RAM TAWAKYA CHAUBEY Vs. STATE OF BIHAR

JUDGEMENT

(1.) AS points involved in all these eleven cases are common therefore, they have been heard together and are being disposed of by this ORDER :.

(2.) PETITIONERS have challenged the ORDER :s of the Deputy Collector, Land Reforms, Bikramganj, whereby, he has set aside the decisions of the Anchal Adhikari, passed under Section 20(3) of the Minimum Wages Act. A prayer has also been made to quash the ORDER :s of the Additional Collector, whereby, he has dismissed petitioners' appeals, preferred against the ORDER :s of the Deputy Collector, Land Reforms.

(3.) THIS appears not in dispute that previously the claim of the labourers for payment of minimum wages, as required under Section 20(3) of the Minimum Wages Act, in short 'the Act', was rejected by the Anchal Adhikari. Thereafter, as would appear from the records that no statutory appeal, as required under subsection (6) of Section 20 of the Act, was filed before the Additional Collector. Later probably after expiry of one and half year an application was moved by the concerned labourers before the District Collector, who directed the Sub -Divisional Officer, Bikramganj to examine the grievances. It would further appear from the impugned ORDER :s itself that the Sub -Divisional Officer sent the records of the case before the Deputy Collector, Land Reforms for final disposal. There is no dispute that both the parties appeared before the Deputy Collector. Land Reforms and ultimately the claim of the labourers was allowed and the ORDER :s passed by the Anchal Adhikari were set aside.