Judgement

P. B. GAJENDRAGADKAR J. : This group of 174 appeals by special leave arises from the several applications made against Mr. B. P. Hira, Works Manager, Central Railway Workshop and Factory, Parel, Bombay (hereafter called the appellant) by the employees at the said factory (hereafter called the respondents) under the Payment of Wages Act, 1936 (4 of 1936) claiming payment of overtime wages since 1948. All these applications were heard by the Payment of Wages Authority, Bombay, as companion matters and they have been disposed of by a common judgment. The main judgment has, however, been delivered by the said Authority in the application filed by Mr. C. M. Pradhan (hereafter called the respondent) which gives rise to Civil Appeal No. 131 of 1957 before us. We would therefore, deal with this appeal in particular and our decision in this appeal will govern the rest of the appeals in this group.

2. In his application made before the Payment of Wages Authority the respondent alleged that he had been employed in the factory called the Central Railway Workshop and Factory, Parel, Bombay, and that he had not been paid overtime wages due to him from 1-4-1949, to 30-9-1954. The responde