( 1 ) THIS Rule was obtained by certain employees of Messrs. French Motor Car Co, Ltd. They filed an application before the authority under the Payment of Wages Act, 1930, praying for certain reliefs. The application was dismissed in toto. Against that decision an appeal was preferred before a Small Causes Court Judge Mr. Lahiri. The learned Judge, however, dismissed the appeal on a preliminary point holding that it was not maintainable on the ground that the authority appointed under the Payment of Wages Act did not give any direction under sub-section 3 or 4 of Section 15 of the Act. It is against this decision that the present Rule has been obtained.

( 2 ) IT is contended on behalf of the petitioners that the learned Judge was entirely in error in holding that no appeal lay in the circumstances of the present case. Under Section 17 of the Act an appeal against a direction made under sub-section (3) or sub-section (4) of Section 15 may be preferred amongst others by any employed person if the total amount of wages claimed to have been withheld from him or from the unpaid group to which he belongs, exceeds Rs. 50. The learned Judge has held that as there was such direct