GOPAL KRISHNAN NAIR, J.

( 1 ) THE petitioner in this writ petition asks for a writ of Mandamus to compel the "authority under the Minimum Wages Act" to entertain his application under R. 34 (4) of the Rules framed under that Act and adjudicate upon it on merits. The circumstances leading up to this writ petition are as follows : The Inspector of Factories, Nellore, who is the second respondent herein filed an application under sub-s. (2) of S. 20 of the Minimum Wages Act before the "authority under the Minimum Wages Act". A notice of that application was issued to the petitioner, who was a respondent therein. However, the petitioner was not present at the time of the hearing of the application or its disposal. The Authority under the Minimum Wages Act set the employer ex parte and allowed the application of the Inspector of Factories on 24-7-63. A copy of this order was despatched to the employer (the petitioner herein) only on 11-10-63. The petitioner received it the next day. Thereupon, he filed on 7-11-63 an application under sub-r. (4) of R. 34 of the Rules framed under the Minimum Wages Act for setting aside the ex parte order passed against him by the Authority under the Minim

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