PAYMENT OF WAGES INSPECTOR vs SURAJMAL MEHTA & ANR.

The Supreme Court held that compensation under Section 25FF of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 qualifies as wages under the amended definition in Section 2(vi)(d) of the Payment of Wages Act, 1936, as it is payable due to termination of employment without specifying a payment timeline. The Court clarified that the authority under Section 15 of the Payment of Wages Act has jurisdiction to entertain applications related to wages, including retrenchment compensation. The High Court's ruling that the proper forum was the Labour Court under Section 33C(2) was overturned, affirming the authority's jurisdiction under the Payment of Wages Act.