Summarize the following court judgment. Appeals Nos. 276 277 of 1972. Appeals by Special Leave from the Supplementary Award dated the 15th October	 1971 of the Industrial Court	 Maharashtra	 Bombay in Misc. Applications (IC) Nos. 1 and 2 of 1970. section T. Desai and I. N. Shroff	 for the appellant (In C.A. No. 276 of 1972). 279 (Mathew	 J.) M. C. Setalvad and I. N. Shroff	 for the appellant (In C.A. No. 277 of 1972). section V. Gupte	 M. C. Bhandare	 Sunanda Bhandare	 and P. H. Parekh and Advocates of M/s. Bhandare Parekh and Co.	 for the respondent (in both the Appeals). The Judgment of the Court was delivered by Mathew	 J. These two appeals by special leave are directed against a supplementary award dated October 15	 1971	 passed by the Industrial Court	 Maharashtra	 Bombay	 in Miscellaneous applications (IC) Nos. 1	 2 and 3 of 1970	 filed by the respondent	 the Mill Mazdoor Sabha	 hereinafter called the 'Sabha '. By the supplementary award	 the Industrial Court has modified an existing award of the Industrial Court	 Maharashtra	 Bombay	 dated April 25	 1962	 passed in reference (IC) Nos. 131	 138	 139 and 155 of 1961	 and published in the Maharashtra Government Gazette dated June 14	 1962	 by directing with retrospective effect from January 1	 1971	 that the employees in Silk and Art Silk Industry who were concerned in the dispute shall be granted dearness allowance at the rate of 99 percent neutralization of the rise in the Bombay Consumer Price Index 106 (old series) on the basis of the minimum wage of Rs. 30/ per month of 26 working days. We will deal with appeal No. 276 of 1972 first. The Appellant is the Silk and Art Silk Mills ' Association	 Ltd.	 a public company having its registered office in Bombay	 hereinafter called 'the Association '. For the purpose	 of Bombay Industrial Relation Act	 1946	 the Association was recognised under section 27 read with section 3(23) of that Act as the Association of employers in Silk and Art Silk Textile Industry within the local area of Greater Bombay. Silk Textile Industry was started in India sometime in 1933 and the Association came into being in 1939 with 16 members having 2	000 looms. Till 1965	 the Association was regis tering as members only mills having 25 or more looms. Thereafter	 it began to register smaller units also as its members. Such smaller units numbered 308 with 2	326 looms in March	 1969. The total number of mills within and outside the State of Maharashtra which were members of the Association on March 31	 1969	 was 512 with a total of 20	200 looms. According to the Association	 out of the 512 units which were its members	 a large number of units numbering about 444 were grey units	 which means	 that none of these units has its own raw materials and that they have not got any equipment for dyeing	 bleaching or otherwise finishing their products. On February 6	 1970	 when Miscellaneous Application (IC) No. 1 was filed	 the Association had	 as its members	 about 325 280 units of employers in the art silk textile industry within the local area of Greater Bombay. Out of these 325 employer units	 90 employer units alone were concerned with the Miscellaneous Application (IC) No. 1 of 1970	 as that application sought modification of the award dated April 25	 1962	 in reference Nos. (IC) 131	 138	 139 and 155 of 1961 which governed only the 90 units of the Art Silk Industry. In this case	 we are directly concerned worth 55 member units only	 as the remaining 35 units had one out of business between April 25	 1962 and February 5	 1970. There were two previous decisions binding on these units regarding dearness allowance. One was the award passed in reference No. 97 of 1951 which granted neutralization to the extent of 75 per cent rise in the Bombay Consumer Price Index 106 (old series). The other was a settlement arrived at during the pendency of Miscellaneous Application (IC) No. 3 of 1957 which modified the award in reference No. 97 of 1951 by raising the percentage of neutralization to 80 per cent with effect from June 1	 1957. The Sabha is recognised under section 30 read with section 3 (32) of the Bombay Industrial Relation Act as the representative Union of employees in the Silk and Art Silk Industry within the local area of Greater Bombay. The demand of the Sabha in Miscellaneous Application (IC) No. 1 of 1970 was	 that "the employees shall be granted with effect from May 1	 1970	 dearness allowance at the rate of 100 per cent neutralization of the rise in the Bombay Consumer Price Index 106 (old series) on the basis of the minimum wage in force	 at present	 namely Rs. 36.50 per month of 26 working days". As already stated	 the application was	 in effect	 to modify the award passed on April 25	 1962	 in reference (IC) Nos. 131	 138	 139 and 155 of 1961; that award provided that the employees covered by the references should be given an adhoc increase of Rs. 5.20 per month of 26 working days over their wages at that time	 that the increase should be in force for two years from February 1	 1962	 that thereafter	 the increase should be Rs. 6.50 per month of 26 working days instead of Rs 5.20 and that this will continue for a further period of 2 years. The award rejected the prayer for increase rate of dearness allowance. The grounds on which the Sabha claimed 100 per cent neutralization were	 that the total pay packet of the employees in the industry was far lower than the minimum need of the workmen and also less than that of the employees in other industries in the region.	 that there has been a steep rise in the cost of living since the last revision of basic wages and a greater rise in the cost of living since the decision fixing neutralization at 80 per cent of the basic wage of Rs. 30/ per month for 26 working days	 that the employer units 281 (Mathew	 J.) have the capacity to bear the additional burden as the art silk ' industry in the region has prospered and established itself as a stable one with good prospects. The main contentions of the Association were that the total pay ' packet of the workmen in Rayon and Artificial Silk industry in the	 local area of Greater Bombay was Rs. 190.12 per month of 26	 working days	 that dearness allowance to the extent of 80 per cent neutralization was automatically responsive to the rise in the cost of living and	 therefore	 there was no real fall in the pay packet consequent on the rise in the cost of living	 that the workmen had received an ad hoc increase of Rs. 5.20 per month of 26 working days from February 1	 1962	 and that this has been further raised to Rs. 6.50 from February 1	 1964	 that the base for neutralization which was Rs. 30/ should not and ought not to be changed to Rs. 36.50 as demanded by the Sabha	 that the demand was beyond the capacity of most of the 55 units concerned	 that the dearness allowance paid in the other industries in the region cannot furnish any relevant criterion as the financial position of these units was quite different	 that over the years	 the position of the industry has steadily deteriorated	 that on account of the paucity of foreign exchange	 restrictions on import of the required machinery	 the non availability of the necessary types of raw materials	 the high cost of yam	 the heavy excise duty on indigenous yarn	 the industry has been declining	 that the import on nylon yarn was canalised through the State Trading Corporation of India and it kept for itself a very high profit margin	 that the price of raw materials in the industry has gone up	 that prior to March	 1970	 the excise duty on processed yarn and artificial silk fabric varied from 9 paise to 30 paise per square metre whereas from March	 1970	 onwards	 the was a steep rise in the excise	 duty per square metre and therefore the industry cannot bear any further burden and that in any event	 the demand for 100 per cent neutralization is unwarranted As already stated	 the Industrial Court	 after evaluating the materials produced by parties	 came to the conclusion that the employees in the Silk and Art Silk Industry should be granted dearness allowance at the rate of 99 per cent neutralization of the rise in the Bombay Consumer Price Index 106 (old series) on the basis of the minimum basic wage of Rs. 30/ per month of 26 working days with effect from January 1	 1971. The Court found that at the time when the wages were raised in 1962	 the consumer price index stood at 429	 that there has been a steep rise in the cost of living as reflected in the Bombay Consumer Price Index in May 1970 it stood at 799 and on the date of the award it stood at 839	 and so	 there was a fall in real wages by 39 paise per day of the lowest class of workers. The Court	 19 1208 Sup CI/72 282 therefore	 came to the conclusion that the demand for neutralization of the rise in the cost of living was reasonable. It further found that exhibit U. 8	 which is a comparative Table showing the minimum basic wages and dearness allowance paid in other industries in the region was a relevant document as it indicated the trend in other industries in the region to allow full neutralization on account of the rise in the cost of living. The Court then proceeded to assess the financial capacity of the employer units with particular reference to their volume of business	 the capital invested	 tile profits earned	 the standing of the industry	 the strength of the labour force employed	 the position of reserves	 the dividend declared and the future prospect of the industry. The Association	 although it represented 55 employer units	 produced no data as regards	 the financial capacity of 27 units in spite of the clear direction of the Court	 and so	 the Court	 on the basis of the in materials placed before it by the other units	 came to the conclusion that the art and art silk industry has prospered and has established itself	 that the prospect of the industry was bright and that the financial position of the 28 units which produced their balance sheets and profit and loss accounts or other documents to show their gross profits was such that they could afford to bear the additional burden. For reaching the conclusion that the industry is prosperous and has a bright future	 the Court relied on the speech made by the Chairman of the Silk and Art Silk Mills Association at the 30th Annual General Meeting in 1969	 in which he said that the manmade	 fibre industry had made remarkable progress during the	 last decade	 that the production during the year 1969 exceeded the Third Plan target by over 25 per cent	 that there was a rise in the	 per capita consumption of fabrics	 that rapid progress was expected in the production of non cellulosic yarn and that the	 total demand in relation to the	 year 1969 was likely to increase by 41 per cent by the year 1973 74 and by 110 per cent by the year 1978 79	 The Court also relied upon the fact that actual export in 1970 exceeded the export in the previous three years	 the fact that production has substantially increased in the first six months of 1970	 that it was as much as 525.77 million metres compared to the total production of 892.67 million metres in 1969 and the fact that the	 total production of art silk yam had reached the figure 1 4.680 thousand kilograms compared to 106.480 thousand kilograms in 1969. The Court estimated that export of Rayon fabrics and synthetic textiles will reach Rs. 26.50 crores a year by 1973 74	 Although excise duty has been increased	 the Court found that it had not adversely affected the industry in any substantial degree its the economic incidence of the burden of the excise duty was passed on to the consumer. As regards the financial capacity of the units	 the Court relied on exhibit U. 9 which is an analysis of 	he profit and loss accounts of the 28 mills and exhibit U. 10	 which is a consolidated statement showing the financial condition of these 283 (Mathew	 J.) mills and exhibit U. 11. the statement regarding the bonus paid by the mills which. did not file their balance sheets and profit and loss accounts and Exhibit U. 12	 a statement showing the interest paid by some of the units which had filed their balance sheets and Exhibit U. 13	 a statement showing the profitability ratio for art silk industry in Bombay and exhibit U. 14	 a comparative statement of the profitability ratio in cotton textiles	 engineering and chemical industry. The Court found from exhibit U. 9 that there was an increase in the paid up capital of 44.07 lakhs from 1965	 an increase in the reserve amounting to 32.96 lakhs and increase in the gross block amounting to Rs. 285.54 lakhs and an increase in the net block of Rs. 140 63 lakhs from 1965 to 1968. From the figures given in exhibits in U. 9 and U. 10	 the Court found that	 after providing for depreciation to the total paid up capital	 the profit would work out at 40.02 per cent and that after providing for depreciation to the total paid up capital and reserve	 it would work out at 21.10 per cent. From the large amount of interest paid by some of the units as disclosed in exhibit U. 12	 the Court inferred that these units are under capitalised but that	 at the same time	 they preferred to borrow money at the current rate of interest. The Court also found from exhibit U. II that 17 mills which did not file their balance sheets or profit and loss accounts were in a position to pay bonus in excess of the 4 per cent which is the statutory minimum under the Payment of Bonus Act and therefore	 these units must have been making profits and	 as their present financial position was not shown to have become worse	 they had the financial capacity to bear the additional burden. Mr. section T. Desai for the appellant submitted that the Industrial Court drew an adverse inference against the 28 units although they had produced their balance sheets and profit and loss accounts on the ground that the 27 mills did not produce any data to show their financial capacity to bear the additional burden and that that was unjustified. He argued that so far as the 28 mills which had produced their balance sheets and profits and loss accounts	 there should have been an appreciation of the materials placed before the Court on their merit and no adverse inference should have been drawn against them because the other units did not place any relevant materials as regards their financial capacity. In other words	 his argument was that as the 28 mills had produced relevant documents to show their financial capacity	 the Court should not have drawn any adverse inference as against them merely from the non production of the relevant documents by the other units. We lo not think that there is any substance in this argument. As already stated	 the Association represented 55 units of employers and out of the 55 units	 only 28 units produced their balance sheet	 	 and profit and loss accounts. Statements were filed by 284 17 units (exhibits C. 1 8 5 to 201 ) undertaking that they would abide by the information and the balance sheets and profit and loss accounts supplied by the 28 mills and praying for decision of the dispute on the basis of the information and statement of accounts so supplied. The remaining 10 mills orally agreed that they would also abide by the statement and balance sheets supplied by the 28 mills and for deciding the dispute on that basis. Therefore	 an adjudication by the Industrial Court as regards the rate of neutralization to be allowed on the basis of the financial capacity of the 28 units as guaged from the balance sheets and profit and loss accounts produced by the 28 mills was quite proper. To put it differently	 the award in so far as it concerned the 28 units	 proceeded on the basis of their financial capacity as guaged from the balance sheets and profit and loss accounts produced by them and from the materials in the case. They can	 therefore	 have no reason for any complaint	 that the Court drew any adverse inference as regards them from the non production of relevant materials in the possession of the other employer units. And	 as regards the 27 employer units which did not supply any materials with respect to their financial capacity	 they cannot also have any reason for complaint in view of their undertaking to abide by the decision of the Industrial Court on the basis of materials furnished by the 28 units The only reason why they did not furnish the basic information as regards their financial capacity in spite of the direction of the Court	 is that the information	 if furnished	 would. go	 against them. We are satisfied that the award was based on the materials produced in the case so far as the 28 units are concerned and not on any adverse inference drawn from the non production of the relevant materials by the 27 units. Mr. Desai contended that the	 position of the industry is not stable and that its prospects are bleak. He said that the Court did not give due weight to exhibits C. 1 to C. 4 and C. 15 in reaching the conclusion that the position of the industry was stable. Exhibit C.1 is a statement showing the number of mills and the looms owned by them as on April 1	 1970. Exhibit C. 2 is a statement showing the number of members of the Association and their looms. Exhibit C. 3 is a statement showing the looms run by member mills of the Association as on April 1	 1970. Exhibit C . 4 is a statement showing the number of grey and composite units in the industry and their looms. Exhibit C. 15 is a statement concerning 25 mills. It shows the number of looms installed	 average number of loom shifts worked per month	 average production and average export per month during the 4 years namely 1966 to 1969. Exhibits C. 1 to C. 4 do not throw much light upon the question in controversy as they only show the all India figures. Exhibit C. 15 was taken into consideration by the Industrial Court But the Court did not place much reliance upon it as it was of 285 (Mathew	 J.) opinion that the data furnished by the balance sheets and profit and loss accounts was more relevant. Counsel submitted that the number of looms has gone down	 that the cost of production has gone up	 that export of manufactured silk has dwindled	 that Sales have declined and therefore	 the profits of the units have gone down from 1965 to 1968. Counsel in this connection referred to exhibit U. 13	 a document produced by the ' Sabha to show the profitability ratio and argued that that document would itself indicate that there was decline in profits from 1965 to 1968 . Exhibit U. 13 is a statement of the gross profits for the years from 1965 to 1968 of these units from the point of view of total sales	 of total capital and of total net Worth. In Ahmedabad Mill Owners	 ' Association	 etc. vs The Textile Labour Association(1) the Court observed "We do not think in considering the financial position of the appellants in the context of the dispute before us	 it Would be appropriate to rely unduly on the profitability ratio which has been adopted by the said Bulletin. Indeed	 in appreciating the effect of the several statements produced before the Industrial Court by the	 parties in the. present	proceedings	 it would be relevant to remember that some of these single purpose statements are likely to create confusion and should not ordinarily be regarded as decisive. As Paton has observed : "Different groups for whom financial statements are prepared are interested in varying	 degree in particular types of information; and so	 it has been held in some quarters that no one form of statement will satisfactorily serve all these purposes	 that separate single purpose statements should be prepared for each need or that the statements usually prepared for general. distribution should be expanded so as ' to include all the detail desired" (Accountant 's Handbook Edited by Paton	 p. 13). Paton cites the comment of Wilcox against these single purpose statements. Said Wilcox : "The danger in undertaking to furnish singlepurpose financial statements lies in increasing confusion and misunderstanding	 and in the possible misuse of such statements for unintended purposes". Paton has then ' referred to certain methods for determining the financial position of a commercial and industrial concern. In this 'connection	 he refers to the proprietary ratio rate of earnings 'on total capital employed	 rate of dividends on common stockholders ' equity and others. Our purpose In referring to these comments made by (1) [1966] 1 S.C.R.382 at p. 426	 286 Paton is to emphasise the fact that industrial adjudication cannot lean too heavily on such single purpose statements or adopt any one of the tests evolved from such statements	 whilst it is attempting the task of deciding the financial capacity of the employer in the context of the wage problem. While we must no doubt examine the position in detail	 ultimately we must base our decision on	 a broad view which emerges from a consideration of all the relevant factors". We think that the Industrial Court hag carefully examined the financial position of the employer units as also the position of the industry and its future prospects. The Court was fully aware of the nature of the demand and the extent of the burden which the employer units. will have to bear. A broad and overall view of the financial position of the employer units was taken into account by the Court and it has tried to reconcile the natural and just claims of the employees for a higher rate of dearness allowance with the capacity of the employer to pay it and in that process it has made allowance for the legitimate desire of the employer to make reasonable profit. What is really material in assessing the financial capacity of the employer units in this context is the extent of gross profits made by them (see Unichem Laboratories Ltd. vs Their Workmen(1). On the basis of exhibit U. 9 which is an analysis of the balance sheets and profit and loss accounts of the 28 units	 the Court found that the 28 mills have been making good profits and that	 on an average	 the profit would work out at 40 and odd per cent of the capital. There was some decline in the profits made during the years 1966	 1967 and 1968 but	 the Court found that the industry was rallying round in 1970. Mr. Desai contended that the Industrial Court did not appreciate the impact on the industry of the enhancement of excise duty upon the manufacture of silk products. Counsel contended that there has been considerable increase in excise duty on all varieties of silk and that has affected the consumption of manufactured silk products. No evidence his been adduced to show what exactly has been the effect on the industry of the enhancement in excise duty. Although the Managers of two units were examined as witnesses No. 2 and 3 in March and April	 1971	 they did not give any evidence as regards the adverse effect on the sale of silk products on account of the imposition of enhanced excise duty during the financial year 1970. We do not think that without further evidence as regards the effect of the enhancement in the excise duty	 it is ' possible to draw an inference that the sale of the products has been"adversely affected. Quite apart from this	 we do not (1) Civil Appeals No. 1091 93 of 1971	 decided on 24 2 1971	 287 (Mathew	 J.) understand how when the economic incidence of the excise duty has been passed on to the consumer	 the employer units have to bear any additional burden on account of the levy. Counsel next contended that the Industrial Court was not justified in relying upon exhibit U. 8 for coming to the conclusion that 99 per cent of neutralization on account of rise in cost of living should be granted to the employees on the basis of the percentage of neutralization in other industries in the region. Counsel said that granting 99 per cent neutralization has not been countenanced by this Court	 that the	 basis of fixation of dearness allowance is industry cum region and that the Industrial Court went wrong in taking into account the percentage of neutralization in other industries in the region for fixing the extent of neutralization on account of the rise in cost of living to the employees in question here and relied on the decision of this Court in Bengal Chemical and Pharmaceutical Works Ltd. vs Its Workmen(1). In that case	 Vaidialingam. J.	 speaking for the Court	 laid down among other things	 the following propositions : 1. Full neutralization is not normally given 	 except to the very lowest class of employees	 2. the purpose of dearness allowance being to Tieutralize a portion of the increase in the. cost of living	 it should ordinarily be on a sliding scale and provide for an increase in the rise in the cost of living and decrease on a fall in the cost of living	 3. the basis of fixation of wages and dearness allowance. is industry cum region. We do not think that the Industrial Court went wrong in relying upon exhibit U. 8	 or	 in granting 99 per cent neutralization on account of the steep rise in the cost of living. Exhibit U. 8	 it may be recalled is a comparative Table showing the minimum basic wages and dearness allowance paid in order industries in the region like the engineering	 pharmaceuticals	 etc. The Court relied upon it only to show the trend in the region. The Court also relied upon the report of the Norms Committee which stated that the trend for the last decade in industrial adjudication as well as in settlement		 and awards	 was ' to allow 100 per cent neutralization in the case of lowest paid employees. The Court was of the view that if go per cent neutralization could be allowed in the industry under tile settlement arrived at in 1957	 there was no reason why 100 per cent neutralization should not be granted in view of the steep rise in the cost of living from 1957	 to the lowest paid employees. We can not agree with the contention of the appellant that the Industrial Court went wrong in relying upon exhibit U. 8 or the report of the Norms Committee to find out the trend in the region as to the extent of neutralization to be allowed to the employees concerned. The question of the extent of neutralization to the workmen in the units (1) ; 288 does not depend solely upon the fact whether neutralization to that extent has been allowed to the employees in comparable concerns in the same industry in the same region. Much distinction cannot be made in this respect among the lowest paid employees in the region merely because some of them are employed in other industries. In other words	 for finding the trend or the norm in the region as regards the extent of neutralization for the lowest paid employees	 the Industrial Court cannot be said to have gone wrong in relying upon either the Norms Committee Report or on exhibit U. 8. Counsel for the appellant submitted that the Industrial Court did not make any attempt to fix the dearness allowance on the basis of the industry cum region formula	 and that that was a fatal blemish in the award. In French Motor Car Co. Limited vs Workmen(1) this Court observed that the principle of industry cumregion has to be applied by an industrial court	 when it proceeds to consider questions like wage structure	 dearness allowance and similar conditions of service and in applying that principle indus trials courts have to compare the wage scale or the dearness allowance prevailing in similar concerns in the region with which it is dealing	 and generally speaking similar concerns would be those in the same line of business as the concern with respect to which the dispute is under consideration and further	 even in the same line of business	 it would not be proper to compare a small struggling concern with a large flourishing concern. In Williamsons (India) Private Ltd. vs The Workmen(2) the Court observed that the extent of business carried an by the concerns. the capital invested by them	 the profits made by them	 the nature of the business carried on by them	 their standing	 the strength of their labour force	 the presence or absence and the extent. of reserves	 the dividends declared by them and the prospects about the future of their business and other relevant factors have to be borne in mind for the purpose of comparison. These observations were made to show how comparison should be made	 even in the same line of business and were intended to lay down that a small concern cannot be compared even in the same line of business with a large concern. In Greaves Cotton and Cc	. and others vs Their Workmen (3)	 the main argument was that the Tribunal went wrong in relving more on the region aspect of the industry cum region formula and not on the industry aspect when deali ng with clerical and subordinate staff. The Court said that it was ordinarily desirable the have as much uniformity as possible in the wage scales of different concerns of the same industry working in the game region	 as this puts similar industries more or less on an equal footing in their production struggle. The Court then referred to	 the French (1) [1963] Supp. 	 at pi). 20 21. (2) [1962] 1 L.J. 302. (3) ; 	at pp. 367 369	 289 (Mathew	 J.) Motor Co. 's(1) case and observed that in that case this Court held so far as clerical and subordinate staff 'are concerned that it may be possible to take into account even those concerns which are engaged in different	 lines of business for the work of clerical and subordinate staff is more or less the same in all kinds of concerns. The Court further observed that where there are a large number of industrial concerns of the same kind in the same region it would be proper to put greater emphasis on the industry part of the industry cum region principle as that would put all concerns on a more or less equal footing in the matter of production costs and therefore in the matter of competition in the market and this will equally apply to clerical and subordinate staff whose wages and dearness allowance also go into calculation of production costs : but where the number of comparable concerns is small in a particular region and therefore the competition aspect is not of the same importance	 the region part of the industry cum region formula assumes greater importance particularly with reference to clerical and subordinate staff and this was what was emphasised in the French Motor Car Cos((1) case where that company was already paying the highest wages in the particular line of business and therefore comparison had to be made with as similar concerns as possible in different lines of business for the purpose of fixing wage scales and dearness allowance. According to the Court	 the principle	 therefore	 which emerges from these two decisions is that in applying the industry cum region formula for fixing wage scales the Tribunal should lay stress on the industry part of the formula if there are a large number of concerns in the same region carrying on the same industry; in such a case in order that production cost may not be unequal and there may be equal competition	 wages should generally be fixed on the basis of the comparable industries	 namely	 industries of the same kind. But where the number of industries of the same kind in a particular region is small it is the region part of the industry cum region formula which assumes importance particularly in the case of clerical and subordinate staff	 for as pointed out in the French Motor Car Cos case(")	 there is not much difference in the work of this class of employees in different industries. If the employer has the financial capacity	 would it be just to reject the claim of the lowest paid workmen for an enhancement in dearness allowance to neutralize the rise in cost of living and thus to maintain their subsistence wage at its real level in terms of the purchasing capacity	 merely because there is a comparable concern in the industry in the region. In which workmen are paid dearness allowance at a low rate ? We do not think it necessary to answer this question for the purpose of deciding this case. (1) [1963] Supp. 2 S.C.R. at 20 21. 290 The Association never wanted the Court to make any compari son with any other units in the same industry in the region. In the written statement of the Association there was no averment that there were other comparable unit				. . 	 the same industry in the region. Nor did the Association	 It the time of argument before the Industrial Court	 put forward the contention that there were comparable concerns in the same industry in the region and that the Court should make a comparison of the employer units in question with those concerns to find out the extent of neutralization which could be granted. The Association had a membership of 325 units in Greater Bombay on February 6	 1970	 when the Miscellaneous Application (IC) No. 1 was filed. It was certainly in a position to tell the Court whether there were any other comparable units in the same industry in the region and the only inference from its conduct is that there were no comparable units in the industry in the region. We do not think that the award suffers from any infirmity. At the time of the admission of the Special Leave Petition the Court has ordered that the appellant should pay the cost of the respondent irrespective of the result of the appeal. We dismiss the appeal and direct the appellant to pay the cost of the respondent. In Civil Appeal No. 277 (NL) of 1972	 the contentions raised on behalf of the appellant are much the same as those raised in Civil Appeal No. 276(NL) of 1972 and for the reasons given in the above judgment	 we dismiss that appeal also and direct the appellant to pay the cost of the respondent. G.C. Appeals dismissed. L1208SupCI/72 2500 30 8 73 GIPF.

The appellant Association was recognised under section 27 read with section 3(23) of the Bombay Industrial Relations Act	 1946 as the Association of employers in Silk and Art Silk Textile Industry within the local area of Greater Bombay. The respondent Sabha represented the workmen in the Industry. By a supplementary award dated October 15	 1971 the Industrial Court modified an existing award of the Industrial Court of Maharashtra	 Bombay	 dated April 25	 1962 by directing with retrospective effect from January 1	 1971 that the employees in Silk and Art Silk Industry who were concerned in the dispute shall be granted dearness	 allowance at the rate of 99 per cent neutralization of the rise in the Bombay Consumer Price Index 106 (old series) on the basis of the minimum wage of Rs. 30/ 4 per month of 26 working days. The appellant Association and one of the Silk Mills appealed. HELD : The award did not suffer from any infirmity. (i) The Association represented 55 units of employers and out of these only 28 produced their balance sheets and profit and loss accounts. The other 27 units did not supply any materials with respect to their financial capacity but agreed to abide by the decision of the Industrial ' Court on the basis of the materials furnished by the 28 units. The award in so far as it concerned these 28 units proceeded on the basis of their financial capacity as judged from accounts produced by them and the materials in the case. There is no substance in the complaint that any adverse inference had been drawn against that 28 units on account of non production of materials by others. [283 H] (ii) The contention that the position of the industry was not stable and that its prospects were bleak could not be accepted. A broad and ' overall view of the financial position of the employer units was taken into account by the Industrial Court and it had tried to reconcile the natural and just claims of the employees for a higher rate of dearness allowance with the capacity of the employer to pay it and in that process it hadmade allowance for the legitimate desire of the employer to make reasonable profits. What is really material in assessing the financial capacity of the employer units in this context is the extent of gross profits made by them. On the basis of exhibit U.9	 which was an analysis of the balance sheet	 and profit and loss accounts of the 28 units	 the Court found 'that the 28 mills had been making good profits and that	 on an average	 the profit would work out at 40 and odd per cent of the capital. There was some decline in the profits made during the years 1966	 1967 and 1968 but	 the Court found that the industry was rallying round in 1970. [286 C] 278 Ahmedabad Mill Owners ' Association	 etc. vs The Textile Labour Association; 	 at p. 426 and Unichem Laboratories Ltd. vs Their Workmen	 Civil Appeals No. 1091 93 of 1971	 decided on 24 2 1971	 referred to. (iii) No evidence had been adduced to show what exactly had been the 	effect on the industry of the enhancement in excise duty. Without further evidence it was not possible to draw an inference that the sale of the products had been adversely affected. Moreover the economic incidence on the excise duty had been passed on to the consumer and the em ployer unit did not have to bear any additional burden on account of the levy. [286 H] (iv) Exhibit U.8 is a comparative Table showing the minimum basic wages and dearness allowance paid in other industries in the region like the engineering	 pharmaceuticals	 etc. The Court relied upon it only to show the trend in the region. The Court also relied upon the report of the Norms Committee which stated that the trend for the last decade in industrial adjudication as well as in settlements and awards	 was to allow 100 per cent neutralization in the case of lowest paid employees. The Court was of the view that if 80 per cent neutralization could be allowed in the industry under the settlement arrived at in 1957	 there was no reason why 100 per cent neutralization should not be granted in view of the steep rise in the cost of living from 1957	 to the lowest paid employees. It is not possible to agree with the contention of the appellant that the Industrial Court went wrong in relying upon exhibit U.8 or the report of the Norms Committee to find out the trend in the region as to the extent of neutralization to be allowed to the employees concerned. [287 F] Bengal Chemical and Pharmaceutical Works Ltd. vs Its Workmen	 referred to. (v) The Association never wanted the Court to make any comparison with any other units in the same industry in the region. In the written statement of the Association there was no averment that there were other comparable units in the same industry in the region. No did the Association	 at the time of argument before the Industrial Court	 put forward the contention that there were comparable concerns in the same industry in the region and that the Court should make a comparison of the employer units in question with those concerns to find out the extent of neutralization which could be granted. The Association was certainly in a position to tell the Court whether there were any other comparable units in the same industry in the region and the only inference from its conduct was that there were no comparable units in the industry in the region. [290 A] French Motor Car Co. Limited vs Workmen	 [1963] Supp. at pp. 20 21. Williamsons (India) Private Ltd.	 vs The Workmen	 [1962] I L.L.J. 302 and Greaves Cotton and Co. and others vs Their Workmen	 ; at pp. 367 369	 referred to.