Kuldip Singh, J. - (1.) Special leave granted.
(2.) The question for our consideration in these appeals is whether arrears of wages, as a result of wage-increase-award under the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 (The Act), would come within the definition of "basic wages" under Section 2(b) of the Provident Fundand Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952 (The Fund Act).
(3.) A dispute regarding wages and other conditions of service arose between the Rajasthan State Electricity Board (The Board) and its workmen. The parties arrived at a settlement as a result of which the dispute was referred to the arbitrators under the Act. The arbitrators entered upon the reference and gave an award dated May 20, 1985., The relevant part of the award is reproduced as under:- "The matters in dispute (terms of reference) are as under:- (1) Wages increase: a) What should be the Minimum Wages for regular unskilled workmen of Rajasthan State Electricity Board in Pay Scales No. 1 with effect from April 1, 1980 b) What should be the wage structure of different categories of workmen of Rajasthan State Electricity Board covered under pay scales Nos. 1 to 6 with effect from April 1, 1980 Decisions on matters in dispute (terms of reference) After hearing the arguments on behalf of the parties and considering the documents supplied by them, and taking into account other relevant matters, our decisions on the matters in dispute are given below:- The minimum wages for regular unskilled workmen of RSEB in pay scale No. 1 with effect from 1st April, 1980 shall be Rs. 400 (Four hundred only) with NIL Dearness Allowance or any other addition to wages in the nature of Dearness Allowance, henceforth referred to as D.A. Revised pay scales:On the basis of minimum basic pay of Rs. 400 with NIL DA, Revised pay scales Nos. 1 to 6 shall be as per Annexure-1 to this Award with NIL DA with effect from 1st April, 1980". ;