1983 INSC 0070 Labourers Working on Salal Hydro Project Vs State of Jammu and Kashmir and Others Writ Petition (Criminal) No. 1179 of 1982 (P.N. Bhagwati, R.S. Pathak, A.N. Sen JJ) 02.03.1983. JUDGMENT BHAGWATI, J. ­ 1. The issue of Indian Express dated August 26, 1982 carried a news item that a large number of migrant workmen from different States including the State of Orissa were working on the Salal Hydroelectric Project in difficult conditions and they were denied the benefits of various labour laws and were subjected to exploitation by the contractors to whom different portions of the work were entrusted by the Central Government. The People's Union for Democratic Rights thereupon addressed a letter to Mr. Justice D. A. Desai enclosing a copy of the news report and requesting him to treat the letter as a writ petition so that justice may be done to the poor labourers working in the Salal Hydroelectric Project. The letter was placed before a Bench of this Court and it was treated as a writ petition and by an order dated September 10, 1982 this Court directed that the Union of India, the State of Orissa, the Labour Commissioner, Orissa at New Delhi, the State of Jammu & Kashmir and the Labour Commissioner (J & k) should be shown as respondents to the writ petition and issued notice to the Union of India, the State of Orissa and the Assistant Labour Commissioner, Orissa at New Delhi to show cause against the writ petition. This Court also direct ed the Labour Commissioner, Jammu to visit the site of the Salal Hydroelectric Project and ascertain [i] whether there are any bonded labourers employed on this Project and if so, to furnish their names; [ii] whether there are any migrant workers who have come from other States; [iii] what are the conditions in which the workers are living; and [iv] whether the labour laws enacted for their benefit are being observed and implemented. Pursuant to this order made by the Court, the Labour Commissioner, Jammu visited the site of the Salal Hydroelectric Project and made an interim report on October 11, 1982 and this was followed by a final report dated October 15, 1982. The writ petition thereafter came up for hearing on November 3, 1982 and on that date, the Court pointed out that the Secretary, Union of India, Ministry of Home Affairs, the State of Orissa, the Labour Commissioner, Orissa at New Delhi, the State of Orissa, the Labour Commissioner (J & K) had already been impleaded as respondents 1 to 5 but since the reports made by the Labour Commissioner, Jammu disclosed that the Salal Hydroelectric Project was being carried out by the Government of India, the Court directed that the Union of India in the Labour Ministry as also the Chief Labour Commissioner (Central) may also be added as respondents 6 and 7 to the writ petition and that notice of the writ petition shall go immediately to them along with copies of the two reports. The Court also directed that the Union of India and the Chief Labour Commissioner (Central) should file their affidavit or affidavits within two weeks from the date of the order dealing with the various averments made in the two reports of the Labour Commissioner, Jammu and particularly the final report made by him, violations of labour laws committed by the Central Government and the contractors. The Court also directed following its decision given on September 18, 1982 in People's Union for Democratic Rights v. Union of India((1982) 3 SCC 235 : 1982 SCC (L&S) 275 : AIR 1982 SC 1473 : 1982 Lab IC 1646) that the Union of India and the Chief Labour Commissioner (Central) shall ensure that hereafter minimum wage is paid directly by the Central Government or the contractors as the case may be, to the workmen employed by them without the intervention of any sub-contractors or jamadars or khatedars and without any deduction whatsoever except such as may be authorised statutorily. The reference to sub-contractors in this order will be confined only to those sub-contractors who have not been licensed under the Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act, 1970 because if any such sub-contractors have been licensed, they would fall within the definition of contractor and would therefore be liable for payment of minimum wage directly to the workers without any deduction. The Union of India and the Chief Labour Commissioner (Central) will also, in the meanwhile, ensure that Sections 16 to 19 of the Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act, 1970 read with the relevant rules made under that Act are complied with, as the same are mandatory and the Central Government is the appropriate authority to enforce the provisions of those sections. It appears that the Union of India and the Chief Labour Commissioner (Central) were not able to file their affidavit or affidavits within the time granted to them with the result that the time had to be extended twice and ultimately an affidavit dated December 14, 1982 was made by one H. S. Raju, Deputy Secretary to the Government of India in the Ministry of Labour and rehabilitation and it was filed in court on behalf of the Union of India. It was on the basis of the two reports made by the Labour Commissioner, Jammu and the affidavit in reply filed by H. S. Raju on behalf of the Union of India along with certain other documents produced at the hearing that the writ petition was argued before us. 2. The Salal Hydroelectric Project is a power project undertaken by the Government of India with a view to increasing the generation of electric power in the country by utilising the waters of river Chenab. It is a gigantic project located near village Salal in Jammu and Government of India has entrusted it to the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation for execution on 'agency basis'. There are certain portions of the work in connection with the Project which are being executed by the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation itself through workmen directly employed by it, while certain other portions of the work are entrusted to contractors of whom the principal four are Hindustan Construction Company Limited, Gammon India Limited, T. R. Gupta Private Limited and Asia Foundation Construction Company. These contractors in their turn are doing a part of the work entrusted to them through workmen directly employed by them while a part of work has been allotted by them to sub-contractors described as "piece wagers". The workmen employed by the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation, the contractors and the Sub-contractors are mostly from other States such as U. P., Bihar and Orissa. There is no uniform pattern of employment in regard to these workmen but so far as Oriya workmen are concerned, they are usually recruited by khatedars from their villages in Orissa and given advances before being taken for work. So also some Bihari workmen were found by the Labour Commissioner (J&K) to have received such advances before coming to the project site. Now the Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act, 1970 (hereinafter referred to as 'Contract Labour Act') being applicable to the establishments pertaining to the project work, the Executive Engineers of the National Hydroelectric Power ? Corporation having supervision and control over the respective establishments are registered as principal employers and the contractors to whom different portions of the work are entrusted for execution are licensed under the provisions of that Act. Since the project work is being carried on by or under the authority of the Central Government, the Central Government is the appropriate Government in relation to the establishments pertaining to the project work and the contractors are licensed by the Licensing Officers appointed by the Central Government. The sub-contractors to whom different portions of the work are entrusted by contractors, however, do not hold any licence, though they fall within the definition of the word 'contractor' in clause (c) of Section 2 of the Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act, 1970 and it is precisely in order to circumvent the provisions of the Con tract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act, that they are called 'piece wagers' instead of sub- contractors. The project work is thus carried out by workmen employed by the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation or by contractors licensed under the provisions of the Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act or by sub-contractors who are euphemistically described as 'piece wagers'. 3. The question raised in this writ petition is whether the workmen employed in the project work are ensured the rights and benefits provided to them under various labour laws such as Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act, 1970, the Minimum Wages Act, 1948 and the Inter-State Migrant Workmen (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1979. So far as the Inter- State Migrant Workmen (Regulation and Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1979 (hereinafter referred to as 'the Inter-State Migrant Workmen Act') is concerned, the final report of the Labour Commissioner (J&K) clearly shows that its provisions have not been implemented at all and the workmen are denied many of the benefit and advantage provided under it. This statement in the final report of the Labour Commissioner (J&K) is not denied on behalf of the Union of India in the affidavit in reply made by H. S. Raju, Deputy Secretory to The Government of India , Ministry of Labour and Rehabilitation and the only explanation offered is that the Inter-State Migrant Workmen Act though passed in 1979 did not come into force until October 2, 1980 and the relevant notifications appointing various authorities under that Act were issued only in June 1982 and that was the reason why "no action could be taken by the officers of CIRM earlier". It is also averred in the affidavit in reply that "most of the workers from other states have gone to Salal Project for work on their own and are therefore strictly speaking not migrant workmen" within the meaning of the definition of that term contained in the Inter-State Migrant Workmen and particularly Oriya workmen can be accepted as valid. It is clear from the Statement of Objects and Reasons that the Inter-State Migrant Workmen Act was enacted with a view to eliminating abuses to which workmen recruited from one State and taken for work to another State were subjected by the contractors, sardars or khatedars recruiting them. The malpractices indulged in by the contractors, sardars or khatedars in regard to workmen recruited by them for work outside their state may be found briefly summarised as follows in the Statement of Objects and Reasons : Though the Sardars promise at the time of recruitment that wages calculated on piece-rate basis would be settled every month, the promise is not usually kept. Once the worker comes under the clutches of the contractor, he takes him to a far-off place on payment of railway fare only. No working hours are fixed for these workers and they have to work on all the days in a week under extremely bad working conditions. The provisions of the various labour laws are not being observed in their case and they are subjected to various malpractices. It was felt that since inter-State migrant workmen are generally illiterate and unorgainsed and are by reason of their extreme poverty easy victims of these abuses and malpractices, it was necessary to have a comprehensive legislation with a view to securing effective protection to inter-State migrant workmen against their exploitation and hence the Inter-State Migrant Workmen Act was enacted. This Act received the assent of the President on June 11, 1979 but it was brought into force only on October 2, 1980 by a notification issued under Section 1, sub-section(3). The Inter-State Migrant Workmen Rules, 1980 (hereinafter referred to as 'the Central Inter-State Migrant Workmen Rules') were also made by the Central Government and brought into force with effect from October 2, 1980. But unfortunately, though the Inter-State Migrant Workmen Act and the Central Inter-State Migrant workmen Rules came into force from October 2, 1980, the bureaucratic apparatus for implementing the provisions contained in the Act and the Rules was not set up by the Central Government appointed various authorities such as Registering Officers, Licensing Officers and Inspectors. Even so we fail to see why the obligations of contractors set out in Section 12 and wages, welfare and other facilities provided in Sections 13 to 16 of the Inter-State Migrant Workmen Act could not be made avail able to inter-State Migrant Workmen employed in the project work and the Central Government as the appropriate Government could not enforce the same from and after October 2, 1980. When the Act and the Rules came into force with effect from October 2, 1980, the provisions contained in Section 12 and Sections 13 to 16 became clearly applicable to the establishments pertaining to the project work and there was no justification for the Central Government to delay any longer the implementation of these provisions insofar as inter-State migrant workmen were concerned. The Central Government in any event ought to have enforced the provisions relating to registration of principal employers and licensing of contractors as also the provisions set out in Section 12 and Section 13 to 16 from June 1982 when the various authorities contemplated under the Act were appointed by the Central Government. We do not think the Central Government can escape its obligation to enforce the provisions of the Inter-State migrant workmen employed in the project work. The final report of the Labour Commissioner (J & K) clearly shows that Oriya workmen employed on the project site were recruited by khatedars from their villages in Orissa and brought to the project site for work and they would clearly be Inter-State migrant workmen within the definition of that term in clause (e) of Section 2 of the Inter-State Migrant Workmen Act. We would therefore direct the Central Government to take immediate steps for enforcement of the provisions of the Inter-State Migrant Workmen Act in regard to inter-state migrant workmen employed in the project work. The Central Government will at once proceed to identify 'Inter- State migrant workmen' from amongst the workmen employed in the project work and adopt necessary measures for ensuring to them the benefits and advantages provided under the Inter-State Migrant Work men Act. We would like the Central Government to file an affidavit within one month from today setting out what steps have been taken for securing implementation of the provisions of the Inter-State Migrant Women Act at the project site; whether the Executive Engineers of the Central Government or the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation have been registered principal employers under Section 4 and the contractors, subcontractors or 'piece wagers', khatedars and sardars have been licensed under Section 8; whether the contractors and sub- contractors or piece wagers are carrying out the obligations imposed upon them under Section 12 and whether wages and allowances stipulated in Sections 13,14 and 15 and other facilities provided in Section 16 are being made available to the Inter-state migrant workmen employed in the project work. 4. That takes us to the question whether the provisions of the Minimum Wages Act and the Contract Labour Act are being followed in relation to the workmen employed on the project site. But before we consider this question, we may point out that, in regard to the suggestion made in the writ petition that there are amongst the Oriya workmen bonded labourers who are forced to provide labour by the khatedars who have recruited them, the final report of the Labour Commissioner (J & K) points out that "by and large there is not evidence of any worker having been detained and not allowed to go home against his wish" and "there is no bonded labourer in the project whether the employment is direct or through the contractors or sub-contractors". We must therefore proceed on the basis that there is no violation of the provisions of the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976. But so far as the Minimum Wages Act and the Contract Labour Act are concerned, the report of the Labour Commissioner (J & K) does reveal that there are violations of the provisions of these two statutes. Section 2, clause (c) of the Contract Labour Act defines "contractor" in relation to an establishment, to mean "a person who undertakes to produce a given result for the establishment, other than a mere supply of goods or articles of manufacture to such establishment, through contract labour or who supplies contract labour for any work of the establishment and includes a subcontractor". Section 12, sub-section (1) then proceeds to enact that with effect from such date as the appropriate Government may, by notification in the official Gazette, appoint. no contractor to whom this Act applies shall undertake or execute any work through contract labour except under and in accordance with a licence issued in that behalf by the licensing officer. It is therefore within the definition of the term 'contractor' in Section 2, clause (e) is bound to obtain a licence under Section 12, sub-section (1) before he can undertake or execute any work through contract labour. Now according to the final report of the Labour Commissioner (J & K), requisite licence under Section 12, sub-section (1) but the 'piece wagers' who are really nothing but sub- contractors, have not cared to obtain such licence and yet they have undertake and are executing portions of the project work entrusted to them by the contractors, through workmen employed by them either directly or through khatedars. This is clearly in violation of the prohibition enacted in Section 12, sub-section (1) It is obvious that the object of the 'piece wagers' or the sub-contractors in not applying for licence under Section 12, sub-section (1) is to evade their obligations under Sections 16 to 21 read with Rules 41 to 62 of the Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Central Rules, 1971 (hereinafter referred to as 'the Contract Labour Central Rules') and to render these provisions difficult of application in relation to them. Sections 16 to 21 read with Rules 41 to 62 provide for making various facilities available to workmen employed by contractors for securing their health and welfare and ' piece wagers' or sub- contractors who are 'contractors' within the meaning of that term in Section 2, clause (c) cannot escape their obligations under these provisions by not applying for a licence under Section 12, sub-section (1) In fact, if sub-contractors undertake or execute any work through contract labour without obtaining a licence under Section 12, sub- section (1) they would be guilty of a criminal offence punishable under Section 23 or Section 24. We would therefore direct the Central Government as the enforcing authority to take immediate steps for ensuring that the 'piece wagers' or sub-contractors do not execute any portion of the project work without obtaining a licence under Section 12, sub-section (1) and that they carry out their obligations under Sections 16 to 21 read with Rules 41 to 62. Of course, if the contractors who have employed 'piece wagers' or sub-contractors have provided the facilities set out in Sections 16 to 21 read with Rules 41 to 62 not only to the workmen em ployed directly by them but also to the workmen employed by the 'piece wagers' or sub-contractors, nothing more may remain to be done by the 'piece wagers' or sub- contractors. But there can be no doubt that the 'piece wagers' or sub- contractors are equally responsible for implementing the provisions contained in these sections. The Central Government will in the Report to be sub mitted by it on or before [sic April 30, 1983] state whether the 'piece wagers' or sub-contractors have obtained the requisite licence under Section 12, sub-section (1) or they are executing the portion of the project work entrusted to them without obtaining such licence and whether the provisions set out in Sections 16 to 21 read with Rules 41 to 62 are being implemented in relation to the workmen employed by the 'piece wagers' or sub-con tractors. 5. The final report of the Labour Commissioner (J & K) also pints out that whereas the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation has provided canteens and rest rooms to its workmen as required by Sections 16 to 17 of the Contract Labour Act and Rules, the con tractors and 'piece wagers' or sub-contractors have not provided such canteens and rest rooms in breach of their obligations under these provisions. It is also mentioned in the final report of the Labour Commissioner (J & K) there is clearly an obligation on the contractors and 'piece wagers' Rule 57. The Central Government has, in the affidavit in reply made on its behalf by H. S. Raju stated rather half heartedly that facilities for canteens are reasonably made but conceded that "as canteens provided by the contractors are not of the prescribed specifications action has been taken by the Regional Labour Commissioner for prosecution of the contractors for their failure to provide canteens with specified specification". We would therefore direct the Central Government to take immediate steps for ensuring that canteens, rest rooms and washing facilities are provided by the contractors and 'piece wagers' or sub- contractors to the workmen employed by them in accordance with the requirements of Sections 16, 17 and 18 clause (c) read with Rules 41 to 50 and 57 and the Central 1983 setting out what steps have been taken for securing implementation of these provisions and whether these provisions have been complied with by the contractors and 'piece wagers' or sub-contractors. 6. So far as medical facilities are concerned, we are glad to know that according to the final report of the Labour Commissioner (J & K), adequate medical care is provided to the workmen employed on the project site. It is pointed out in the final report of the Labour Commissioner (J & K) that some minors were found to have been employed on the project site but the explanation gives was that "these minors accompany male members of their families on their own and insist on getting employed". This Court has pointed out in its judgment in the Asiad Workers case that construction work is a hazardous employment and therefore under Article 24 of the Constitution, no child below the age of 14 years can be employed in construction work. We are aware that the problem of child labour is a difficult problem and it is purely on account of economic reasons that parents often want their children to be employed in order to be able to make two ends meet. The possibility of augmenting their meager earnings through employment of children to schools and there are large drop-outs from the schools. This is an economic problem and it cannot be solved merely by legislation. So long as there is poverty and destitution in this country, it will be difficult to eradicate child labour. But even so an attempt has to be made to reduce, if not eliminate the incidence of child labour, because it is absolutely essential that a child should be able to receive proper education with a view to equipping itself to become a useful member of the society and to play a constructive role in the socio-economic development of the country. We must concede that having regard to the prevailing socio-economic conditions, it is not possible to prohibit child labour altogether and in fact, any such move may not be socially or economically acceptable to large masses of people. That is why Article 24 limits the prohibition against employment of child labour only to factories, mines or other hazardous employments. Clearly, construction work is a hazardous employment and no child below the age of 14 years can therefore be allowed to be employed in construction work by reason of the prohibition enacted in ? Article 24 and this constitutional prohibition must be enforced by the Central Government. The Central Government would do well to persuade the workmen to send fees to be paid but also provide, free of charge, books and other facilities such as transportation. We would suggest that whenever the Central Government undertakes a construction who are living at or near the project site should be given facilities for schooling and this may be done either by the Central Government itself or if the Central Government itself or if the Central Government entrusts the project work or any part there of to a contractor necessary provision to this effect may be made in the contract with the contractor. 7. That takes us to the question whether wages are being paid to the workmen in accordance with the provisions of the relevant statutes. The final report of the Labour Commissioner (J & K) to the workmen employed by the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation and the contractors is concerned but points out that in case of wages is made directly only to those workmen "who are employed individually" and to other workmen, like Oriya labourers who are employed in groups, wages are paid thorough khatedars and in this latter case, there are complaints of deductions by khatedars on account of advances made to the workmen in their native place, messing not reflect the deductions". Now this Court has held in Asiad Workers case that the minimum wages must be paid to the workmen directly without any deduction save and except those authorised by the statute, Wages due to the workmen employed by the 'piece wagers' or sub-contractors must therefore be paid directly to the workmen without the intervention of khatedars, and no deductions can be made from the wages on account of any advances alleged to have been made by the khatedars to the work men. If there are any advances repayable by the workmen to the khatedars or any messing charges are to be paid, they may be paid by the workmen to the khatedars after they receive the full amount of wages due to them from the 'piece wagers' or sub-con tractors. But on no account can any deductions be made from such wages, and they must be paid to the workmen directly without the intervention of any middleman. Moreover, section 21, sub-section (2) of the Contract Labour Act requires that every principal employer shall nominate a representative duly authorised by him to be the duty of such representative to certify the amount paid as wages in such manner as may be prescribed and under sub-section (3) of Section 21, it is the duty of the contractor to ensure that disbursement of wages is made in the presence of the authorised representative of the principal employer. It is stated in the final report of the Labour Commissioner (J & K) Section that this statutory obligation under sub-sections (2) and (3) of by the 'piece wagers' or sub-contractors are concerned, payment of wages to them is not supervised by any authorised representative of the contractors or the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation or the Central Government nor is the Payment of wages made in the presence of such authorised; representative and the workmen are left to the mercy of the 'piece wagers' or sub- contractors and their staff. This statement is of course, disputed in the affidavit in reply filed on behalf of the Central Government but we have our own doubts whether this denial is well founded. If the requirement of sub- sections (2) and (3) of Section 21 is strictly carried out and payment of wages to the workmen employed by the 'piece wagers' or subcontractors is made in the presence of an authorised representative of the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation or the Central Government, there is no reason why the workmen should complain to the Labour Commissioner (J & K) in regard to payment of wages because in that event they would be receiving their full wages directly from the 'piece wagers' or sub-contractors without the intervention of khatedars and free from any deductions whatsoever. Moreover it is also pointed out by the Labour commissioner (J & K) in his final report that overtime wages earned by workmen are not received by them in their entirety and almost 50 per cent is taken away by khatedars but the muster-sheets do not reflect the correct position and "are treated as mere formality". The Central Government has beyond merely denying that overtime wages are not paid. It may be noted that this complaint has been made by the Labour Commissioner (J & K) after making a full and detailed enquiry from the workmen employed by the 'piece wagers' or sub-contractors and there is no the Labour Commissioner (J & K) or the Labour Commissioner (J & K) should have made a statement in his final report which was not bore out by the enquiry made out by him. The Labour Commissioner (J & K) also states that according to the information gathered by him from the workmen, he found that no weekly off day is allowed to the workmen" except in case of labour directly employed by the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation or other contractors". The Central Government in its affidavit in reply has denied that the workmen are not being granted weekly off day with wages and pointed out that the minimum rates of wages fixed by the Central Government are inclusive of the element of weekly day of rest and no extra wages are legally payable to the workmen under the Minimum wages Act. Now there can be no extra wages are legally payable to the workmen for the weekly off days. But the complaint made in the final report of the labour Commissioner (J & K) is not that extra wages are not being paid to the workmen for the weekly off days but that weekly paid off days are not given to the workmen, meaning thereby that the workmen are required to work even on their weekly paid off days. These complaints have to be remedied by the Central Government by taking appropriate action and the only way in which this can be don effectively is by carrying out periodically detailed inspections and insisting that every payment of wages must be made by the 'piece wagers' or sub-contractors in the presence of the authorised representative of the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation or of the Central Government/ The Central Government has averred in its affidavit in reply that is officers are regularly carrying out inspections and it has given various dates on which such inspections were carried out during the year 1982. The particulars of Inspectors given by the Central Government would show that during a period of 12 months, only four inspections were carried out in case of three contractors, two inspections in case of one contractor and one inspection each in case of one contractor and one inspection each in case of three other contractor. We find it difficult to accept that these inspections carried out by the officers of the Central Government were adequate. It is necessary to carry out more frequent inspections and such inspections have to be detailed and thorough, for them only it will be possible to ensure scrupulous observance of the labour laws enacted for the benefit of workmen. We would therefore direct the Central Government to tight up its enforcement machinery and to ensure that thorough and careful inspections are carried out by fairly senior officers at short intervals with a view to investigating whether the labour laws are being properly observed, particularly in relation to workmen employed, wither directly or through khatedars, by the contractors. We find it difficult to accept that these inspections carried out by the officers of the Central Government were adequate. It is necessary to carry out more frequent inspections an such inspections have to be detailed and thorough, for then only it will be possible to ensure scrupulous obeservance of the labour laws enacted for the benefit of workmen. We would therefore direct the Central Government to tighten up its enforcement machinery and to ensure that thorough and careful inspections are carried out by fairly senior officers at short intervals with a view to investigation whether the labour laws are being properly observed, particularly in relation to workmen employed, either directly or or sub-contractors. The Central Government must also strictly enforce the requirement that payment of wages particularly to workmen employed either directly or through khatedars by the 'piece wagers' or sub contractors is made in the presence of an authorised representative appointed by the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation or the Central Government and wages are paid directly to the workmen without the intervention of khatedars and free from any deductions whatsoever, except those authorised by law. It is not enough merely to go periodically and examine the muster-rolls or muster-sheets would invariably show payment of full wages and would not reflect the correct position. The Central Government must ensure, and that is the direction we give, the every payment of wages, whether it be normal wages or overtime wages shall be made directly to the workmen, without any deductions, in the presence of an authorised representative of the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation or the Central Government. When payment of overtime wages is made to the workmen, the Central Government must ask its authorised representative to check up with reference to the overtime work done by the workmen, whether they are receiving the full amount of overtime wages due to them or any part of it is being taken away by the khatedars. This evil can to a large extent be eliminated if payment of overtime wages is made directly to the workmen instead of routing it through the khatedars. The Central Government will promptly carry out these directions which are being given by us and will make a report to this Court on or before April 30, 1983 setting out what steps it has taken for carrying out these directions and how far they have been implemented. It is only if the officers of the National Hydro electric Power Corporation and the Central Government are sensitive to the misery and suffering of workmen arising from their deprivation and exploitation that they will be able to secure observance of the labour laws and to improve the life conditions of the workmen employed in such construction projects. 8. There is also one other matter to which our attention has been drawn by the Labour Commissioner (J & K). He has pointed out in his final report that the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation as also the contractors and 'piece wagers' or sub-contractors are paying to the workmen employed by them wages at the rate of Rs 9 per day, whereas the minimum wages payable to workmen in the construction industry as per the notification issued by the State of Jammu & Kashmir is Rs. 10 per day. The result is that whereas a workman employed in construction industry in the State of Jammu & Kashmir would be entitled to a minimum wage of Rs. 10 per day a workman employed in the Salal Project which is being carried out in the State of Jammu & Kashmir would be getting only Rs. 9 per day because it is a work which is being carried out by the Central Government. This is a rather anomalous situation to which we may draw the attention of the Central Government. 9. We accordingly adjourn this writ petition to May 6, 1983. We shall take it up for further hearing after we have received the report from the Central Government in accordance with the directions given in this judgment.