(1) Where the opposite party claims that if compensation is recovered against him he will be entitled under sub-section (2) of section 12 to be indemnified by a person not being a party to the case, he shall, when first called upon to answer the application, present a notice of such claim to the Commissioner accompanied by the prescribed fee, and the Commissioner shall thereupon issue notice to such person in Form J.
(2) If any person served with a notice under sub-section (1) desires to contest the applicant's claim for compensation or the opposite party's claim to be indemnified, he shall appear before the Commissioner on the date fixed for the hearing of the case or on any date to which the case may be adjourned and, if he so appears, shall have all the rights of a party to the proceedings; in default of so appearing he shall be deemed to admit the validity of any award made against the opposite party and to admit his own liability to indemnify the opposite party for any compensation recovered from him:
PROVIDED that, if any person so served appears subsequently and satisfies the Commissioner that he was prevented by any sufficient cause from appearing, the Commissioner shall, after giving notice to the aforesaid opposite party, hear such person, and may set aside or vary any award made against such person under this rule upon such terms as may be just.
(3) If any person served with notice under sub-rule (1), whether or not he desires to contest the applicant's claim for compensation or the opposite party's claim to be indemnified, claims that being a contractor he is himself a principal and is entitled to be indemnified by a person standing to him in the relation of a contractor from whom the workman could have recovered compensation, he shall on or before the date fixed in the notice under sub-rule (1) present a notice of such claim to the Commissioner accompanied by the prescribed fee and the Commissioner shall thereupon issue notice to such person in Form JJ.
(4) If any person served with a notice under sub-rule (3) desires to contest the applicant's claim for compensation, or the claim under sub-rule (3) to be indemnified, he shall appear before the Commissioner on the date fixed in the notice in Form JJ or on any date to which the case may be adjourned and, if he so appears, shall have all the rights of a party to the proceedings in default of so appearing he shall be deemed to admit the validity of any award made against the original opposite party or the person served with a notice under sub-rule (1) and to admit his own liability to indemnify the party against whom such award is made for any compensation recovered from him:
PROVIDED that, if any person so served appears subsequently and satisfies the Commissioner that he was prevented by any sufficient cause from appearing, the Commissioner shall, after giving notice to all parties on the record, hear such person, and may set aside or vary any award made against such person under this rule upon such terms as may be just.
(5) In any proceeding in which a notice has been served on any person under sub-rule (1) or sub-rule (3) the Commissioner shall, if he awards compensation, record in his judgment a finding in respect of each of such persons whether he is or is not liable to indemnify any of the opposite parties, and shall specify the party, if any, whom he is liable to indemnify.
Contractors
Workmens Compensation
