Bright Futures Ltd., is imparting education to the students. It has been facing financial difficulties and has delayed salary payments and other dues to its employees for the past three months. Several employees have res

Section 15 of the Payment of Wages Act, 1936 provides that the appropriate Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint - any Commissioner for Workmen's Compensation; or any officer of the Central Government exercising functions as, (i) Regional Labour Commissioner; or (ii) Assistant Labour Commissioner with at least two years' experience; or any officer of the State Government not below the rank of Assistant Labour Commissioner with at least two years' experience; or (d) a presiding officer of any Labour Court or Industrial Tribunal, constituted under the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 or under any corresponding law relating to the investigation and settlement of industrial disputes in force in the State; or (e) any other officer with experience as a Judge of a Civil Court or a Judicial Magistrate, as the authority to hear and decide for any specified area all claims arising out of deductions from the wages, or delay in payment of the wages, of persons employed or paid in that area, including all matters incidental to such claims. Where contrary to the provisions of Payment of Wages Act, 1936 any deduction has been made from the wages of an employed person, or any payment of wages has been delayed, such person himself, or any legal practitioner or any official of a registered trade union authorised in writing to act on his behalf, or any Inspector under this Act, or any other person acting with the permission of the authority appointed, may apply to such authority for a direction of payment of wages. When any application is entertained by the authority, the authority shall hear the applicant and the employer or other person responsible for the payment of wages under section 3, or give them an opportunity of being heard, and, after such further enquiry, if any, as may be necessary, may, without prejudice to any other penalty to which such employer or other person is liable under this Act, direct the refund to the employed person of the amount deducted, or the payment of the delayed wages, together with the payment of such compensation as the authority may think fit. Where there is any dispute as to the person or persons being the legal representative or representatives of the employer or of the employed person, the decision of the authority on such dispute shall be final. Any Amount directed to be paid under section 15 may be recovered- (a) if the authority is a Magistrate, by the authority as if it were a fine imposed by him as Magistrate, and (b) if the authority is not a Magistrate, by the Magistrate to whom the authority makes application in this behalf, as if it were a fine imposed by such Magistrate. The above measures may be taken by the employees for recovery of amount due from the employer.