In Brief
Skilled workers employed by the Union of India's workshop from 2001–2004 claimed arrears of minimum wages under the Minimum Wages Act, 1948. The Specified Authority and High Court awarded them 200% compensation. In an identical case, the High Court had awarded only 100% compensation to similarly situated workers. The Supreme Court held that the award of 200% compensation, without reasoned justification for the differential treatment, was legally unsustainable. The Court modified the order to award 100% compensation (matching the identical case), holding that differential compensation awards to similarly placed workers require reasoned justification.
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