New Delhi, Jan 27 (UNI) The Supreme Court on Monday observed that a carpenter cannot be classified as an unskilled worker while deciding an appeal to enhance motor accident compensation.
The case pertained to a carpenter who lost his right hand in a motor vehicle accident in 2014. Without documentary proof of his income, the Court relied on the minimum wages notified for skilled workers, rejecting the argument that the minimum wages for unskilled workers should apply.
A bench comprising Justice Sanjay Karol and Justice Manmohan remarked, “A carpenter is somebody who uses wood and constructs objects for daily use, beauty, or even housing in certain countries. A normal person who is not trained in the craft certainly cannot undertake these activities with the level of precision that is required. It would be unfair then, to classify a carpenter as an unskilled worker.”
The bench cited previous judgments to support its stance. In State of Orissa v. Adwait Charan Mohanty (1995), the Supreme Court recognized a carpenter as an “artisan,” skilled in a trade requiring manual dexterity. Similarly, in Neeta v. Maharashtra SRTC (2015), the Court acknowledged carpentry as a skilled profession.
Applying the minimum wages for skilled workers as notified by the Labour Commissioner, Punjab, during the relevant period, the Court enhanced the compensation to ₹15,91,625, up from ₹8,26,000 awarded by the High Court. The Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal had originally granted ₹6,83,982.
The Court said that the recognition of craftsmanship and the precision involved in skilled trades such as carpentry, fair compensation should be ensured in motor accident claims.
