Introduction  The term "Dependent" occupies an important place in the scheme of the Workmen's Compensation Act, 1923 (hereinafter called the Act), where a workman dies by an accident arising out of and in the course of employment by virtue of Section 2(I)(n)(ii). According to this provision, a dependent is given a status equal to and subrogated to that of the workman himself for the purpose of the Act although he has nothing to do with either the accident or the contract of employment of the deceased workman. Therefore there is greater need to study this term exhaustively**. **The Present discussion forms part of the unpublished Ph.D.(Law) Thesis of the first mentioned author entitled "Work-men's Compensation Act, 1923 - A Measure of Social Security: Problems and Prospects", supervised by the second mentioned author, May 1991,pp.132-143. Section 2 (1) (d) of the Act while not defining ....