Ghitale, J.

1. These are applications against the decision by he Authority under the Minimum Wages Act, 1948, at Bombay (hereinafter referred to as the Authority), on applications submitted by several employees of he Central Railway. The employees applied to the Authority alleging that they worked for 51 hours a week, although according to the provisions and rules framed under the said Act they were required to work only for 48 hours during a week; thus they have worked overtime for three hours per week, and hence they were entitled to extra wages payable as per rules framed under the said Act for the overtime work done by tem during the period beginning with 1-4-1952 upto the date of the applications. It is common ground that the employees are monthly rated employees, and that they are workers in a scheduled employment.

2. These applications were opposed by the Central Railway on the ground that the Authority had no jurisdiction to entertain claims prior to 1957, and that the Minimum Wages Act, 1948, was not applicable to the employees-applicants, as these employees are entitled to remuneration as per Prescribed Scale of Pay and Hours of Employment Regulations of Central Rai