JUDGMENT

KULDIP SINGH, J.:— The Government of India by a notification dated May 19, 1969 issued under the Minimum Wages Act, 1948 (hereinafter called The Act) fixed the minimum rates of wages payable to different categories of employees employed in Manganese mines. The minimum rate of wage in respect of the unskilled workers was fixed at Rs. 2.40 per day. The management, under an agreement, was paying to the employees attendance bonus and was supplying grain to them at concessional rates.

2. The question for our consideration is whether the monetary value of the grain supplied at concessional rates and the amount Paid as attendance bonus can be included and counted into the minimum wages payable to the employees under the above said notification.

3. Nathu Purnia and 25 other workmen employed with Manganese Ore (India) Ltd., Nagger filed two applications under Section 33-C(2) of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 before the Central Government Labour Court at Nagger for recovery of the deficit amount of wages due to them -from the management. According to them, unskilled and semi-skilled workers were entitled to Rs. 2.40/ - and Rs. 3.20/ - per day as minimum wages, but the management wa