(1) This is an application under Art. 226 of the Constitution of Indin by the owners of the Bidi manufacturing concerns of Sangamner, Akola and places within 7 miles of their respective municipal limits and it raises certain important questions of law.

(2) In the year 1948 the Central Legislature passed an Act, being Act No. XI of 1948, called the Minimum Wages Act, Section 3 (1) of the Act empowers the appropriate Government to fix the minimum rates of wages for certain industries which are described as ""scheduled industries."" Section 3, sub-s.(3), cl.(a), sub-clause (iv), provides that different minimum rates of wages may be fixed for different localities at the time of fixing or revising the minimum rates of wages. Section 4 lays down what the minimum rates of wages fixed or revised by the appropriate Government under S. 3 may consist of Section 5, sub-s. (1) clause (a), provides for the appointment of a Committee to hold enquiries in the matter of fixing minimum rates of wages in respect of any scheduled employment. Section 5, sub-s. (2) empowers the appropriate Government to fix the minimum rates of wages in respect of each scheduled employment, after considering the