Judgment

GAJENDRAGADKAR, J. : This appeal by special leave arises from an industrial dispute between the management of the Trichinopolly Mills Limited, (hereinafter called the appellant) and its workmen (hereinafter called the respondents). For the year 1951 the respondents claimed by way of bonus six months wages including dearness allowance and the appellant denied its liability to grant the said claim. The dispute which thus arose between the parties was referred to the Industrial Tribunal at Madurai for adjudication. The tribunal directed the appellant to pay to the respondents bonus for the relevant year amounting to four months basic wages. Against this award the respondents preferred an appeal before the Labour Appellate Tribunal and urged that in the circumstances of the case they were entitled to a much larger bonus. The appellate tribunal substantially accepted the respondents plea and increased the amount of bonus from four months basic wages to eight months basic wages. It is against this increased award of bonus directed by the appellate tribunal that the present appeal has been filed by the appellant with special leave.

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