JUDGMENT

Per Gajendragadkar, J.:-These two appeals arise from an industrial dispute which was referred by the Central Government for adjudication between the Jagrakhand Collieries Ltd., (hereinafter called the appellant) and its workmen (hereinafter called the respondents) under Cl. (c) of Sub-sec. (1) of S. 10 of the Industrial Disputes Act 14 of 1947. The reference in question was made in these words:

Are the workmen of the Jagrakhand Collieries who were not entitled to any increase in wages under Para. 1 of the notification issued by the Korea State Government dated 15 November 1947, entitled to any Increase in wages in accordance with Para. 2 thereof, and if so, to what extent and from which date such increase should be allowed?

This order of reference was passed on 6 June 1955.

The appellant is the owner of three coal mines, viz., The North Jagrakhand Colliery, the South Jagrakhand Colliery and the West Jagrakhand Colliery. All the said coal mines are situated in an area that once formed part of the Indian State of Korea. On 15 November 1947, Mr. Sohan Lal Srivastava, the Chief Minister of Korea State issued a notification for the purpose of assuring minimum wages to colliery work