The State has preferred this writ petition assailing the impugned order dated 02.05.2007 passed by the Labour Commissioner and Competent Authority under the Provisions of the Minimum Wages Act, 1948 (‘the MW Act’ for short), whereby, the Labour Commissioner awarded the difference of salary to the extent of sum of Rs.2,23,153.80/- to 27 labourers.

2. The respondent are labourers appointed on contract basis in the office of the Assistant Director, Government Press from 01.04.2004 to 30.09.2004 and the Government Press has paid rate fixed on daily wages based on the Government order. The labourers filed claim petition before the Labour Commissioner under the provisions of the MW Act in the year 2005 contending that the petitioners are not paid the minimum wages as provided under the Act.

3. The State filed objections inter alia contending that they are not liable to pay any wages under the provisions of the Act, since the Government Printing Press comes under the Education Department, Government of Karnataka and it is not an industry. The Labour Commissioner on consideration of the material on record awarded difference of salary to the extent of Rs.2,23,153.80/- to t