In the course of employment, the words 'In the course of employment' mean in the course of the work which the workman is employed to do and which is incidental to it', Mackinnon Machenzie and Co. (P) Ltd. v. Ibrahim Mahommad Issak, AIR 1970 SC 1906 (1908): (1969) 2 SCC 607: (1970) 1 SCR 869.
The dictionary meaning of 'in the course of' is 'during (in the course of time, as time goes by), while doing' (The Concise Oxford Dictionary, New Seventh Edition). The dictionary meaning indicates that the accident must take place within or during the period of employment, Regional Director, ESI Corpn. v. Francis De Costa, AIR 1997 SC 432: (1996) 6 SCC 1. [ESI Act, 1948 (34 of 1948), s. 2(8)