- (1.) Heard learned Counsel for the parties.
(2.) The Authority under the Payment of Wages Act by order dt. 09.06.2000 allowed the claim of the applicants-petitioners holding that the applicants-petitioners worked for respondent-non-applicant and the applicants were agricultural labourer. The Authority under the Payment of Wages Act held that the applicants-petitioners are entitled wages as well as the penalty. The workmen Netrapal, Parikshit and Smt. Shakuntala were held entitled to wages 17,000/-, 24,000/- and 19,200/- respectively with penalty of Rs. 1,000/- each.
(3.) Being aggrieved against the said order passed by the Authority under the Payment of Wages Act dt. 09.09.2000, the respondent preferred appeal, which was decided by the learned District Judge, Sri Ganganagar vide order dt. 21.04.2004. The appeal was allowed only on the ground that since the claimants were agricultural labourer, therefore, they were not covered under the provisions of the Payment of Wages Act and, therefore, the Authority under the Payment of Wages Act has no jurisdiction to entertain the claim of the applicants. Being aggrieved against the said order of the appellate Court dt. 21.04.2004, the petitioners have approached this Court.;