India, Aug. 7 -- The Supreme Court has ruled that employees and their families will be entitled to compensation under the Employees' Compensation Act, 1923, not just for accidents occurring during the course of work but also for mishaps while commuting to and from their place of employment.

In a significant verdict broadening the scope of workers' rights and social welfare protection, a bench of Justices Manoj Misra and KV Viswanathan interpreted the phrase "accident arising out of and in the course of employment" in Section 3 of EC Act to include commuting accidents, provided a clear nexus is established between the time, place and circumstances of the accident and the employment.

This liberal interpretation, authored by Justice Viswan...