) The Employees' Insurance Court shall have all the powers of a Civil Court for the purposes of summoning and enforcing the attendance of witnesses, compelling the discovery and production of documents and material objects, administering oath and recording evidence and such court shall be deemed to be a Civil Court within the meaning of section 195 and Chapter XXVI of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974).
- (2) The Employees' Insurance Court shall follow such procedure as may be prescribed by the State Government.
- (3) All costs incidental to any proceeding before an Employees' Insurance Court shall, subject to such rules as may be made in this behalf by the State Government, be in the discretion of that court.
- (4) An order of the Employees' Insurance Court shall be enforceable by it as if it were a decree passed in a suit by a Civil Court.
Chapter IV EMPLOYEES STATE INSURANCE CORPORATION
51. Proceedings of Employees Insurance courts.
- (1) The manner of commencement of proceedings before the Employees’ Insurance Court, fees and procedure thereof shall be such as may be prescribed by the appropriate Government: Provided that the limitation for initiating the proceedings by the aggrieved person in the Employees' Insurance Court shall be three years from the date on which the cause of action arises: Provided further that the “arising of cause of action” in respect of a claim by the Insured Person or dependants; by the Corporation for recovering contribution (including interests and damages) from the employer; and the claim by the employer for recovering contributions from a Contractor and the time within which such claims, recovery or contribution, from employer by the Corporation and recovery of contribution by the employer from the Contractor, shall be as specified in the regulations.
- (2) Any application, appearance or act required to be made or done by any person to, or before, an Employees' Insurance Court (other than appearance of a person required for the purpose of his examination as a witness) may be made or done by a legal practitioner or by an officer of a registered trade union authorised in writing by such person or with the permission of that Court, by any other person so authorised.
- (3) An Employees' Insurance Court may submit any question of law for the decision of the High Court and if it does so shall decide the question pending before it in accordance with such decision.
Chapter IV EMPLOYEES STATE INSURANCE CORPORATION
52. Appeal to High Court.
- (1) Save as expressly provided in this section, no appeal shall lie from an order of an Employees' Insurance Court.
- (2) An appeal shall lie to the High Court from an order of an Employees' Insurance Court, if it involves a substantial question of law.
- (3) The appeal shall be filed under this section within a period of sixty days from the date of the order made by the Employees' Insurance Court.
- (4) The provisions of sections 5 and 12 of the Limitation Act, 1963 (36 of 1963) shall apply to appeals under this section.
- (5) Where the Corporation has presented an appeal against an order of the Employees' Insurance Court, that Court may, and if so directed by the High Court, shall, pending the decision of the appeal, withhold the payment of any sum directed to be paid by the order appealed against.
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