( 1 ) THE petitioner is a reputed company belonging to reputed group of companies manufacturing drugs. It employs about 400 workmen. The government issued a notification vide G. O. Ms. No. 183, dated 26-12-1992 fixing minimum wages to be paid to various categories of employees in drugs and pharmaceutical industries. The petitioner, apparently, has violated this law of paying minimum wages contained in Minimum Wages Act, 1948 (the act for brevity) and statutory notification issued thereunder. On 17-7-1997, the Assistant Labour Officer inspected the office of the petitioner and found that in respect of 82 workmen, the petitioner is not paying the minimum wages as fixed by the Government. Therefore, the inspecting officer estimated the value of the balance of wages to be paid to those workmen at Rs. 2,90,111. 50 pasprovided under sub-section (3)ofsection20of the Act. The Labour officer-cum-Inspector under the Act filed an application before the Minimum Wages authority, the first respondent herein. The petitioner appeared before the first respondent and filed counter on 8-9-1998. It may be passingly mentioned that the claim relates to four periods namely, from October,