Judgment

DAS GUPTA, J. : The twenty-one persons who are the respondents in this appeal were engaged from November 21, 1958 to February 5, 1959 in the work of removal of press-mud in the sugar factory belonging to the appellant. On February 6, 1959, their services were terminated. It also appears that for the period of work of November 21, 1958 to February 5, 1959 they were paid wages at rates lower than Rs. 55/- per month which was the minimum prescribed wage for workmen of vacum pan sugar factories of Uttar Pradesh under the Standing Orders dated October 3, 1958, issued by the Government of Uttar Pradesh. On July 31, 1962, the Government of Uttar Pradesh referred to the Labour Court, Lucknow, a dispute between these respondents and the Basti Sugar Mills Ltd. In this the Basti Sugar Mills Ltd., was described as the employers and the respondents as their workmen. The matters in dispute were thus mentioned in the order of reference :-

"(1) Whether the employers have terminated the services of their workmen, named in the Annexure, with effect from February 6, 1959 legally and/or justifiably ? If not, to what relief are the workmen concerned entitled ?

(2) Whether the action of the employ