C.K. Prasad, J.

Petitioners are employees of respondent No. 2 and are working in the Radiology and Pathology Section of Medical department of Bhilai Steel Plant and by this writ petition filed under Articles226 and 227 of the Constitution of India, they pray for a direction to the respondents to pay the overtime wages to them from the date of their employment after completion of working hours of 36 hours in a week; alternatively their prayer is to direct the respondents to take work for 36 hours only by issuance of an appropriate writ, order or direction.

Shorn of unnecessary details, facts giving rise to the present writ petition are that by order dated 14th October, 1961 (Annex. R-3), Bhilai Steel Plant decided to grant overtime allowance to the office staff. Clause 3(c) of the said order explains overtime work, which reads as follows:--

" 'Overtime time' work means work done in excess of 45 minutes over the prescribed hours of work on any working day and includes work done on any Sunday or any other holiday."

Clause 3(d) of the aforesaid order defines prescribed hours of work as follows:--

" 'Prescribed hours of work' means hours of work prescribed in any office in respect of e