Judgment

GOSWAMI, J.:- The only question with which we are concerned in these appeals by special leave is : Should there be a ceiling on dearness allowance in this case?

2. On May 11, 1966. the employers gave a notice of change for placing a celling on dearness allowance (for brevity D.A.) already in vogue at the figure of Rs. 325/-. Since this was not acceptable to the union, both sides agreed for a reference to the Industrial Tribunal, Maharashtra: By the impugned order of January 24, 1973, the Tribunal removed the ceiling and hence this appeal.

3. There was also another demand with regard to the D. A. for drivers on the same basis as that for clerical staff. The Tribunal following this Court s decisions in Bengal Chemical & Pharmaceuticals Works Ltd. v. Its Workmen (1969) 2 SCR 113 and Greaves Cotton and Co. v. Their Workmen, (1964) 5 CR 362 allowed the union s claim for the two categories to be treated on equal footing. This Court held in the above decisions that employees getting the same wages should get the same D.A. irrespective of whether they are working as clerks or as members of subordinate staff or as factory workmen. This part of the award is, therefore, rightly not cha