STATE OF RAJASTHAN Vs. DUNGRA RAM

JUDGEMENT

(1.) These writ petitions are filed by the petitioners challenging the validity of the order dtd. 25/2/2014 passed by the Authority, Minimum Wages Act, Balotra, whereby a direction has been issued to the petitioners as well as the Gram Panchayats to provide minimum pay scale to the respondents- Pump Drivers/Operators working in various Gram Panchayats. The petitioners have also challenged the judgment dtd. 9/9/2016 passed by the Additional District Judge, Balotra District Barmer in Civil Appeal Decree No.10/2015 (11/15), whereby it has dismissed the appeal preferred on behalf of the petitioners and affirmed the order dtd. 25/2/2014 passed by the Authority, Minimum Wages Act, Balotra.

(2.) Brief facts of the case are that the respondents were appointed as Pump Drivers/Operators in various Gram Panchayats of District Barmer on a fixed amount of Rs.500.00 per month under the Scheme of Janta Jal Yojana. The respondents have approached the Authority, Minimum Wages Act, Balotra with a prayer to direct the State as well as the concerned Gram Panchayats to pay them minimum wages at the rate of Rs.73.00 per day as per the Minimum Wages Act. The claim of the respondents was accepted by the Authority, Minimum Wages Act, Balotra and vide order dtd. 25/2/2014, the Authority, Minimum Wages, Balotra directed the petitioners to pay minimum wages to the respondents and also directed to deposit the arrears before the Court. Appeal filed against the order dtd. 25/2/2014 has also been dismissed by appellate court.

(3.) Learned counsel has submitted that the issue raised in these writ petitions is squarely covered by the decision rendered by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in the cases of Superintending Engineer, PHED, Sikar and Ors. Vs. Prahlad Ray and Ors. - Civil Appeal No(s).11355 of 2013; decision rendered by this Court in Jagdish Singh and Ors. Vs. State of Rajasthan and Ors. - SB Civil Writ Petition No.5954/2017 and other connected writ petitions as well as the judgment passed by the Division Bench of this Court in D.B. Special Appeal (Writ) No.247/2013 - State of Rajasthan and Ors. Vs. Nemi Chand and Ors. and other connected matters.