AMARESHWAR SAHAY, J. - (1.) HEARD the parties.
(2.) IN this writ petition the petitioners have prayed for quashing the order dated 11.05.2001 passed by the Deputy Labour Commissioner, Ranchi in Minimum Wages Appeal No. 7/99 affirming the order dated 18.11.1999, passed by the Assistant Labour Commissioner, Ranchi an Authority under the Minimum Wages Act, passed in ten cases being M.W.Case No. 37/1996 to M.W. Case No. 46/96 under Section 20(2) of the Minimum Wages Act, whereby, the petitioners were directed to pay a sum of Rs.3,81,176/ -as difference of Minimum Wages for the period 19.07.1993 to 31.12.1995 for the 24 workmen working under the petitioner no. 1. The brief facts are that Labour Superintendent, Ranchi filed applications under Section 20(2) of the Minimum Wages Act on behalf of the 24 workmen for payment of difference of wages payable to them for the period 19.07.1993 to 31.12.1996. Those cases were registered as M.W. Case No. 37/1996 to 46/1996. On receipt of notice, the petitioners appeared and filed their show -cause denying the allegations as well as the liability to pay any amount as claimed under the aforesaid claim cases.
(3.) THE petitioners further raised plea of limitation stating that the claim application filed was barred by limitation and further that the employment under the petitioner no. 1 did not come within the purview of Scheduled Employment, therefore, the authority concerned had no jurisdiction under Section 20 of Minimum Wages Act to decide the claim.;