1. Does the Regional Labour Commissioner (Central) have the Jurisdiction to direct the principal employer to pay the differential wages payable to an employee of a contractor, under Section 21(4) of the Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act, 1970 while dealing with a conciliation proceedings under Section 12 of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947? The answer lies intrinsically interwind under various provisions of multiple enactments.

2. M/s. HLL Life Care Limited, which is a public sector undertaking under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, is before this Court against Ext.P4 order issued by the 3rd respondent, Regional Labour Commissioner (Central), Thiruvananthapuram by which it is made liable for the alleged non-payment of minimum wages by the 1st respondent, M/s. Sapthazeal Private Limited, under the provisions of the Contract Labour (Regulation & Abolition) Act, 1970.

3. As per Ext.P1 agreement of contract entered into between the petitioner and the 1st respondent, the 1st respondent was entrusted with the job of providing house keeping facility at the petitioner’s factory at Peroorkkada, Thiruvananthapuram. The 2nd respondent, which is a Tr