MANGANANESE ORE (INDIA) LTD. vs CHANDI LAL SAHA AND ORS.

The Supreme Court held that under Section 11 of the Minimum Wages Act, 1948, minimum wages must be paid in cash, and the monetary value of grain supplied at concessional rates and attendance bonuses cannot be deducted from minimum wages. The Court clarified that these benefits do not constitute wages as defined in Section 2(h) of the Act. The appeals by the appellant company were dismissed, affirming the Labour Courts' decisions that the deductions were improper and that the Labour Court had jurisdiction under Section 33C(2) of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 to adjudicate on wage recovery.