As per case facts, a person died due to electrocution while performing electrical work. His dependents filed a claim for compensation under the Employees' Compensation Act. The Commissioner found an ... employer-employee relationship and awarded compensation, but deducted an amount previously paid by a Lineman. This led to two appeals: one by the Electricity Department challenging their liability and the employer-employee relationship, and another by the claimants disputing the deduction and seeking condonation for a substantial delay in filing their appeal. The question arose whether the deceased was an "employee" under the Act, if his death occurred in the course of employment, and if the ex-gratia payment could be legitimately adjusted against statutory compensation. Finally, the High Court upheld the Commissioner's finding of an employer-employee relationship and the department's liability. It also found the deduction of the ex-gratia payment to be appropriate to prevent double compensation. However, the appeal by the claimants regarding the deduction was dismissed due to the significant and inadequately explained delay in its filing, emphasizing that general pleas of illiteracy and poverty alone do not constitute sufficient cause for such prolonged inaction.