STATESMAN LTD Vs. GOVT. OF NCT OF DELHI

JUDGEMENT

(1.) At the outset, this Court notes that the appellant in both the appeals is the same and further, both the appeals are arising out of the common impugned judgment dtd. 18/11/2019[1] passed in W.P.(C) 9497/2015 and W.P.(C) 10534/2015 as also the common impugned review order dtd. 4/7/2023[2] passed in R.P. No.515/2019 and R.P. No.516/2019 by the learned Single Judge. As such, and also since similar questions of facts and legal issues are arising in both the writ petitions, both the learned (senior) counsels appearing for the parties have advanced similar arguments therein. Consequently, this Court, after hearing them is disposing of both the appeals vide the present common judgment.

(2.) For ease of reference, it may be noted that the appellant in both the appeals before this Court seeks the following common reliefs therein:-

(3.) The Central Government, in exercise of the powers conferred by Sec. 9 and Sec. 13 of the Working Journalist and Other Newspaper Employees (Conditions of Service) and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1955[3], vide order dtd. 24/5/2007, formed a Wage Board under the Chairmanship of Justice G.R. Majithia to determine applicable rates of wages for working journalists and non-journalists newspaper employees in Newspaper Establishments (other than the News Agencies). After their acceptance by the Central Government, they were notified as the Majithia Wage Board Award[4] on 11/11/2011.