THE BURMAH-SHELL REFINERIES LIMITED vs THEIR WORKMEN.

The Supreme Court held that the payment of bonus to clerical staff must be based on the overall contribution of workmen to the company's profits, as established in Burn and Co., Calcutta v. Their Employees [1956] S.C.R. 781 and Baroda Borough Municipality v. Its Workmen [1957] S.C.R. 33. The Court ruled that it is unreasonable to pay clerical staff a lower rate of bonus than labor staff without a valid justification, affirming the Industrial Tribunal's decision to award a bonus of 9/24ths of basic wages to clerical staff for 1956. The Court emphasized the discretion of Industrial Tribunals in such matters, provided it is not exercised arbitrarily.