Bombay High CourtCA/22/2025disposed of

Joaquina Batista And ANR v. Bernado Fernandes And 6 ORS

2026-02-18Hon'Ble Shri Justice Valmiki Menezes3 pages

2026:BHC-GOA:275 Sonam

IN THE HIGH COURT OF BOMBAY AT GOA

CIVIL APPLICATION NO.22 OF 2025 IN APPEAL UNDER EMPLOYEES COMPENSATION NO.1 OF 2025 JOAQUINA BATISTA AND ANR ... APPLICANTS

Versus

BERNADO FERNANDES AND 6 ORS ... RESPONDENTS Mr. Shithil Prabhudessai, Advocate for the Applicants. Ms. S. Bangera, Advocate for Respondent Nos. 3, 6 and 7. CORAM:- VALMIKI MENEZES, J.

DATED :- 18th February, 2026 P.C.:

1. On the direction of this Court, the parties were requested to settle the dispute in this matter. The parties have agreed to the settlement, and an amount of Rs. 1,25,000/- has been deposited by the Petitioner before the Registry of this Court by Demand Draft dated 09.02.2026.

2. It is clarified that this amount shall not be construed to be the settlement of the claim of the Respondent, but it is paid purely as ex-gratia amount and shall not relate to any head of the specific claim.

3. The Respondents have agreed to the amount of Rs.1,25,000/-, which will be disbursed equally to all the Respondents i.e. Respondent

Nos. 1 to 7 herein.

4. The learned Advocate for the Respondent Nos. 3, 6 and 7 submits that the details of the bank account of each of the seven Respondents would be furnished to the Registry of this Court . The Registry of this Court shall disburse to each of the seven Respondents equal share of Rs. 1,25,000/- deposited by Demand Draft dated 09.02.2026. The amount shall be disbursed within a week from today.

5. In this view of the matter, the Appeal Under Employees Compensation No. 1/2025 shall stand disposed of. In view of the disposal of the Appeal Under Employees Compensation No. 1/2025 pending Civil Application No. 22/2025 shall also stands disposed of.

6. In view of the disposal of the Appeal, the authority under the Employee Compensation Act i.e. the Commissioner of Labour and Employment, Shramshakti Bhavan, Patto, Panaji, who is seized of the case No. CLE(B-3)2024/3894 shall disburse the two amounts each of Rs. 7,06,602/- deposited respectively by the Appellants Mr. Joaquina Baptista and Afonso Baptista each in the names of the Appellants. This amount had been deposited by the Applicants before the Labour Commissioner vide Demand Draft Nos. 191444 and 162328 both dated 30.09.2024 under direction of the Labour Commissioner dated 13.08.2024, which is stated in the impugned order.

7. Whilst disposing of this Appeal, it is clarified that the disposal of this Appeal shall not in any manner prejudice the decision in the Criminal Case No. 132/2024, pending before the Chief Judicial Magistrate at Margao.

8. The Labour Commissioner to act on an authenticated copy of this order.

VALMIKI MENEZES, J.