The division of a State into zones for the purpose of fixing minimum wages is authorized by Section 3 of the Minimum Wages Act, which allows for the fixation of different minimum rates of wages for different localities.

O. CHINNAPPA REDDY, J.

( 1 ) THE petitioners in the several Writ Petitions are Bidi Manufacturers in the Telangana area of the State of Andhra Pradesh. All of them question the validity of G. O. Ms. No. 1617 Home (Labour II) dated 23-7-1966 by which the Government of Andhra Pradesh revised the minimum rates of wages of workers engaged in Bidi Manufactory. The facts necessary for the disposal of these writ petitions are as hereunder: G. O. Ms. No. 659 dated 22-3-1965 containing a draft proposal to revise, minimum rates of wages of workers, employed in Tobacco (including Bidi making ) Manufactory in the manner mentioned in the Schedule was published in the Andhra Pradesh Gazette on 24-3-1965 and by the same notification the Government invited all persons affected to make their representations before minimum Wages Act. The Schedule in so 1-6-1965 as required by Sec. 5 (1) (b) of the far as it is relevant was as follows: "schedule. SL. No. Category of Workers All inclusive minimum rates. Daily Monthly 1 2 3 II * * * Bidi Manufacture (including Gharkatha) 1. For rolling 1,000 bidis in Urban areas

( 2 ) FOR rolling 1,000 bidis in Rural areas * * * Rs. P. Rs. P. * * * 2-00 1-85 * * * Note: (1) For the purpose of this Notification, urban areas shall consist of Corporations, all District Head Quarters Towns, Municipalities under the District Municipalities Act, City and Town Municipalities in the Telangana Region, and the rural areas consist of the rest of the State. " Some time after the publication of this notification the Government of Andhra Pradesh constituted as Advisory Board in accordance with the provisions of Sec. 7 of the Act. The Board consisted of six independent members (independent meaning non-official and not belonging to the category of employers or employees, Vide AIR 1965 Andh Pra 128), six representatives of employers and six representatives of employees. Among the representatives of the employers was Sri Bansilal S. Patel, President of the Bidi Manufacturers and Tobacco Merchants Association Nizamabad. After consulting the Advisory Board and considering the objections received from the employers and the organizations of employees the Government was of the view that the adoption of a uniform rate not commensurate with labour and time involved, would adversely affect the Bidi industry in Andhra area, and therefore the rates notified by G. O. Ms. No. 659 required to be altered. The Government was advised that a fresh notification was necessary under Section 5 (1) (b) of the Act. Accordingly, the Government published fresh draft proposals (G. O. Ms. No. 331, dated 26-2-1966) in the Andhra Pradesh Gazette and invited representations from all persons before 5-5-1966. The Schedule to the notification was as follows: "the SCHEDULE" @@ ________________________________________________________________________________ Sl. No. Category of Workersall inclusive minimum rates. ________________________________________________________________________________ Dailymonthly ________________________________________________________________________________ 1. 2. 3. ________________________________________________________________________________ Bidi Manufactory (Including Gharkatha)Rs. P. Rs. P. 1. Rolling bidis (a) Andhra area: (I) For rolling 1,000 big size Zadi Bidis in Urban areas 2-00 (ii) For rolling 1,000 big size Zadi Bidis in Rural areas1- 85 (iii) For rolling 1,000 big size Zadi Bidis in Urban areas1- 92 (iv) For rolling 1,000 medium size Zadi Bidis in Rural areas1-77 (v) For rolling 1,000 sada bidis in Urban areas1- 62 (vi) For rolling 1,000 sada bidis in Rural areas1-48 (b) Telangana area: (I) For rolling 1,000 bidis in Urban areas (including Gharkatha)2-00 (ii) For rolling 1,000 bidis in Rural areas1-85 ******* __________________________________________________________________________________@@ Note: (1) For the purpose of this notification urban areas shall consist of Corporations, all Municipalities under the Andhra Pradesh M

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