# CASE DETAILS COMMANDING OFFICER, RAILWAY PROTECTION SPECIAL FORCE, MUMBAI v. BHAVNABEN DINSHBHAI BHABHOR & OTHERS

- **Citation:** 2023 INSC 859
- **Court:** Supreme Court of India
- **Decided:** 2023-09-26
- **Case number:** Civil Appeal No. 3592 of 2019
- **Bench:** B. V. Nagarathna, Manoj Misra
- **Source:** https://unisonlegal.in/judgment/supreme-court-of-india/case-details-commanding-officer-railway-protection-special-force-mumbai-v-36586
- **Pages:** 22

## Headnote

Issue for consideration: Whether a Constable of a Railway Protection
Force (RPF) can be treated as a "Workman" u/s.2(1)(n), Employees
Compensation Act, 1923 even though, by virtue of amended s.3, Railway
Protection Force Act, 1957, he is a member of the Armed Forces of the
Union; and whether, on account of availability of alternative remedy to
apply for compensation u/ss.124 and 124-A, Railways Act, 1989, a claim
under the 1923 Act is maintainable.
Employees Compensation Act, 1923 - s.2(1)(n) - Constable of a
RPF if a "Workman" u/s.2(1)(n), despite RPF being declared as an
armed force of the Union - Claim under the 1923 Act if barred in view
of alternative remedy under Railways Act, 1989:
Held: Mere declaration in s.3, 1957 Act that the RPF shall be an
"armed force of the Union" is not suffi cient to take it out of the purview of
the 1923 Act - Thus, despite declaring RPF as an armed force of the Union,
the legislative intent was not to exclude its members or their heirs from the
benefi ts of compensation payable under the 1923 Act or the 1989 Act - Thus,
in the present case, the claim set up by the claimants-respondents under the
1923 Act was maintainable - Further, according to s.128, Railways Act,
1989, notwithstanding the right to claim compensation u/s.124 or s.124-A
of the 1989 Act, the right of a person to claim compensation under the
1923 Act, or any other law for the time being in force, is specifi cally saved
subject to the condition that he shall not be entitled to claim compensation
more than once in respect of the same accident - In the present case, there
661
is nothing to indicate that the respondents' claim under the 1923 Act was
made after receiving compensation for the same accident under any other
Act or law - Hence, the application under the 1923 Act was not barred on
account of there being an alternative remedy under the 1989 Act - Appeal
lacks merit - The Indian Railways Act, 1890 - Railway Protection Force
Act, 1957 - ss.2(1)(a), 3, 10, 19 - Act No. 60 of 1985. [Paras 58, 62-64]
Employees Compensation Act, 1923 - ss.2(1)(e), 2(1)(n)(i) and
3 - Railways Act, 1989 - s.2(34):
Held: The 1923 Act as it stood at the relevant time (i.e., the date of
the accident out of which the claim arose) was an Act to provide for the
payment by certain class of employers to their workman, compensation for
injury by accident - s.3, 1923 Act, as it stood at the time of the accident in
question, provided that if personal injury is caused to a workman by accident
arising out of and in the course of his employment, his employer shall be
liable to pay compensation in accordance with the provision of Chapter II
of the 1923 Act - "Employer" is defi ned in s.2(1)(e) wherein by use of the
phrase "any body of persons whether incorporated or not" the legislative
intent is clear as to include a juristic person whether incorporated or not -
However, to maintain a claim against an "employer" under the 1923 Act,
there must be a workman and an employer relationship; the workman must
suff er personal injury in an accident; and that accident must arise out of and
in the course of his employment - At the time of the accident in question,
"workman" was defi ned by s.2(1)(n), 1923 Act - Workman meant any one
of the persons specifi ed in s.2(1)(n) (i), (ia) and (ii), 1923 Act; but would
not include any person working in the capacity of a member of the Armed
Forces of the Union - Further, the defi nition of a "Railway Servant" as
contained in s.2(34), 1989 Act was amended by which, notwithstanding that
from 20.09.1985 the RPF was declared an armed force of the Union, the
defi nition of a Railway Servant included a member of the RPF - Thus, since
a railway servant continued to be a workman as per s.2(1)(n)(i), 1923 Act,
the provisions of the 1923 Act would continue to apply to a member of the
RPF as he does not belong to any of those categories specifi ed in Schedule
II of the 1923 Act - More so, when there is nothing in the Railways Act,
either

## Text

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[2023] 12 S.C.R. 660 : 2023 INSC 859
660
CASE DETAILS
COMMANDING OFFICER, RAILWAY PROTECTION SPECIAL
FORCE, MUMBAI
v.
BHAVNABEN DINSHBHAI BHABHOR & OTHERS
(Civil Appeal No. 3592 of 2019)
SEPTEMBER 26, 2023
[B. V. NAGARATHNA AND MANOJ MISRA, JJ.]
HEADNOTES
Issue for consideration: Whether a Constable of a Railway Protection
Force (RPF) can be treated as a "Workman" u/s.2(1)(n), Employees
Compensation Act, 1923 even though, by virtue of amended s.3, Railway
Protection Force Act, 1957, he is a member of the Armed Forces of the
Union; and whether, on account of availability of alternative remedy to
apply for compensation u/ss.124 and 124-A, Railways Act, 1989, a claim
under the 1923 Act is maintainable.
Employees Compensation Act, 1923 - s.2(1)(n) - Constable of a
RPF if a "Workman" u/s.2(1)(n), despite RPF being declared as an
armed force of the Union - Claim under the 1923 Act if barred in view
of alternative remedy under Railways Act, 1989:
Held: Mere declaration in s.3, 1957 Act that the RPF shall be an
"armed force of the Union" is not suffi cient to take it out of the purview of
the 1923 Act - Thus, despite declaring RPF as an armed force of the Union,
the legislative intent was not to exclude its members or their heirs from the
benefi ts of compensation payable under the 1923 Act or the 1989 Act - Thus,
in the present case, the claim set up by the claimants-respondents under the
1923 Act was maintainable - Further, according to s.128, Railways Act,
1989, notwithstanding the right to claim compensation u/s.124 or s.124-A
of the 1989 Act, the right of a person to claim compensation under the
1923 Act, or any other law for the time being in force, is specifi cally saved
subject to the condition that he shall not be entitled to claim compensation
more than once in respect of the same accident - In the present case, there
661
is nothing to indicate that the respondents' claim under the 1923 Act was
made after receiving compensation for the same accident under any other
Act or law - Hence, the application under the 1923 Act was not barred on
account of there being an alternative remedy under the 1989 Act - Appeal
lacks merit - The Indian Railways Act, 1890 - Railway Protection Force
Act, 1957 - ss.2(1)(a), 3, 10, 19 - Act No. 60 of 1985. [Paras 58, 62-64]
Employees Compensation Act, 1923 - ss.2(1)(e), 2(1)(n)(i) and
3 - Railways Act, 1989 - s.2(34):
Held: The 1923 Act as it stood at the relevant time (i.e., the date of
the accident out of which the claim arose) was an Act to provide for the
payment by certain class of employers to their workman, compensation for
injury by accident - s.3, 1923 Act, as it stood at the time of the accident in
question, provided that if personal injury is caused to a workman by accident
arising out of and in the course of his employment, his employer shall be
liable to pay compensation in accordance with the provision of Chapter II
of the 1923 Act - "Employer" is defi ned in s.2(1)(e) wherein by use of the
phrase "any body of persons whether incorporated or not" the legislative
intent is clear as to include a juristic person whether incorporated or not -
However, to maintain a claim against an "employer" under the 1923 Act,
there must be a workman and an employer relationship; the workman must
suff er personal injury in an accident; and that accident must arise out of and
in the course of his employment - At the time of the accident in question,
"workman" was defi ned by s.2(1)(n), 1923 Act - Workman meant any one
of the persons specifi ed in s.2(1)(n) (i), (ia) and (ii), 1923 Act; but would
not include any person working in the capacity of a member of the Armed
Forces of the Union - Further, the defi nition of a "Railway Servant" as
contained in s.2(34), 1989 Act was amended by which, notwithstanding that
from 20.09.1985 the RPF was declared an armed force of the Union, the
defi nition of a Railway Servant included a member of the RPF - Thus, since
a railway servant continued to be a workman as per s.2(1)(n)(i), 1923 Act,
the provisions of the 1923 Act would continue to apply to a member of the
RPF as he does not belong to any of those categories specifi ed in Schedule
II of the 1923 Act - More so, when there is nothing in the Railways Act,
either new or old, which may exclude the applicability of the 1923 Act on a
railway servant - Constitution of India - Articles 372(2), 366 - Adaptation of
COMMANDING OFFICER, RAILWAY PROTECTION SPECIAL FORCE,
MUMBAI v. BHAVNABEN DINSHBHAI BHABHOR & OTHERS
SUPREME COURT REPORTS
[2023] 12 S.C.R.
662
Laws Order, 1950 - General Clauses Act, 1897 - Railway Protection
Force Act, 1957 - ss.3, 10, 19. [Paras 51-54 and 59]
Railway Protection Force Act, 1957 - s.19 - Applicability of
the Employees Compensation Act, 1923 not excluded:
Held: Though s.19 declared that nothing contained in the
Payment of Wages Act, 1936 or the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947
or the Factories Act, 1948 or any corresponding law relating to
investigation and settlement of industrial dispute in force in a State
shall apply to members of the Force (RPF), there is no exclusion of
the applicability of the provisions of the Employees Compensation
Act, 1923. [Para 60]
LIST OF CITATIONS AND OTHER REFERENCES
Union of India v. Sri Harananda (2019) 14 SCC 126; United
India Insurance Co. Ltd. v. Orient Treasures Pvt. Ltd. (2016) 3 SCC
49 : [2016] 1 SCR 1; Union of India v. Prabhakaran Vijaya Kumar
(2008) 9 SCC 527 : [2008] 7 SCR 673; Ramesh Birch and others v.
Union of India and others (1989) 1 Suppl. SCC 430 : [1989] 2 SCR
629 - referred to.
OTHER CASE DETAILS INCLUDING IMPUGNED
ORDER AND APPEARANCES
CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION: Civil Appeal No. 3592 of 2019.
From the Judgment and Order dated 24.02.2016 of the High Court of
Gujarat at Ahmedabad in FA No.112 of 2016.
Appearances:
Vikramjit Banerjee, ASG, Rajan Kumar Chourasia, Shashwat Parihar,
Shubhendu Anand, Tathagat Sharma, Nring Chamwibo Zeliang, Sanjay
Kumar Tyagi, Amrish Kumar, Advs. for the Appellant.
Ms. Prerana Chaturvedi, Jaitun Kumar N. Patel, Advs. for the
Respondents.
663
JUDGMENT / ORDER OF THE SUPREME COURT
JUDGMENT
MANOJ MISRA, J.
1. This appeal is directed against the judgment and order of the
High Court of Gujarat at Ahmedabad (in short, "the High Court"), dated
24.02.2016, passed in First Appeal No. 112 of 2016, by which the appeal of
the appellant under Section 30 of the Employees Compensation Act, 1923
(formerly known as the Workmen's Compensation Act, 1923 - hereinafter
referred to as the 1923 Act) against the order of the Workmen Compensation
Commissioner (in short, "the Commissioner") in W.C. Case No. 05 of 2010,
has been dismissed.
FACTS
2. The husband of the fi rst respondent was appointed as a Constable
in the Railway Protection Special Force, a unit of the Railway Protection
Force (in short, "the RPF"), on 27.12.2006. He died on 23.04.2008 in an
accident in the course of his employment. On his death, the fi rst respondent
along with other heirs of the deceased fi led a claim petition under the 1923
Act for compensation by claiming, inter alia, that on the date of his death,
the deceased was aged 25 years and getting monthly wages of Rs. 8,000/-.
The claim was resisted by the appellants, inter-alia, on the ground that the
deceased was part of the Armed Forces of the Union and, therefore, not a
workman; hence, the claim petition under the 1923 Act is not maintainable.
3.The Commissioner found that the relationship of workman-employer
between the deceased and the non-claimant was admitted to the nonclaimant; the deceased died in an accident in the course of his employment;
and the deceased being a "Railway Servant", as per the provisions of Section
2(34) of the Railways Act, 1989 (in short, the 1989 Act), would be deemed
to be a "workman" under Section 2(1)(n)(i) of the 1923 Act and, therefore,
the claim petition was maintainable. Regarding the amount payable as
compensation, applying the formula provided in Section 4 of the 1923 Act,
the Commissioner determined the compensation payable as Rs. 4,33,820/-
and directed it to be paid to the claimants within 30 days from the date of
the order with 9% interest.
COMMANDING OFFICER, RAILWAY PROTECTION SPECIAL FORCE,
MUMBAI v. BHAVNABEN DINSHBHAI BHABHOR & OTHERS
SUPREME COURT REPORTS
[2023] 12 S.C.R.
664
4. Aggrieved by the order of the Commissioner, the appellant
filed a first appeal bearing number 112 of 2016 before the High Court
under Section 30 of the 1923 Act. The thrust of the submissions before
the High Court was that the definition of "workman" as per Section 2
(n) of the 1923 Act excludes any person working in the capacity of a
member of the Armed Forces of the Union, therefore, since Section 3
of the Railway Protection Force Act, 1957 (in short, "the 1957 Act")
declared the RPF as an Armed Force of the Union, the deceased being
a constable in the RPF would not be a workman within the meaning
of section 2 (n) of the 1923 Act; hence, claim petition under the 1923
Act was not maintainable.
5. The aforesaid plea raised by the appellant was not accepted by
the High Court and the appeal was dismissed.
6. Aggrieved by the judgment and order of the High Court, this
appeal has been preferred.
7. We have heard Mr. Vikramjit Banerjee, learned ASG assisted by
Mr. Shubhendu Anand and Mr. Rajan Kr. Chourasia for the appellant
and Ms. Prerana Chaturvedi for the respondents.
SUBMISSIONS ON BEHALF OF THE APPELLANT
8. On behalf of the appellant, it was submitted that the deceased
was indisputably a member of the RPF which, as per Section 3 of the
1957 Act, is an Armed Force of the Union. Section 2 (n) of the 1923 Act
defines a workman. By clause clause (n) of sub-section (1) of Section
2 of the 1923 Act, though workman, inter alia, means a railway servant
as defined in Section 2 (34) of the 1989 Act, any person working in the
capacity of a member of the Armed Forces of the Union is excluded.
Therefore, as, by virtue of Section 3 of the 1957 Act, the deceased was
part of the Armed Forces of the Union, he was not a workman within
the meaning of Section 2 (1)(n) of the 1923 Act and, in view thereof,
the claim petition was not maintainable under the 1923 Act.
9. In addition to the above, it was argued that the deceased was not
an employee specifically covered by any of the Entries in Schedule II of
the 1923 Act, therefore, he cannot be treated as a workman under 2(1)
(n) of the 1923 Act. It was pointed out that Entries (i), (xii) and (xiii) of
665
Schedule II refers to employees of the Railways but a constable in the
RPF is conspicuous by its absence there. According to the counsel for
the appellant, unless an employee falls in any of the entries specified
in Schedule II of the 1923 Act he cannot be considered a workman.
10. It was next contended that the process of compassionate
appointment of the next of kin of the deceased was initiated, therefore,
a claim for compensation was not maintainable under the 1923 Act.
More so, when the claimants-respondents had an alternate remedy
available under Section 124-A of the 1989 Act.
11. In support of his submissions, the learned counsel for the
appellants relied on certain decisions, namely,
(i)
Union of India v. Sri Harananda1, wherein, relying on
Sections 3 and 8 of the 1957 Act, it was held that RPF is an
Armed Force of the Union. However, this decision is not in
the context of the 1923 Act.
(ii) United India Insurance Co. Ltd. v. Orient Treasures
Pvt. Ltd.2, wherein it was observed that when the words
of a statute are clear, plain or unambiguous i.e., they are
reasonably susceptible to only one meaning, the courts
are bound to give effect to that meaning irrespective of
consequences; and
(iii) Union of India v. Prabhakaran Vijaya Kumar3, wherein it
was observed that in a beneficial or welfare statute if the
words used therein are capable of two constructions, the one
which is more in consonance with the object of the Act, and
for the benefit of the person for whom the Act was made,
should be preferred. (Note: This decision was relied upon to
canvass that compensation could be had under Section 124-A
of the 1989 Act and, therefore, there was no justification to
invoke the provisions of the 1923 Act)
1
(2019) 14 SCC 126
2
(2016) 3 SCC 49
3
(2008) 9 SCC 527
COMMANDING OFFICER, RAILWAY PROTECTION SPECIAL FORCE,
MUMBAI v. BHAVNABEN DINSHBHAI BHABHOR & OTHERS
[MANOJ MISRA, J.]
SUPREME COURT REPORTS
[2023] 12 S.C.R.
666
SUBMISSIONS ON BEHALF OF RESPONDENTS
12. On behalf of the respondents, it was submitted that Section 2 (1)
(n) (i) of the 1923 Act unequivocally states that workman means a "railway
servant" as defi ned in Section 2(34) of the 1989 Act. Section 2 (34) of the
1989 Act, as amended with eff ect from 01.07.2004, provides that "railway
servant" would include a member of the RPF appointed under clause (c) of
sub-section (1) of Section 2 of the 1957 Act. Therefore, by virtue of Section
2(1)(n)(i) of the 1923 Act read with Section 2(34) of the 1989 Act, a constable
of RPF would be deemed a workman for the purposes of the 1923 Act.
13. It was argued that the phrase "armed forces of the Union" is not
defi ned and, therefore, it would have to be interpreted in the context in
which it was inserted in the statute. It was urged that the 1923 Act is a preindependence statute. Prior to independence, instead of the phrase "armed
forces of the Union", "His Majesty's naval, military or air forces" was used.
Therefore, to assert the Republic status of the country, post the enforcement
of the Constitution of India in the year 1950, replacement of that phrase was
considered necessary and was done so by A.O. 1950 with eff ect from 26
January 1950. Thus, the phrase "armed forces of the Union" would have to
be given a restrictive meaning in the context in which it has been inserted.
14. With regard to the relevance of Entries (i), (xii) and (xiii) of
Schedule II of the 1923 Act, it was urged that they do not concern an RPF
constable who, by virtue of Section 2(34) of the 1989 Act read with Section
10 of the 1957 Act, is a railway servant and, therefore, a workman as per
the provisions of sub-clause (i) of clause (n) of sub-section (1) of Section
2 of the 1923 Act.
15. It was urged that by declaring a member of the RPF as a member
of the armed forces of the Union, the legislative intent was not to exclude
the applicability of the 1923 Act, inasmuch as Section 19 of the 1957 Act,
which was simultaneously amended, though excludes the applicability of
certain other Acts such as Payment of Wages Act, 1936, Industrial Disputes
Act, 1947 and Factories Act, 1948, does not exclude the applicability of the
1923 Act. This clearly indicates that the legislative intent is not to exclude
the applicability of the provisions of the 1923 Act on a member of the RPF
by virtue of their inclusion in the defi nition of a "railway servant".
667
16. It was also submitted that by Workmen's Compensation
(Amendment) Act, 2009, with eff ect from 18.01.2010, the term "Workman"
was substituted by the term "Employee" and, therefore, clause (n) of subsection (1) of Section 2 of the 1923 Act, defi ning a "workman", was omitted
and new clause (dd), defi ning an "employee", was inserted in sub-section
(1) of Section 2 of the 1923 Act. Yet, despite having declared RPF as an
armed force of the Union and a member of the RPF being included in the
defi nition of a "railway servant", with eff ect from 1.7.2004, the newly
inserted clause (dd), defi ning an "employee", takes no exception to it.
Therefore, the legislative intent has never been to exclude a member of the
RPF from the purview of the 1923 Act.
17. As regards existence of an alternative remedy under Section 124-A
of the 1989 Act, it was argued that Section 128 of the 1989 Act specifi cally
states that the right of any person to claim compensation under Section 124
or Section 124-A of the 1989 Act shall not aff ect the right of any such person
to recover compensation payable under the 1923 Act, or any other law for
the time being in force, though such person would not be entitled to claim
compensation more than once in respect of the same accident.
18. In a nutshell, the submission on behalf of the respondents is that
the application before the Commissioner under the provisions of the 1923
Act was maintainable and it was rightly entertained and allowed, therefore,
the appeal was justifi ably dismissed.
19. In support of her submissions learned counsel for the respondents
cited a number of decisions, broadly on two general principles, namely, (a)
that harmonious construction of the provisions of a statute must be adopted
so that no provision of a statute is rendered otiose; and (b) that the 1923 Act
being a piece of social welfare legislation, its provisions must be liberally
interpreted in a manner that they serve the interest of those for whose benefi t
it was enacted.
ISSUES THAT ARISE FOR CONSIDERATION
20. Having considered the rival submissions, the issues that arise for
our consideration are:
(i)
Whether a Constable of a Railway Protection Force (RPF) can
be treated as a "Workman" under Section 2(1)(n) of the 1923 Act
COMMANDING OFFICER, RAILWAY PROTECTION SPECIAL FORCE,
MUMBAI v. BHAVNABEN DINSHBHAI BHABHOR & OTHERS
[MANOJ MISRA, J.]
SUPREME COURT REPORTS
[2023] 12 S.C.R.
668
even though, by virtue of amended Section 3 of the 1957 Act, he
is a member of the Armed Forces of the Union?
(ii) Whether, on account of availability of alternative remedy to apply
for compensation under Sections 124 and 124-A of the 1989 Act,
a claim under the 1923 Act is maintainable?
DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
21. Before we dwell on the aforesaid issues, a look at the relevant
statutory provisions would be apposite. The relevant provisions, interplay
of which would have to be examined, are found in the following statutes:
(i) The Workmen's Compensation Act, 1923 (Now known as
Employee's Compensation Act, 1923) (in short, "the 1923 Act).
(ii) The Indian Railways Act, 1890 (in short "the 1890 Act").
(iii) The Railways Act, 1989 (in short "the 1989 Act").
(iv) Railway Protection Force Act, 1957 (in short, "the 1957 Act").
Relevant Provisions of the 1923 Act
22. The preamble of the 1923 Act reads thus:
"An Act to provide for the payment by certain classes of employers
to their workmen (now substituted by the word 'employees') of
compensation for injury by accident."
23. Clause (n) of sub-section (1) of Section 2 of the 1923 Act, as it
stood before its omission by Act No.45 of 2009, w.e.f. 18.01.2010, which
is relevant to the controversy at hand, reads as under:
"(n) "workman" means any person who is-
(i) a railway servant as defi ned in clause (34) of section 2 of the
Railways Act, 1989 (24 of 1989), not permanently employed in
any administrative, district or sub-divisional offi cer of a railway
and not employed in any such capacity as is specifi ed in Schedule
II, or
(ia) (a) a master, seaman or other member of the crew of a ship,

(b) a captain or other member of the crew of an aircraft,
669

(c) a person recruited as driver, helper, mechanic, cleaner or in
any other capacity in connection with a motor vehicle,

(d) a person recruited for work abroad by a company,

and who is employed outside India in any such capacity as is
specifi ed in Schedule II and the ship, aircraft or motor vehicle,
or company, as the case may be, is registered in India, or
(ii) employed in any such capacity as is specifi ed in Schedule II,

whether the contract of employment was made before or after
the passing of this Act and whether such contract is expressed
or implied, oral or in writing; but does not include any person
working in the capacity of a member of the Armed Forces
of the Union; and any reference to a workman who has been
injured shall, where the workman is dead, include a reference to
his dependents or any of them."

Note: The highlighted portion above, when originally enacted
read as "but does not include any person working in the capacity
of a member of His Majesty's naval, military or air forces or of
the Royal Indian Marine Service". The words "or of the Royal
Indian Marine Service" were omitted by A.O. 1937. Likewise,
the words "His Majesty's naval, military or air forces" were
replaced by the words "the Armed Forces of the Union" by A.O.
1950.
(Emphasis supplied)
24. The aforesaid clause (n) of sub-section (1) of Section 2 of the 1923
Act was omitted by Act No.45 of 2009, with eff ect from 18.01.2010, as by
Act No.45 of 2009 the name of "The Workmen's Compensation Act, 1923"
was changed to "The Employee's Compensation Act, 1923". Consequent
to the change in nomenclature of the Act, clause (n) of sub-section (1) of
Section 2 was omitted and clause (dd), defi ning an employee, was inserted
in sub-section (1) of Section 2 of the 1923 Act. Clause (dd) of sub-section
(1) of Section 2 of the 1923 Act reads as under: -
"(dd) "employee" means a person, who isCOMMANDING OFFICER, RAILWAY PROTECTION SPECIAL FORCE,
MUMBAI v. BHAVNABEN DINSHBHAI BHABHOR & OTHERS
[MANOJ MISRA, J.]
SUPREME COURT REPORTS
[2023] 12 S.C.R.
670
(i) a railway servant as defi ned in clause (34) of section 2 of the
Railways Act, 1989 (24 of 1989), not permanently employed in
any administrative district or sub-divisional offi ce of a railway
and not employed in any such capacity as is specifi ed in Schedule
II; or
(ii) (a) a master, seaman or other member of the crew of a ship,
(b) a captain or other member of the crew of an aircraft,
(c) a person recruited as driver, helper, mechanic, cleaner or in
any other capacity in connection with a motor vehicle,
(d) a person recruited for work abroad by a company,
and who is employed outside India in any such capacity as
is specified in Schedule II and the ship, aircraft or motor
vehicle, or company, as the case may be, is registered in
India; or
(iii) employed in any such capacity as is specifi ed in Schedule
II, whether the contract of employment was made before or after
the passing of this Act and whether such contract is expressed
or implied, oral or in writing; but does not include any person
working in the capacity of a member of the Armed Forces of the
Union; and any reference to any employee who has been injured
shall, where the employee is dead, include a reference to his
dependants or any of them;"
25. As we notice that various sub clauses of clause (n) of sub-section
(1) of Section 2 of the 1923 Act refer to Schedule II, a look at the relevant
Entries in Schedule II, which deals with Railways, would be apposite to
have a clear understanding of the true import of the provisions of clause (n)
of sub-section (1) of Section 2 of the 1923 Act.
26. At this stage, we may observe that the learned counsel for the
appellant has pointed out three entries in Schedule II which are referable to
railways. These are Entry Nos. (i), (xii) and (xiii). These entries in Schedule
II, as it stood prior to the amendment brought about by Act No.45 of 2009,
along with the opening part of Schedule II are extracted below:
671
Schedule II
List of Persons who, subject to the provisions of Section 2 (1) (n), are
included in the defi nition of Workmen.
"The following persons are workmen within the meaning of Section
2 (1) (n) and subject to the provisions of that section, that is to say,
any person who is--
"(i) employed otherwise than in a clerical capacity or on a railway,
in connection with the operation, repair or maintenance of a lift
or a vehicle propelled by steam or other mechanical power or
by electricity or in connection with the loading or unloading of
any such vehicle; or

xxxxxxxxxxxxx
(xii) employed upon a railway as defi ned in clause (31) of Section
2 and sub-section (1) of Section 197 of the Railways Act, 1890 (9
of 1890), either directly or through a sub-contractor, by a person
fulfi lling a contract with the railway administration; or
(xiii) employed as an inspector, mail guard, sorter or van peon
in the Railway Mail Service or as a telegraphist or as a postal
or railway signaller, or employed in any occupation ordinarily
involving outdoor work in the Indian Posts and Telegraphs
Department"
The relevant provisions of the 1890 Act
27. The provisions of the 1890 Act are relevant because when the
1923 Act was enacted, the 1890 Act was in operation and the defi nition of
a "workman" under the 1923 Act makes a reference to a railway servant.
Therefore, defi nition of a "railway servant" as it existed in the 1890 Act
becomes relevant. Likewise, Section 10 of the 1957 Act makes a reference
to the 1890 Act, by stating that offi cers and members of the Force shall
for all purposes be regarded as railway servants within the meaning of the
1890 Act other than Chapter VI-A thereof. It would therefore be useful to
notice the defi nition of a railway servant as also the provisions of Chapter
VI-A of the 1890 Act.
COMMANDING OFFICER, RAILWAY PROTECTION SPECIAL FORCE,
MUMBAI v. BHAVNABEN DINSHBHAI BHABHOR & OTHERS
[MANOJ MISRA, J.]
SUPREME COURT REPORTS
[2023] 12 S.C.R.
672
28. Section 3 (7) of the 1890 Act defi ned railway servant as: "railway
servant means any person employed by a railway administration in
connection with the service of a railway."
29. Chapter VI-A of the 1890 Act provided for limitation of employment
of railway servants. The said chapter comprised of Sections 71A, 71B, 71C,
71D, 71E, 71F, 71G and 71H.
30. Section 71A, inter alia, provided that unless there is anything
repugnant in the subject or context: (a) the employment of a railway servant
is to be "essentially intermittent" when it has been declared to be so by the
authority empowered in this behalf, on the ground that it involves a long
period of inaction.
31. Section 71B clarifi ed that Chapter VI-A would apply only to such
railway servants or classes of railway servants as the Central Government
may, by rules made under Section 71E, prescribe.
32. Section 71C, inter alia, provided that a railway servant, other than
a railway servant whose employment is essentially intermittent, shall not
be deployed for more than sixty hours a week on the average in a month;
whereas a railway servant whose employment is essentially intermittent
shall not be deployed for more than eighty-four hours in any week.
33. Section 71D provided for grant of periodical rest and Section 71E
empowered the Central Government to make rules.
34. Section 71F clarifi ed that nothing in Chapter VI-A or the rules
made thereunder shall authorize a railway servant to leave his duty where
due provision has been made for his relief, until he has been relieved.
35. Section 71G provided for appointment of persons to be
Supervisors of Railway Labour and Section 71H provided for penalty
to any person under whose authority any railway servant is employed in
contravention of any of the provisions of Chapter VI-A or of the rules
made thereunder.
The relevant provisions of the 1989 Act
36. The 1890 Act was repealed by the 1989 Act. Section 2 (34) as it
existed originally defi ned railway servant as:
673
"railway servant means any person employed by the Central
Government or by a railway administration in connection with the
service of a railway."
By Act No.51 of 2003, with eff ect from 1.7.2004, the defi nition of
railway servant as provided in Section 2 (34) was amended as to read:
"railway servant means any person employed by the Central
Government or by a railway administration in connection with the
service of a railway; including member of the Railway Protection
Force appointed under clause (c) of sub-section (1) of section 2 of the
Railway Protection Force Act, 1957 (23 of 1957)".
(Emphasis supplied)
37. Chapter XIII of the 1989 Act talks about liability of railway
administration for death and injury to passengers due to accidents. Section
124 provides for the extent of liability and Section 124A, which was
inserted by Act No. 28 of 1994, with eff ect from 01.08.1994, provides for
compensation on account of an untoward incident. Section 125 enables
fi ling of an application for compensation under Section 124 or Section
124A before the Claims Tribunal. Section 127 provides for determination
of compensation by the Claims Tribunal in respect of any injury or loss of
goods. Section 2 (3) states that "Claims Tribunal" means the Railway Claims
Tribunal established under Section 3 of the Railways Claims Tribunal Act,
1987 (54 of 1987).
38. What is interesting in Sections 124 and 124A of the 1989 Act is
the explanation attached thereto. The explanation to Sections 124 and 124-A
provides that, for the purposes of the section, "passenger" includes a railway
servant on duty. However, Section 128 of the 1989 Act saves the right of
any person to claim compensation under the Workmen's Compensation Act,
1923, or any other law for the time being in force. For reference, Section
128 of the 1989 Act is reproduced below:
"128. Saving as to certain rights.-
(1) The right of any person to claim compensation under section
124 or section 124A shall not aff ect the right of any such person to
recover compensation payable under the Workmen's Compensation
COMMANDING OFFICER, RAILWAY PROTECTION SPECIAL FORCE,
MUMBAI v. BHAVNABEN DINSHBHAI BHABHOR & OTHERS
[MANOJ MISRA, J.]
SUPREME COURT REPORTS
[2023] 12 S.C.R.
674
Act, 1923 (8 of 1923), or any other law for the time being in force;
but no person shall be entitled to claim compensation more than once
in respect of the same accident.
(2) Nothing in sub-section (1) shall aff ect the right of any person
to claim compensation payable under any contract or scheme
providing for payment of compensation for death or personal injury
or for damage to property or any sum payable under any policy of
insurance."
39. In the 1989 Act, Chapter XIV provides for regulation of hours of
work and period of rest of a railway servant, which is similar to the provisions
of Chapter VI-A of the 1890 Act. Section 131 of the 1989 Act, which fi nds
place in Chapter XIV of the 1989 Act, reads as under:
"131. Chapter not to apply to certain railway servants.-- Nothing in
this Chapter shall apply to any railway servant to whom the Factories
Act, 1948 (63 of 1948) or the Mines Act 1952 (35 of 1952) or the
Railway Protection Force Act, 1957 (23 of 1957) or the Merchant
Shipping Act, 1958 (44 of 1958), applies."
The relevant provisions of the 1957 Act
40. The 1957 Act has undergone legislative changes. The preamble of
the Act, as originally enacted, used to read as under:
"An Act to provide for the constitution and regulation of a Force called
the Railway Protection Force for the better protection and security of
railway property."
41. By Act No. 60 of 1985, with eff ect from 20.09.1985, the preamble
was substituted to read as follows:
"An Act to provide for the constitution and regulation of an armed force
of the Union for the better protection and security of railway property,
passenger areas and passengers and for matters connected therewith."
42. Some of the provisions of the 1957 Act relevant to the controversy
at hand are Section 2(1)(a); Section 3; Section 10; and Section19.
43. Section 2(1)(a) defi nes "Force" as: "Force means the Railway
Protection Force constituted under Section 3".
675
44. Section 3 of the 1957 Act has undergone a legislative change with
eff ect from 20.09.1985 by Act No. 60 of 1985. Prior to its amendment,
Section 3 used to read as under:
"Section 3. Constitution of the Force.-
(i) There shall be constituted and maintained by the Central
Government a Force to be called the Railway Protection Force for the
better protection and security of Railway property.
(ii) The Force shall be constituted in such manner, shall consist of such
number of superior offi cers and members of the Force and shall receive
such pay and other remuneration as may be prescribed."
45. Post amendment, made by Act No. 60 of 1985, Section 3 of the
1957 Act, w.e.f. 20.09.1985, reads as follows:
"Section 3. Constitution of the Force.-
(i) There shall be constituted and maintained by the Central Government
an armed force of the Union to be called the Railway Protection Force
for the better protection and security of Railway property.
(ii) The Force shall be constituted in such manner, shall consist of
such number of superior offi cers, subordinate offi cers, under offi cers
and other enrolled members of the Force and shall receive such pay
and other remuneration as may be prescribed."
46. Section 10 of the 1957 Act also underwent legislative change. Prior
to its amendment, it was as follows:
"Section 10. Offi cers and members of the Force to be deemed to
be Railway Servants.- The Inspector General and any other superior
offi cer and every member of the Force shall for all purposes be regarded
as Railway Servant within the meaning of the Indian Railway Act, 1890
other than Chapter VI-A thereof, and shall be entitled to exercise the
powers conferred on Railway Servants by or under that Act."
(Emphasis supplied)
47. By Act No. 60 of 1985, Section 10 was amended, with eff ect from
20.09.1985, to read as follows:
COMMANDING OFFICER, RAILWAY PROTECTION SPECIAL FORCE,
MUMBAI v. BHAVNABEN DINSHBHAI BHABHOR & OTHERS
[MANOJ MISRA, J.]
SUPREME COURT REPORTS
[2023] 12 S.C.R.
676
"Section 10. Offi cers and members of the Force to be deemed to
be Railway Servants.- Director General and every member of the
Force shall for all purposes be regarded as Railway Servants within
the meaning of the Indian Railways Act, 1890 (9 of 1890) other than
Chapter VI-A thereof, and shall be entitled to exercise the powers
conferred on Railway Servants by or under that Act."
(Emphasis supplied)
48. Section 19 of the 1957 Act, prior to its amendment made by Act
No. 60 of 1985, was as follows:
"Section 19. Certain Acts not to apply to members of Force.-
Nothing contained in the Payment of Wages Act, 1936 or the Industrial
Disputes Act, 1947 or the Factories Act, 1948, shall apply to members
of the Force."
49. Post amendment, brought by Act No. 60 of 1985, with eff ect from
20.09.1985, Section 19 of the 1957 Act reads as follows:
"Section 19. Certain Acts not to apply to members of Force.-
Nothing contained in the Payment of Wages Act, 1936 (4 of 1936) or
the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 (14 of 1947) or the Factories Act,
1948 (63 of 1948) or any corresponding law relating to investigation
and settlement of industrial dispute in force in a State shall apply to
members of the Force."
Issue No.(i): Whether provisions of the 1923 Act applies to a
member of the RPF
50. Having examined the relevant statutory provisions, we shall now
address the issue no.(i) noted above.
51. The 1923 Act as it stood at the relevant time (i.e., the date of the
accident out of which the claim has arisen) was an Act to provide for the
payment by certain class of employers to their workman, compensation for
injury by accident. Section 3 of the 1923 Act, as it stood at the time of the
accident in question, provided that if personal injury is caused to a workman
by accident arising out of and in the course of his employment, his employer
shall be liable to pay compensation in accordance with the provision of
Chapter II of the 1923 Act. Thus, to sustain a claim against an employer
677
under the 1923 Act, there must be a workman-employer relationship; there
must be a personal injury to the workman by an accident; and that accident
must arise out of and in the course of his employment.
52. "Employer" is defi ned by clause (e) of sub-section (1) of Section
2 of the 1923 Act as:
"employer includes any body of persons whether incorporated or not
and any managing agent of an employer and the legal representative
of a deceased employer, and, when the services of a workman
are temporarily lent or let on hire to another person by the person
with whom the workman has entered into a contract of service or
apprenticeship, means such other person while the workman is working
for him."
53. By use of the phrase "any body of persons whether incorporated
or not" the legislative intent is clear as to include a juristic person whether
incorporated or not. However, to maintain a claim against an "employer"
under the 1923 Act, there must be, (a) a workman and an employer
relationship; (b) the workman must suff er personal injury in an accident;
and (c) that accident must arise out of and in the course of his employment.
54. At the time of the accident in question, "workman" was defi ned
by clause (n) of sub-section (1) of Section 2 of the 1923 Act. As per the
then defi nition clause workman meant any one of the persons specifi ed in
sub clauses (i), (ia) and (ii) of clause (n) of sub-section (1) of Section 2 of
the 1923 Act; but would not include any person working in the capacity of
a member of the Armed Forces of the Union.
55. Importantly, neither the 1923 Act nor The General Clauses Act,
1897 defi nes "The Armed Forces of the Union". What is also interesting
is that the phrase "armed forces of the Union" came, with eff ect from
26 January 1950, as a replacement for the words "His Majesty's naval,
military or air forces", vide the "Adaptation of Laws Order, 1950" issued
by the President of India in exercise of powers under Article 372(2) of the
Constitution of India.
56. Clause (2) of Article 372 of the Constitution of India confers power
on the President of India to make such adaptations and modifi cations in any
law in force in the territory of India, whether by way of repeal or amendment,
COMMANDING OFFICER, RAILWAY PROTECTION SPECIAL FORCE,
MUMBAI v. BHAVNABEN DINSHBHAI BHABHOR & OTHERS
[MANOJ MISRA, J.]
SUPREME COURT REPORTS
[2023] 12 S.C.R.
678
as may be necessary or expedient, to bring the provisions of that law into
accord with the provisions of the Constitution.
57. In Ramesh Birch and others v. Union of India and others4,
this Court while dealing with the executive power to extend an existing
law of one territory to another, had the occasion to deal with the scope of
such power of the Executive. Relying upon the observations made by a
Constitution Bench of this Court In re. Delhi Laws Act, 1912, AIR 1952
SC 332, it was observed:
"23. But, these niceties apart, we think that Section 87 is quite valid
even on the "policy and guideline" theory if one has proper regard to
the context of the Act and the object and purpose sought to be achieved
by Section 87 of the Act. The judicial decisions referred to above make
it clear that it is not necessary that the legislature should "dot all the i's
and cross all the t's" of its policy. It is suffi cient if it gives the broadest
indication of a general policy of the legislature. If we bear this in mind
and have regard to the history of this type of legislation, there will be
no diffi culty at all. Section 87, like the provisions of Acts I, II and III,
is a provision necessitated by changes resulting in territories coming
under the legislative jurisdiction of the Centre. These are territories
situated in the midst of contiguous territories which have a proper
legislature. They are small territories falling under the legislative
jurisdiction of Parliament which has hardly suffi cient time to look after
the details of all their legislative needs and requirements. To require or
expect Parliament to legislate for them will entail a disproportionate
pressure on its legislative schedule. It will also mean the unnecessary
utilisation of the time of a large number of members of Parliament for,
except the few (less than ten) members returned to Parliament from the
Union territory, none else is likely to be interested in such legislation.
In such a situation, the most convenient course of legislating for
them is the adaptation, by extension, of laws in force in other
areas of the country. As Fazl Ali, J.