GREEN WOODS Vs. REGIONAL LABOUR COMMISSIONER

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The appellant is a partnership firm. It was engaged by the Indian Institute of Coal Management, Ranchi. (for short 'I.I.C.M.') for beautification of its gardens of the campus, including maintenance of flowers, etc. For this purpose, the appellant had engaged 43 labourers and the work was started from April 1, 1998. The appellant had duly obtained a licence under Section 12 of the Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act, 1970.

(2.) The I.I.C.M. is registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 and is promoted by the Coal India Limited (CIL), which is a Government company registered and incorporated under the Indian Companies Act, 1956.

(3.) The Labour Enforcement Officer (Central), Ranchi, inspected the premises of the Institute and found that all the 43 agricultural labourers, who were engaged for horticulture work in the gardens of the Campus were being paid less wages than the minimum rates of wages notified by the Central Government. According to the Labour Enforcement Officer the Central Government had fixed the minimum rates of wages by Notification dated August 12, 1992, which was applicable to the workers concerned and on calculation of their wages at the said rate, for the period from April 1, 1998 to August 31, 1999, they were, in all, paid Rs. 3,88,421.13 less towards the minimum wages, for which they were entitled.