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Minimum Wages Act, 1948

67 judgments · newest first · showing 1–67

PRASHIK SECURITY AND MANPOWER SERVICESversusTHE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA AND ORS

Disposed Off

M/s Prashik Security and Manpower Services filed a civil writ petition challenging an order under the Minimum Wages Act, 1948 that directed it to deposit amounts for the difference in payment of minimum wages to workers. The petitioner failed to appear at multiple hearings dated 06‑07‑2026, …

MANIYAR ILIYAZ @ SHAIK RIYAZ & ANR.versusP. AYYAPPAN & ORS.

2026 INSC 647Disposed off

The appellant, a father, lost his five‑year‑old son when a tanker struck the boy as they walked to school on a road that had no footpath or pedestrian crossing. The father filed a claim for Rs 25,00,000 before the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal, which awarded Rs 7,82,000 with interest; the High …

RAM DEVversusTHE DIVISIONAL FOREST OFFICER RENUKOOT AND OTHERS

The petitioner, Ram Dev, a daily wager in the Forest Department since 1976, filed a writ petition seeking a mandamus directing the respondents to pay him the minimum salary applicable to Class‑IV employees in Uttar Pradesh. The respondents contended that daily labourers are not entitled to minimum …

MODY DILIPLUMAR BABULALversusUNION OF INDIA

26-DISMISSED @ ADM.STAGE

Mody Diliplumar Babulal, a contractual employee of ONGC since 1994, filed a special civil application seeking a writ of mandamus directing the Union of India and ONGC to regularize his employment and pay salary and allowances on par with regular employees from April 1995. He alleged that despite …

TIWARI VASANTKUMAR RAMKUMARversusUNION OF INDIA

26-DISMISSED @ ADM.STAGE

The petitioner, Tiwari, a contractual worker employed by ONGC and the Union of India since 1995, sought a writ of mandamus directing the respondents to pay his salary and allowances on par with regular employees, with arrears dating back to 1996. He alleged that despite the Contract Labour …

KORI KESHAVRAM DUBARIPRASADversusUNION OF INDIA

26-DISMISSED @ ADM.STAGE

Jadav Maheshkumar Melabhai, a contractual peon employed by ONGC since April 1994, filed a series of Special Civil Applications seeking a writ of mandamus for regularisation and payment of back wages at par with regular employees from April 1995. He alleged that despite continuous service, he …

M/S. CREATIVE GARMENTS LTDversusKASHIRAM VERMA

2023 INSC 243Appeal(s) allowed

The employer, M/s. Creative Garments Ltd., appealed against a Labour Court award that reinstated employee Kashiram Verma with back wages. The employee never reported for duty despite multiple communications, and his permanent address was never furnished; only a "care of Union" address was provided. …

GOMANTAK MAZDOOR SANGHversusSTATE OF GOA & ANR.

2022 INSC 546Appeal(s) allowed

The State of Goa issued a notification on 23/24 May 2016 fixing minimum wages, including a basic rate and a special allowance, after consulting the Minimum Wage Advisory Board and following the procedure prescribed under Sections 4 and 5 of the Minimum Wages Act, 1948. Subsequently, an Errata …

MASTER AYUSHversusTHE BRANCH MANAGER, RELIANCE GENERAL INSURANCE CO. LTD. & ANR.

2022 INSC 364Appeal(s) allowed

The Supreme Court considered the claim of a five‑year‑old child who became a paraplegic after a road accident in 2010. The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal awarded Rs 18,24,000, which the Karnataka High Court reduced to Rs 13,46,805. On appeal, the Court examined the method of calculating compensation …

GUJARAT MAZDOOR SABHA & ANR.versusTHE STATE OF GUJARAT

2020 INSC 572Appeal(s) allowed

The Gujarat Mazdoor Sabha and a national trade union challenged two Gujarat State notifications issued under Section 5 of the Factories Act, 1948 that exempted all factories from provisions on working hours, rest intervals and overtime pay during the COVID‑19 pandemic. The petitioners argued that …

FICUS PAX PRIVATE LTD. & ORS.versusUNION OF INDIA & ORS.

2020 INSC 425Directions issued

The Supreme Court examined challenges by private employers, including Ficus Pax Private Ltd., to central and state orders issued under the Disaster Management Act, 2005 that compelled private establishments to pay full wages to all workers during the COVID‑19 lockdown. The petitioners argued that …

STEEL AUTHORITY OF INDIA LTD. & ANR.versusJAGGU & ORS. ETC.

2019 INSC 727Disposed off

The case concerned 2,040 contract labourers employed in SAIL's captive limestone mine who, after a 1993 prohibition on contract labour under the CLRA Act, continued to work and claimed parity of wages with regular SAIL employees under the NJCS memorandum. The respondents sought relief under Section …

HINDUSTAN SANITARYWARE AND INDUSTRIES LTD. & OTHERSversusTHE STATE OF HARYANA

2019 INSC 584Appeal(s) allowed

The State of Haryana issued notifications under Section 5(2) of the Minimum Wages Act, 1948 fixing and revising minimum rates of wages, including provisions that classified unskilled workers as semi‑skilled after a certain period of experience, prohibited segregation of wages into allowances, …

UNION OF INDIA & ANR.versusAVTAR CHAND ETC. ETC.

2019 INSC 225Appeal(s) allowed

Skilled workers at the Western Base Workshop, GREF, Pathankot alleged that they were paid less than the minimum wages prescribed under the Minimum Wages Act, 1948. They filed applications under Section 20(3) of the Act, and the Specified Authority ordered the Union of India to pay each worker the …

RAGINI SINHAversusSTATE OF BIHAR & ORS.

2019 INSC 20Dismissed

Two workers, Santosh Kumar and Hira Singh, filed claim petitions under the Minimum Wages Act, 1948 against their employer, Ragini Sinha, alleging non‑payment of wages for the period 1 January 1991 to 30 October 1992. The competent authority allowed the claims and imposed a penalty; the appellate …

UNION OF INDIAversusM/S. VARINDERA CONSTRUCTIONS LTD. ETC.

2018 INSC 375Appeal(s) allowed

The Union of India contracted with M/s Varindera Constructions for residential construction, incorporating Clause 19 (no escalation reimbursement) and Clause 6.3 (no claim for excess wages) in the agreement. During performance, the Haryana government raised the minimum wages, and the contractor …

KERALA PRIVATE HOSPITAL ASSOCIATIONversusSTATE OF KERALA & ORS.

2017 INSC 1090Dismissed

The State of Kerala constituted a Private Hospital Industrial Relations Committee under Section 9 of the Minimum Wages Act, 1948 to revise minimum wages for employees of private hospitals and allied institutions. The committee comprised equal numbers of employer and employee representatives, but …

AVISHEK RAJA & ORS.versusSANJAY GUPTA

2017 INSC 488Disposed off

The Supreme Court examined a large group of contempt petitions filed by newspaper establishments alleging that they had failed to implement the Majithia Wage Board Award, which had been upheld by the Court in a 2014 judgment. The petitioners claimed wilful disobedience of the award, seeking civil …

JIBAN KRISHNA MONDAL & ORS.versusSTATE OF WEST BENGAL & ORS.

2015 INSC 967Dismissed

The appellants, members of the West Bengal Home Guards, claimed that they were in the service of the State, performed duties akin to police constables and were therefore entitled to regularisation and pay parity with police personnel. The State and the Union of India contended that Home Guards are …

JAKIR HUSSEINversusSABIR & ORS.

2015 INSC 135Appeal(s) allowed

The appellant, Jakir Hussein, a professional driver, suffered grievous injuries to his right arm in a collision caused by the negligent driving of Sabir, rendering him permanently disabled and unable to earn a livelihood as a driver. The claim petition under Section 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act, …

SANOBANU NAZIRBHAI MIRZA & ORS.versusAHMEDABAD MUNICIPAL TRANSPORT SERVICE

2013 INSC 669Appeal(s) allowed

The deceased Nazirbhai, a 25‑year‑old skilled polisher earning Rs 4,000‑5,000 per month, was killed by an Ahmedabad Municipal Transport Service bus. His legal representatives filed a claim petition under Section 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal awarded Rs …

STATE OF GUJARAT & ORS.versusPWD EMPLOYEES UNION & ORS. ETC

2013 INSC 450Disposed off

The Gujarat government, after representations by labour unions, issued a resolution on 17 October 1988 to regularise daily‑wage and semi‑skilled workers across all departments, providing graded benefits based on years of service under Section 258 of the Industrial Disputes Act. The applicability of …

PUBLIC UNION FOR CIVIL LIBERTIESversusSTATE OF TAMIL NADU & ORS.

2012 INSC 472Disposed off

The Public Union for Civil Liberties filed a public‑interest writ petition seeking enforcement of the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976 and the rehabilitation of freed bonded labourers. The Supreme Court examined the persistent non‑compliance of several states and Union Territories with …

STATE OF ASSAMversusUNION OF INDIA AND ORS. ETC.

2010 INSC 661Appeal(s) allowed

The Union of India introduced a Family Welfare Scheme employing Voluntary Female Attendants on a modest honorarium. Several attendants filed writ petitions seeking parity of pay with regular "Ward Girls" (Rs. 900‑1435 per month). The Gauhati High Court directed the State of Assam to pay the minimum …

PRABHU DAYALversusSADHAN SAHKARI SAMITI MUJURI VIKAS KHAND PANIYARA & ORS.

2008 INSC 260Case Allowed

The appellant, employed as a salesman by a registered cooperative society, challenged his termination and filed proceedings under the Payment of Wages Act, 1963 and the Uttar Pradesh Industrial Disputes Act, 1947. The parties later reached a settlement, and an award dated 9‑12‑1988 was passed, …

SPIC PHARMACEUTICALS DIVISIONversusAUTHORITY UNDER SEC. 48(1) OF A.P. AND ANR.

2007 INSC 232Disposed off

The appellants, manufacturers of pharmaceutical products, dismissed several medical representatives and the employees sought relief from the appellate authority under the Andhra Pradesh Shops and Establishments Act, 1988. The employers contended that the Sales Promotion Employees (Conditions of …

STATE OF H.P.versusGEHAR SINGH

2007 INSC 223Dismissed

The petitioners were daily‑wage workers in the Himachal Pradesh Irrigation and Public Works Department who had served for more than ten years. A betterment scheme, modified by the Supreme Court in the Moo Raj Upadhyaya case, provided that such workers completing ten years of continuous service as of …

STATE OF JAMMU AND KASHMIR AND ORS.versusABDUL MAJID

2007 INSC 14Disposed off

The Supreme Court heard a civil appeal filed by the State of Jammu and Kashmir against an interim order of the High Court Division Bench that directed the State to deposit and pay the respondent's minimum wages for the period January 1992 to March 2006 within two weeks, pending a Letters Patent …

STATE OF KARNATAKA AND ORS.versusAMEERBI AND ORS.

2006 INSC 969Appeal(s) allowed

The Supreme Court examined whether Anganwadi workers and helpers appointed under the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme are holders of civil posts within the meaning of Articles 309, 310 and 311 of the Constitution. The workers, who are selected by a committee, receive only an …

UNION OF INDIA AND ORS.versusM/S ESSEL MINING & INDUSTRIES LTD. AND ANR.

2005 INSC 350Disposed off

The Union of India appealed a decision of the Orissa High Court that had struck down Clause‑iii of paragraph 7 in Notification No. 514/1994, which defined a person working ‘below ground’ to include open‑cast excavations deeper than six metres. The High Court held that the Ministry of Labour lacked …

AHMEDABAD PVT. PRIMARY TEACHERS' ASSOCIATIONversusADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER AND ORS.

2004 INSC 32Dismissed

A teacher employed by a municipal school sought gratuity under the Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972, but the Gujarat High Court held that teachers are not "employees" within the meaning of section 2(e) and dismissed the claim. The Ahmedabad Private Primary Teachers' Association appealed, arguing that …

KERALA STATE ELECTRICITY BOARD AND ANR.versusKURIEN E. KALATHIL AND ORS.

2000 INSC 341Case Partly allowed

The Kerala State Electricity Board entered into a contract with contractor Kurien E. Kalathil for dam construction. After a 1983 government notification raised minimum wages, the Board paid labour‑escalation amounts to the contractor until December 1984, but stopped payments from January 1985, …

MUNICIPAL CORPORATION OF DELHIversusFEMALE WORKERS (MUSTER ROLL) AND ANR.

2000 INSC 129Dismissed

Female workers employed on a daily‑wage muster roll by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi were denied maternity benefits that regular female employees received. The Industrial Tribunal held that these workers were entitled to the benefits under the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961 and directed the …

AIRFREIGHT LTD.versusSTATE OF KARNATAKA AND ORS.

1999 INSC 305Case Partly allowed

Airfreight Ltd., a cargo forwarding and travel services company, was directed by the Karnataka Labour Officer to pay its employees Variable Dearness Allowance (VDA) under a 1987 State Notification issued under the Minimum Wages Act, 1948 for "shops and commercial establishments". The company …

STATE OF GUJARAT AND ANR.versusHONBLE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT

1998 INSC 380Disposed off

The Supreme Court examined whether prisoners sentenced to rigorous imprisonment may be compelled to perform hard labour without consent and what wages they are entitled to under Article 23 of the Constitution. It held that such labour is lawful as it serves a public purpose of reform and …

MUNICIPAL COUNCIL HATTAversusBHAGAT SINGH AND ORS.

1998 INSC 69Appeal(s) allowed

The Moharrirs/peons of Municipal Council Hatta filed an application under Section 22 of the Minimum Wages Act, 1948 seeking overtime pay for four extra hours worked daily during February‑March 1982‑83. The Labour Court allowed the application, but the High Court dismissed the Municipal Council's …

HARYANA UNRECOGNISED SCHOOLS ASSOCIATIONversusSTATE OF HARYANA

1996 INSC 511Appeal(s) allowed

The Haryana Unrecognised Schools Association challenged a Haryana Government notification that added "Employment in private coaching classes, schools including Nursery Schools and technical institutions" to the Schedule of the Minimum Wages Act, 1948 and fixed minimum wages for teachers. The Punjab …

PALI DEVI AND ORS.versusCHAIRMAN MANAGING COMMITTEE AND ANR.

1996 INSC 270Appeal(s) allowed

The appellants, former employees of the Army School, Jalandhar, claimed that the school had failed to pay the minimum wages fixed by the State Government and filed an application under Section 20(2) of the Minimum Wages Act, 1948. The Authority initially granted relief, but the Punjab & Haryana High …

CHIEF CONSERVATOR OF FORESTSversusJAGANNATH MARUTI KONDHARE

1995 INSC 847Dismissed

The workmen employed by the Maharashtra Forest Department under the Panchgaon Parwati Scheme and social‑forestry projects alleged that they had been kept as casual labourers for five to six years, constituting an unfair labour practice under the Maharashtra Recognition of Trade Unions and Prevention …

TARAPORE AND CO.versusSTATE OF MADHYA PRADESH

1994 INSC 77

Tarapore & Co. entered into a contract with the State of Madhya Pradesh for the construction of a masonry dam, which required the contractor to pay not less than "fair wages" and to observe labour laws without any claim against the Irrigation Department. After the State revised minimum wages, the …

DENA NATH AND ORS.versusNATIONAL FERTILIZERS LTD. AND ORS.

1991 INSC 314Dismissed

The Supreme Court considered appeals filed by Dena Nath and others against National Fertilizers Ltd. The issue was whether failure by a principal employer to obtain registration under Section 7 of the Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act, 1970, or by a contractor to obtain a licence under …

ASSOCIATED ENGINEERING CO.versusGOVERNMENT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AND ANR.

1991 INSC 151Dismissed

The dispute concerned awards made by an arbitrator (umpire) under a contract for the construction of the Nagarjunasagar Dam. The arbitrator awarded several claims, some of which were not supported by the contract (escalation for napa‑slabs, extra lead for water, flattening of canal slopes) while …

MANGANESE ORE (INDIA) LTD.versusCHAND LAL SAHA AND ORS.

1990 INSC 336Dismissed

Manganese Ore (India) Ltd. paid its mine workers a cash wage, an attendance bonus and supplied grain at concessional rates. The workers claimed that the cash value of the grain concession and the attendance bonus were being deducted from their statutory minimum wages fixed by a government …

P. SIVASWAMYversusSTATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH

1988 INSC 216Disposed off

The Supreme Court entertained a public‑interest writ petition filed by P. Sivaswamy after a social organisation’s letter alleged widespread bonded labour in stone quarries of Andhra Pradesh. The Court directed the State of Andhra Pradesh and the concerned states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Orissa …

CATERING CLEANERS OF SOUTHERN RAILWAY ETC.versusUNION OF INDIA & ORS. ETC.

1987 INSC 34Disposed off

The petitioners, about 300 catering cleaners employed by contractors on the Southern Railway, alleged that they were paid meagre wages and denied statutory benefits, and sought a writ of mandamus under Article 32 to compel the abolition of the contract‑labour system and their regularisation as …

MUKESH ADVANIversusSTATE OF MADHYA PRADESH

1985 INSC 120Disposed off

The Supreme Court entertained a writ petition filed by Mukesh Advani on behalf of bonded labourers from Tamil Nadu working in stone quarries at Raisen, Madhya Pradesh, alleging exploitation through advance payments, piece‑rate wages below minimum, and denial of statutory protections. An …

BANDHUA MUKTI MORCHAversusUNION OF INDIA & OTHERS

1983 INSC 203Disposed off

The petition, filed by a social welfare organisation, alleged that thousands of migrant workers in stone quarries and crushers in Faridabad were subjected to inhuman conditions, forced labour and bondage, violating their fundamental rights under Articles 21 and 23 of the Constitution. The Court …

RAM KUMAR MISRAversusSTATE OF BIHAR AND OTHERS

1983 INSC 124Case Allowed

The petitioner, on behalf of workmen employed on two ferries operating at Bhagalpur and Sultanganj, alleged that they were not paid the minimum wages prescribed under the Minimum Wages Act, 1948. The key question was whether the ferries qualified as "establishments" within the meaning of the amended …

LABOURERS WORKING ON SALAL HYDRO-PROJECTversusSTATE OF JAMMU & KASHMIR AND OTHERS

1983 INSC 18Appeal(s) allowed

A news report prompted the People's Union for Democratic Rights to file a writ petition alleging that migrant labourers on the Salal Hydro‑Electric Project were denied statutory benefits. The Supreme Court examined reports of the Labour Commissioner, which revealed that the project, executed by the …

PATEL ISHWERBHAI PRAHLADBHAI ETC. ETC.versusTALUKA DEVELOPMENT OFFICER & OTHERS

1983 INSC 7Appeal(s) allowed

The Minimum Wages Inspector filed applications before the Minimum Wages Authority seeking overtime wages for four tube‑well operators employed by Taluka and District Panchayats in Gujarat, alleging that they worked beyond the hours prescribed under the Minimum Wages Act, 1948. The Authority …

SANJIT ROYversusSTATE OF RAJASTHAN

1983 INSC 5Case Allowed

The Rajasthan Public Works Department employed workers from a drought‑stricken area to construct the Madanganj Harmara Road as famine relief, paying wages based on a work‑norm such that workers whose gangs failed to meet the norm received less than the statutory minimum wage of Rs.7 per day. The …

PEOPLE'S UNION FOR DEMOCRATIC RIGHTS AND OTHERSversusUNION OF INDIA & OTHERS

1982 INSC 67Case Allowed

The People's Union for Democratic Rights filed a public‑interest writ petition alleging that contractors engaged in the construction of Asian Games projects in Delhi were violating multiple labour statutes, including the Minimum Wages Act, Equal Remuneration Act, Contract Labour (Regulation and …

CHAMPAK LAL H. THAKKAR AND OTHERSversusSTATE OF GUJARAT AND ANOTHER

1980 INSC 154Dismissed

The appellants, directors of Morvi Vegetable Products Ltd., were convicted under Section 22A of the Minimum Wages Act for failing to maintain wage registers and related documents. They contended that their plant, which manufactured vanaspati (hydrogenated vegetable oil), was not an "oil mill" and …