Section 37: References to medical board

Finin2min analysis — what the section actually does

Full statutory text — Section 37

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 sub-
section 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.

How to apply this provision

1. Primary statutory test — (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…
2. Additional operative limb — (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…
3. Qualification / exception to test — 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.
4. Numerical or timing control — (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…
5. Central Rule mapping — 23, 24. Read the mapped provision together with this text rather than treating the concordance as a substitute for it.
6. Evidence file — retain facts and records proving the role/status of: Employee / worker, Appropriate Government, Central Government, Tribunal, Corporation / EPFO / Board.

Rules, forms and cross-references

A direct concordance is not exhaustive. Central/State jurisdiction, schemes, authority appointments, saved instruments and later notifications may change the practical route without changing the section wording.

Worked example

Q&A — Section 37

Source & verification trail