Judgment

VENKATARAMIAH, J.:- In this Special Leave Petition filed under Art. 136 of the Constitution of India, which is filed against the decision dated November 24, 1986 of the High Court of Bombay in Appeal No. 1042 of 1986, the question whether the petitioner had violated the provisions of S. 4 of the Equal Remuneration Act, 1976 (No. 25 of 1976) (hereinafter referred to as the Act) arises for consideration.

2. The petitioner is a company carrying on the business of rendering supporting services of water transport, like operation and maintenance of piers, docks, pilotage, light-houses, loading and discharging of vessels etc. referred to as Item No. 12 under the heading Water Transport in the list of establishments and employments to which the Act has been made applicable under sub-sec. (3) of S. 1 of the Act. Respondent No. 1 Audrey DCosta was one of the employees working under the petitioner till June 13, 1977 on which date her services were terminated. During the period of her employment under the petitioner she was working as a Confidential Lady Stenographer. After her services were terminated, she instituted a petition before the Authority appointed under sub-sec. (1) of S. 7