Judgment

VENKATARAMIAH, J.:- It is unfortunate that nearly 15,000 bargemen, i.e., Majhis and Dandees, working at the Calcutta Port have been denied their right to receive reasonable wages and allowances for nearly 12 years on account of a very narrow view taken by the Calcutta High Court in the decision under appeal.

2. The Government of India set up a Wage Board for the port and dock workers at major ports on Nov. 13, 1964 and made a reference to the said Board of the following terms, namely,-

(a) to determine the categories of employees (manual, clerical, supervisor, etc.) who should be brought within the scope of proposed wage fixation (excluding, however, the Class I and Class II Officers); and

(b) to work out a wage structure based on the principle of fair wages as set forth in the report of the Committee of Fair Wages.

3. In making, the reference the Central Government laid down guidelines as to how the fair wages were to be determined and further directed the Board to submit its recommendations in respect of interim relief pending submission of the final report. The Wage Board submitted its recommendations regarding the interim relief on April 9, 1965 and in the course of the sai