U. UNICHOYI AND OTHERS vs THE STATE OF KERALA

The Supreme Court upheld the constitutional validity of the Minimum Wages Act, 1948, specifically Sections 5 and 9, rejecting the petitioners' claim that the wage notification was void due to lack of consideration for employers' capacity to pay. The Court established that the minimum wage must ensure sustenance and efficiency of workers, and that the Act's provisions do not allow for employer capacity to influence wage determination. The Court also clarified that the notification applies uniformly across factories in the State, and any deviation would contravene Sections 22 and 25 of the Act.