by 14A. Compensation to be first charge on assets transferred by employer: Where an employer transfers his assets before any amount due in respect of any compensation, the liability where for accrued before the date of the transfer, has been paid, such amount shall, notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being in force, be a first charge on that part of the assets so transferred as consists of immovable property.
Special provisions relating to masters and seamen. This Act shall apply in the case of workmen who are masters of ships or seamen subject to the following modifications, namely:
(1) The notice of the accident and the claim for compensation may, except where the person injured is the master of the ship, be served on the master of the ship as if he were the employer, but where the accident happened and the disablement commenced on board the ship it shall not be necessary for any seaman to give any notice of the accident.
(2) In the case of the death of a master or seaman, the claim for compensation shall be made within [one year] after the news of the death has been received by the claimant or, where the ship has been or is deemed to have been lost with all hands, within eighteen months of the date on which the ship was, or is deemed to have been, so lost:
Provided that the Commissioner may entertain any claim to compensation in any case notwithstanding that the claim has not been preferred in due time as provided in this sub-section, if he is satisfied that the failure so to prefer the claim was due to sufficient cause.
(3) Where an injured master or seaman is discharged or left behind in any part of [India or] [in any foreign country], any depositions taken by any Judge or Magistrate in that part or by any Consular Officer in the foreign country and transmitted by the person by whom they are taken to the Central Government or any State Government shall, in any proceedings for enforcing the claim, be admissible in evidence:
(a) if the deposition is authenticated by the signature of the Judge, Magistrate or Consular Officer before whom it is made;
(b) if the defendant or the person accused, as the case may be, had an opportunity by himself or his agent to cross-examine the witness; and
(c) if the deposition was made in the course of a criminal proceeding, on proof that the deposition was made in the presence of the person accused, and it shall not be necessary in any case to prove the signature or official character of the person appearing to have signed any such deposition and a certificate by such person that the defendant or the person accused had an opportunity of cross-examining the witness and that the deposition if made in a criminal proceeding was made in the presence of the person accused shall, unless the contrary is proved, be sufficient evidence that he had that opportunity and that it was so made.
15A. Special provisions relating to captains and other members of crew of aircrafts. This Act shall apply in the case of:
Workmen who are captains or other members of the crew of aircrafts subject to the following modifications, namely:
(1) The notice of the accident and the claim for compensation may, except where the person injured is the captain of the aircraft, be served on the captain of the aircraft as if he were the employer, but where the accident happened and the disablement commenced on board the aircraft, it shall not be necessary for any member of the crew to give notice of the accident.
(2) In the case of the death of the captain or other member of the crew, the claim for compensation shall be made within one year after the news of the death has been received by the claimant or, where the aircraft has been or is deemed to have been lost with all hands, within eighteen months of the date on which the aircraft was, or is deemed to have been, so lost:
Provided that the Commissioner may entertain any claim for compensation in any case notwithstanding that the claim has not been preferred in due time as provided in this sub-section, if he is satisfied that the failure so to prefer the claim was due to sufficient cause.
(3) Where an injured captain or other member of the crew of the aircraft is discharged or left behind in any part of India or in any other country, any depositions taken by any Judge or Magistrate in that part or by any Consular Officer in the foreign country and transmitted by the person by whom they are taken to the Central Government or any State Government shall, in any proceedings for enforcing the claims, be admissible in evidence:
(a) if the deposition is authenticated by the signature of the Judge, Magistrate or Consular Officer before whom it is made;
(b) if the defendant or the person accused, as the case may be, had an opportunity by himself or his agent to cross-examine the witness;
(c) if the deposition was made in the course of a criminal proceeding, on proof that the deposition was made in the presence of the person accused, and it shall not be necessary in any case to prove the signature or official character of the person appearing to have signed any such deposition and a certificate by such person that the defendant or the person accused had an opportunity of cross-examining the witness and that the deposition if made in a criminal proceeding was made in the presence of the person accused shall, unless the contrary is proved, be sufficient evidence that he had that opportunity and that it was so made.
16. Returns as to compensation: The [State Government] may, by notification in the Official Gazette, direct that every person employing workmen, or that any specified class of such persons, shall send at such time and in such form and to such authority, as may be specified in the notification, a correct return specifying the number of injuries in respect of which compensation has been paid by the employer during the previous year and the amount of such compensation together with such other particulars as to the compensation as the [State Government] may direct.
Contracting out: Any contract or agreement whether made before or after the commencement of this Act, whereby a workman relinquishes any right of compensation from the employer for personal injury arising out of or in the course of the employment, shall be null and void insofar as it purports to remove or reduce the liability of any person to pay compensation under this Act.
17A. Duty of employer to inform employee of his rights: Every employer shall immediately at the time of employment of an employee, inform the employee of his rights to compensation under this Act, in writing as well as through electronic means, in English or Hindi or in the official language of the area of employment, as may be understood by the employee.
