( 1. ) THIS is an application under Article 226 of the Constitution of India for quashing six certificates issued by the opponent No. 4, the Government of Madhya Pradesh, Labour Department, under Section 33-C of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, for recovery of certain amounts said to be payable as compensation to six workers of the petitioner-Mills who were laid off under the provisions of the Act, and for quashing the notices of demand served by the Naib Tehsildar, Burhanpur, on the basis of those certificates.

( 2. ) THE material facts are that in 1958 six workers of the petitioner-Mills, who had been laid off, applied to the Government for payment of layoff compensation for the period from July to October 1957 under Sections 25-C and 33-C of the Act. The applications were made under Rule 62 of the Madhya Pradesh Industrial Disputes Rules, 1957. On receipt of the applications, the Labour Commissioner acting under the said rule directed the Labour Officer, Burhanpur, to enquire into the allegations and merits, of the applications and to make a report to him. On the basis of these reports, the Government found the amount payable to each worker as lay-off compensation and