1. S.20 of the Kerala Agricultural Workers Act provides that agricultural workers entitled to claim arrears of wages can apply to the Conciliation Officer,and that that Officer can "direct" the landowner to pay the arrears found due, after such enquiry as he considers necessary and after hearing the parties. S.23 provides for an appeal to the Agricultural Tribunal, against the "order passed by Conciliation Officer", and prescribes that such appeal shall be preferred

"within a period of thirty days from the date of the order appealed against."

Three orders adverse to the common petitioner herein were passed by the Conciliation Officer on 31-5-80, and they were served on him on 27-6-80. He filed appeals on 9-7-80, but the Tribunal dismissed them as time-barred, proceeding on the basis that time had started to run from the date of the orders.

2. The question is whether the above view of the Tribunal is correct or not. The contention of the petitioner is that no one can file an appeal against an order, until he comes to know that such an order is passed, and that it is adverse to him. Limitation can start only from the date of knowledge, and not from the date of the order itse