DASA PAI Vs. ASST. LABOUR OFFICER

JUDGEMENT

(1.) A batch of 13 petitions filed under S.482 of the Criminal Procedure Code involving common questions of law comes up for consideration. All of them are for quashing the judicial pronouncements of the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Alleppey invoking the inherent jurisdiction of this court.

(2.) In S.T.C. Nos. 40, 42, 45, 46, 49 and 53 of 1984 six business men at Alleppey were prosecuted by the Asst. Labour Officer, Alleppey (Town) for offences punishable under S.22A of the Minimum Wages Act (Central Act XI of 1948) for violations of R.26(1), (2) and (5) thereunder. Each of the accused in the respective cases was convicted and sentenced under each count to pay a fine of Rs. 50/- and in default to undergo simple imprisonment for seven days under each count. Criminal M.C. Nos. 663 to 668 of 1985 are respectively, against those convictions and sentences.

(3.) In S.T.C. Nos. 48, 50, 52, 43, 44, 41 and 47 of 1984 before the same court also business men were prosecuted by the same officer for offences punishable under S.29(2) of the Kerala Shops and Commercial Establishments Act, 1960 for having violated R.10(1) and 10(1A) of the Rules made thereunder. In those cases the concerned accused were convicted and sentenced to pay a fine of Rs.25/- under each rule and in default to undergo simple imprisonment for seven days under each rule. Crl. M.C. Nos. 673 to 679 respectively are against those convictions and sentences.