Summarize the following court judgment. Appeal No. 131 of 1968. Appeal by special leave from the Award dated December 8	 1967 of the Industrial Tribunal	 Punjab in Reference No. 44 of 1966. H.R. Gokhale	 Anand Parkash	 J.B. Dadachanji	 K.P. Bhandare and Bhuvnesh Kumari	 for the appellant. A. K. Sen	 Rameshwar Nath and Mahinder Narain	 for the respondents. The Judgment of the Court was delivered by Vaidialingam	 J. This appeal	 by special leave	 is directed against the award dated November 24	 1967 of the Industrial Tribunal	 Punjab	 Chandigarh	 in Reference No. 44 of 1966. The President of India	 by order dated October 31	 1966 referred the following issues for adjudication under section 10(1)(d) of the to the Industrial Tribunal	 Punjab	 Chandigarh: 708 "1. Whether the workmen are justified in demanding the minimum bonus payable for the years 1964 65	 1965 66 and future years being fixed @ Rs. 110/ and the maximum @ Rs. 360/ per worker ? If so	 with what details ? 2. Whether the action of the management in treating 4 days advance bonus paid for the year 1965 66 as deductible from bonus payable in future years is justified? If so	 are any conditions or stipulations necessary and if so with what details ? 3. Whether there is any justification for making any amendments in the production bonus scheme introduced by the management in such a way that it enables payment of bonus to the lower paid workers at higher rates and higher paid workers at lower rates ? If so	 with what details ? 4. Whether the workers are entitled to any wages or compensation for the period of strike viz.	 12th October to 31st October	 1966. " It may be stated at the outset that this Court is not concerned with issue No. 3. The question of introduction of production bonus scheme arises only to a limited extent in so far as it has got a bearing on a contention raised by the appellant that the production bonus scheme has been introduced in substitution of ex gratia payment of bonus which was being made by the management. Even as regards the strike period mentioned in issue No. 4	 parties were agreed before the Tribunal that the period of strike in respect of which wages or compensation were claimed by the workmen was from 17th October to 31st October 1966 and not from 12th October as stated in the issue. The circumstances under which the Reference came to be made by the President of India may be stated. The appellant Fertiliser Corporation of India is a limited company incorporated under the and it is also a Government company	 as defined in section 617 of that Act. The Nangal unit of the appellant went into production for the first time during the financial year 1962 63. On October 29	 1963	 the appellant issued a Circular regarding the grant of ad hoc bonus for the year 1962 63. The General Manager states	 in this Circular that the management has sanctioned payment of ad hoc bonus to employees of Nangal unit for good performance during the year 1962 63 and that bonus will be payable to all employees who are on the rolls of the Corporation on October 30	 1963 and had completed 1 year 's service on March 31	 1963 and whose basic salary on that date did not exceed Rs. 500/ per mensem	 The 709 Circular proceeds to state that the amount of bonus payable will be 1 month 's basic salary plus dearness allowance	 subject to the condition that no employee will get less than Rs. 100/ or more than Rs. 300/ . On December 17	 1964	 the appellant issued a circular regarding the gram of bonus and ex gratia payment for the year 1963 64. This circular states that the management has decided to sanction bonus and ex gratia payment to the employees of the Nangal unit on the basis mentioned therein. The principles laid down in this circular regarding payment of bonus and ex gratia payment are: (1) Bonus is being paid to all eligible employees strictly in conformity with the Bonus Commission 's recommendations	 as accepted by the Central Government	 and the said bonus is the minimum bonus payable as per the Bonus Commission 's recommendations	 equivalent to 4% of the total basic wage and dearness allowance (excluding all other allowances etc.) paid during the year 1963 64. The employees eligible for these payments are those who draw a total basic pay and dearness allowance up to Rs. 1	600 per mensem and the quantum payable to employees drawing over Rs. 750/ of basic pay and dearness allowance will be limited to what they would get if their pay and dearness allowance were only Rs. 750/ per month. (2) An additional ex gratia payment to be made to all workers drawing basic pay up to Rs. 500/ per month	 to the extent that such payment	 together with the bonus indicated earlier	 is equivalent to at least one month 's full salary (basic pay plus dearness allowance); and the total payment	 i.e.	 bonus and ex gratia	 in the case of workers drawing basic pay up to Rs. 500/ per month would be subject to a minimum of Rs. 100/ and maximum of Rs. 300/ . (3) The minimum qualifying service .for ex gratia payment will be 3 months and the minimum qualifying service for payment of bonus as per Bonus Commission 's recommendation is 30 days. On December 30	 1964 the appellant issued another circular stating that the minimum limit of Rs. 100/ in respect of bonus and ex gratia payment for the year 1963 64	 as per its circular dated December 17	 1964 is raised to Rs. 110/ and that the enhanced amount will be paid along with the salary for the month of December 1964. Regarding the grant of bonus for the year 1964 65	 another circular was issued by the appellant on September 27	 1965. this circular it is stated that bonus for the year 1964 65 has been decided to be paid strictly in accordance with legal obligations arising out of the payment of bonus under the Payment of Bonus Ordinance	 1965 (Ordinance No. 3 of 1965) (hereinafter referred to as the Ordinance). According to that Ordinance	 bonus 710 that is payable is the minimum bonus which will be equivalent to 4% of the total basic pay and dearness allowance (excluding all other allowances) paid during the year 1964 65	 or Rs. 40/ 	 whichever is higher. The employees eligible for the bonus will be those who draw a total basic pay and dearness allowance up to Rs. 1	600/ per month	 but the quantum of bonus payable to employees drawing total pay and dearness allowance over Rs. 750/ per month will be limited to what it would be if their pay and dearness allowance are only Rs. 750/ per mensem. It may be stated at this stage that the Ordinance was promulgated on May 29	 1965 and the (Act XXI of 1965) (hereinafter called the Bonus Act) came into force on September 25	 1965. On December 9	 1965 the Minister of Labour and Employment made a statement in the Lok Sabha regarding a decision having been taken by the Central Cabinet on December 2	 1965. In this statement the Minister has referred to the fact that with the specific approval of the Cabinet ex gratia payments had been allowed in the past by way of bonus to employees drawing upto Rs. 500/ per mensem in some undertakings in the public sector. After referring to the recommendations of the Bonus Commission	 the Minister announced the decision of the Cabinet dated December 2	 1965. As the said decision of the Cabinet has been circulated to the appellant	 the matters referred to in the said decision will be adverted to by us when we refer to the letter of the Government addressed to the appellant. ' On December 21	 1965 the Government of India addressed a communication to the Chairman and Managing Director of the appellant company on the subject of bonus payable to employees in the public sector undertakings. As the claim of the labour in the case	 for bonus being paid for 1964 65 and 1965 66 is substantially based upon the decision of the Central Cabinet dated December 2	 1965 and as according to the appellant this communication cannot be considered to be a direction or an order	 it is desirable to quote	 in extenso	 the said communication: No. CH/COORD/64/65 GOVERNMENT OF/INDIA MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM & CHEMICALS (Department of Chemicals) New Delhi	 the 21st December 1965 To Shri Satish Chandra	 Chairman & Managing Director	 711 Fertilizer Corporation of India Ltd.	 F 43	 New Delhi South Extension	 Pt. I	 New Delhi. Subject : Bonus payable to employees in the Public Sector undertakings. sir I am directed to refer to the payment of Bonus Act	 1965 (No. 21 of 1965) which provides for the payment of bonus to persons employed in certain establishments and for matter connected therewith. "Establishment in public sector" is defined in section 2(16) of the Act. Further	 sub section (1) of section 20 lays down that if in any accounting year an establishment in public sector sells any goods produced or manufactured by it or renders any services	 in competition with an establishment in private sector	 and the income from such sale or services or both is not less than twenty per cent of the gross income of the establishment in public sector for that year	 than the provisions of this Act shall apply in relation to such employment in public sector as they apply in relation to a like establishment in private sector. It follows that the provisions of the Act do not apply to such of the establishments in private sector. Notwithstanding the provisions 'of the Act	 it has been decided by Government as a matter of policy that noncompetitive public sector undertaking should also make ex gratia payments to their employees of the minimum of 4 (four) per cent of annual gross earnings of the employees on the same lines as bonus will be payable by public sector undertakings falling within the provisions of the aforesaid Act. The benefit of six year bonus holiday (vide section 10 of the Act) should be available to noncompetitive public sector undertakings. Government have further decided that the following should be the guiding principles for determining the quantum of ex gratia payments to employees of noncompeting public sector undertakings: (i) all non competing public sector undertakings should pay ex gratia to their employees amounts which they would be liable to pay as bonus if they were to fall within the purview of the ; (ii) where such an undertaking has made ex gratia payment in the past	 the amount of such payment should be treated as absorbed in the amount determined as 712 in (i) above. In other words	 any claim of employees to payment determined on the lines of the Bonus Law as an addition to payment on the scale of ex gratia payments in the past	 should not be accepted. If the past ex gratia payment had been higher than the amount as worked out as in (1 ) above	 the level of past ex gratia payment should be maintained; (iii) the principle in (ii)	 above	 shall also be followed in the case of competing public sector undertakings; and (iv) the applicability of (ii) and (iii) above should be conditional upon the maintenance of the level of performance of the undertaking in individual cases. It is requested that the decisions of Government referred to	 may be noted for guidance and necessary action. Yours faithfully	 Sd/ Nakul Sen Secretary to Govt. of India. " Again	 on September 9	 1966 the appellant issued a circular regarding payment of bonus for the year 1965 66. It is stated therein that the management has decided to pay bonus to the employees of the Nangal unit for the year 1965 66 and that statutory bonus equivalent to 4% of basic pay and dearness allowance would be paid strictly in accordance with the provisions of the Bonus Act	 1965. It is further mentioned that in addition to this bonus it has been decided to pay production bonus at 3% of wages to employees whose maximum scale of pay does not exceed Rs. 1	400/ per mensem. Then the letter proceeds to state as to how exactly the production bonus is to be calculated and paid. The circular further states that in addition to the statutory bonus and production bonus the employees will also be paid 4 days ' wages in the form of advance production bonus to be adjusted as and when total bonus payable to the workers exceeds 30 days ' wages in future. There was a note appended to this circular on the subject of bonus payments	 for the information of workers. That note proceeds to state that as production for the year 1962 63 exceeded the target the management has decided to pay ad hoc bonus equivalent to a month 's salary for employees drawing up to Rs. 580/ per month. For the year 1963 64 the employees were entitled to the minimum bonus of 4%	 according to the recommendations of the Bonus Commission and that amount of bonus was paid. Though legally the workmen were not entitled to anything more	 nevertheless	 as the Nangal unit again exceeded the production 713 target for the year 1963 64	 the management decided to give an ex gratia payment for good performance so that the bonus as per the Bonus Commissions Report plus the ex gratia payment worked out to a month 's wage. But during the year 1964 65 the production exceeded the target and the management decided to pay	 in addition to the bonus payable under the Ordinance a performance reward equivalent to half a month 's wages. The management was considering to introduce a production bonus scheme to provide an incentive for increased production. This became necessary in view of the advice given by the Labour Law Officer of the company that ex gratia payments should be avoided. The management further states that production bonus scheme has been approved by the Government of India and under that scheme employees are entitled to sums varying from 3% to 3.5% of their wages. In the year 1965 66 the production had not exceeded the target and the employees of Nangal unit became entitled only to the statutory bonus of 4% of their wages	 under the Bonus Act and production bonus was not admissible. Ex gratia payment also was ruled out in view of the advice of the Labour Officer and because of the fact that with the introduction of production bonus scheme all ex gratia payments stood eliminated. But	 inasmuch as the workers in the Nangal unit have maintained peace and good industrial relations	 the management decided	 as a special case	 to award production bonus of 3% under the production bonus scheme. The note summed up the position by stating that for the year 1965 66 the Nangal workers were eligible to (a) statutory bonus at 4% of the annual wages under the Bonus Act; (b) production bonus at 3% of the annual wages and (c) 4 clays ' wages in the form of advance production bonus to give the workmen a month 's wages in all	 which was to be adjusted as and when the total bonus payable to the workers exceeds 30 days ' wages in future. From the circular letters dated September 27	 1965 and September 9	 1966 it will be seen that the management offered to pay only the statutory bonus under the Ordinance and the Bonus Act and that ex gratia payment of bonus has been discontinued. In particular	 in the note annexed to the circular of September 9	 1966 the management has taken the specific stand that a production bonus scheme has been introduced and that the said scheme has been approved by the Government of India. They also maintained that with the introduction of the production bonus scheme all ex gratia payments are eliminated. As the appellant did not pay bonus for the years 1964 65 and 1965 66 at the rate at which it was paid for the year 1963 64	 714 the Union submitted a charter of demands to the appellant on August 19	 1966. The Union demanded that bonus should be paid for the years 1964 65 and 1965 66 at the same rate as it had been paid in previous years and that the appellant was bound to act according to the decision of the Central Cabinet dated December 2	 1965 and communicated to it by the circular letter of the Government of India dated December 21	 1965. That is	 according to the Union the minimum bonus that a worker was entitled to get was Rs. 110/ . There were certain other demands which are not necessary to consider in this appeal. By this letter the Union also indicated that if the demands were not met within 15 days	 it would be forced to adopt agitational approaches to seek compliance with its demands. The management did not comply with this demand regarding payment of bonus and attempts at mediation failed and the workmen went on strike from October 17	 1966 and the reference to adjudication was made on November 2	 1966. Before the Tribunal the workmen pressed their claim for bonus on the basis contained in their charter of demands. They also raised the plea that the introduction of production bonus scheme had no effect regarding the ex gratia payment of bonus made by the appellant. As the management had not complied with the reasonable demands of the labour and as it was acting in violation of the Cabinet decision	 the workmen were justified in going on strike from October 17	 1966 and they were entitled to full wages for the strike period. The appellant resisted the claims of the Union. They raised certain objections regarding the jurisdiction of the Industrial Tribunal to entertain the suit	 but that again is not the subject. of the present appeal. The management pleaded that the claim for bonus for the years 1964 65 and 1965 66 had to be considered and adjudication made only according to the provisions of the Bonus Act and that the workmen were not entitled to claim anything beyond what was provided in the said Act. No legal claim could be based on ex gratia payments of bonus in the previous years. They accepted the position that under article 110 of the Articles of Association of the company the President of India could issue direction which become binding on the company	 but pleaded that no such directive had been issued by the President. Even assuming that such direction had been issued by the President to the company	 the workmen	 who were third parties	 could not seek to enforce any rights based upon such directives. The appellant Corporation is a public limited company and as such an autonomous statutory body. They further pleaded that the rate of bonus mentioned in the Cabinet decision would become payable only if the level of performance or production was properly 715 maintained and in the case of the Nangal unit the level had not been kept up. The management further averred that in consultation and with the approval of the Central Government the appellant introduced the production bonus scheme with effect from 1965 66 and the said scheme replaced the previous system of ex gratia payments	 made on ad hoc basis for the initial two years of the Nangal Unit 's operation. The production bonus is payable in addition to the statutory bonus which the workmen are entitled to under the Bonus Act. As the Central Government had approved the scheme of payment of statutory bonus and production bonus	 in lieu of the past system of making ex gratia and ad hoc payments	 the management pleaded that the Cabinet decision of December 2	 1965 stood modified to that extent. Regarding the treating of the 4 days ' advance bonus paid for the year 1965 66 as deductible from bonus payable in future years and management pleaded that in order to keep industrial peace and as the new production bonus scheme substituting the old ex gratia payment had come into force the appellant decided to pay advance bonus of 4 days wages. This advance bonus was specifically stated as being deductible when the total bonus payable to workers in future years exceeded 30 days. Therefore the management averted that they were entitled to adjust this advance payment in future years. The management further pleaded that there was absolutely no justification for the workmen starting agitation from August 27	 1966 nor for going on strike from October 17	 ' 1966. The conciliation proceedings started under the Act had not terminated and the appellant also was participating in the conciliation proceedings and was anxious to meet the demands of the workmen if it was otherwise possible. The production bonus scheme for the year 1965 66 had been announced on September 9	 1966. The strike was both illegal and unjustified and hence the workmen were not entitled to any wages during the strike period. The Industrial Tribunal in its award has held that the appellant was bound to comply with the Cabinet decision dated December 2	 1965 and communicated to it by the Government by its Circular letter dated December 21	 1965. The decision of the Central Cabinet had been publicly announced by the Minister concerned in the Lok Sabha on December 9	 1965. The principles laid down for ex gratia payments by non competitive public sector undertakings had been made applicable to competitive public sector undertakings also. The Tribunal held that as the appellant was a competitive public sector undertaking and the directions regarding ex gratia payments of bonus as well as the prin 716 ciples for determining the quantum of such payments had all been laid down in the Circular letter of December 21	 1965 and the appellant was bound to implement those directions	 the claim of the labour for such payments for the years in question was perfectly justified. The ex gratia payment to be made under the Cabinet decision was to be in accordance with the level of past ex gratia payments. No doubt such payments were to be made provided the level of performance was maintained. On the materials placed before it	 the Tribunal held that the said condition was satisfied. The Tribunal rejected the claim of the appellant that production bonus scheme was introduced in consultation and with the approval of the Central Government and it further held that the introduction of that scheme was not in lieu of the ex gratia payments made on an ad hoc basis in the previous years. The Tribunal has further held that as the decision of the Central Cabinet	 dated December 2	 1965 stands and has not been modified in any way by the Government	 the management was bound to continue the ex gratia payments. It further held that the striking down	 by this Court	 of sub section (2) of section 34 of the Bonus Act had no effect on the claim made by the Union because the claim of the Union was sufficiently safeguarded by sub section (3) of section 34. Ultimately the Tribunal accepted the claim of the workmen for payment of minimum bonus for the years 1964 (35 and 1965 66 being fixed at Rs. 110/ and regarding the maximum the Tribunal held that was a matter of calculation	 having regard to the wages of an employee; but it restricted its direction in this regard to the two years in question and declined to express any opinion regarding future years. The Tribunal also negatived the claim of the appellant to treat the 4 days ' bonus paid in advance for the year 1965 66 as deductible from the bonus payable in future years. Regarding the wages claimed by the workmen for the period October 17 to October 31	 1966	 the Tribunal held that the strike was both legal and justified and it directed the management to pay the workmen half their wages for that period. The same stand that has been taken before the Tribunal by the parties has been urged before us by Mr. Gokhale	 the learned counsel for the appellant management and Mr. A.K. Sen	 the learned counsel for the Union. We shall first consider the correctness of the decision of the Industrial Tribunal regarding the claim of the workmen for ex gratia payment of bonus. We are not inclined to accept the contention of Mr. Gokhale that the appellant was not bound to implement the directions contained in the Circular letter of the Government dated December 21	 1965	 containing the Cabinet deci 717 sion of December 2	 1965	 nor his further contention that the claim of the workmen for bonus should have been adjudicated upon exclusively as per the provisions of the Bonus Act without reference to the Cabinet decision. The appellant company	 registered under the 	 is no doubt an autonomous unit; but there are several articles in the Articles of Association of the appellant Corporation which give power to the President of India and the Central Government to give directions in the working of the appellant. In fact	 it may not be necessary to deal elaborately with this matter as the	 appellant itself	 in sub paragraph (1) of paragraph 8 of its reply dated January 25	 1967 filed before the Industrial Tribunal	 has categorically admitted the position that trader article 110 of the Articles of Association of the company the President of India can issue directives which become binding on the company; but the stand taken therein is that no such directive was ever issued by the President. The further stand taken by the appellant is that the production bonus scheme was introduced with the consent and approval of the Central Government and that	 on its introduction	 the ex gratia payments of bonus were eliminated and	 to that event	 the decision of the Central Cabinet	 dated December 2	 19.65 stood modified. Even in respect of the Central Cabinet decision	 relied on by the Union	 the stand taken by the appellant	 in its letter dated September 21	 1966 to the Chief Conciliation Officer	 Punjab was that the Nangal unit had not 30 far received any instructions from the controlling Ministry regarding the Cabinet decision and that the position with regard to the Cabinet decision would be checked up by the management with their Head Office and the Ministry. Therefore	 it will be seen that it was not the case of the appellant that it will not be bound by the Cabinet decision	 if the decision was there as a fact. We will only refer to articles 67 and 110 of the Articles of Association of the appellant. Under article 67 the Board of Directors of the company are entitled to exercise all such powers and to do all such acts and things as the company is authorised to exercise and do	 but subject to the provisions of the Act and the directives	 if any	 the President may issue from time to time as contained in article 110. Article 110 is as follows: "110. Notwithstanding anything contained in any of these articles	 the President may	 from time to time	 issue such directives as he may consider necessary in regard to the conduct of the business of the Company or Directors thereof and in like manner may vary and annul any such directive. The Directors shall give immediate effect to directives so issued. " Reading the two articles together	 the position is very clear that the exercise of the powers of the Board of Directors of the com 4 Sup. C1/69 13 718 pany are	 apart from other restrictions	 subject to the directives	 if any	 issued by the President from time to time	 with regard to the conduct of the business of the company or Directors. Any direction given by the President may	 in like manner	 be varied and annulled. The Directors are bound to give immediate effect to the directives so issued. As we are of opinion that the draft letter of October 14	 1966 (which is discussed later on by us) constitutes an offer made by the appellant to the workmen to opt for payment of bonus either according to the Cabinet decision or according to the production bonus scheme	 it becomes unnecessary for us to investigate the nature of the power that is exercised either by the President or the Central Government when giving directions to the appellant company	 under the Articles of Association. For the same reason the question as to whether the circular letter of the Central Government	 dated December 21	 1965 is a direction or order	 as envisaged by the Articles of Association	 does not also arise for consideration. The decision of the Central Cabinet dated December 2	 1965 has been announced by the Minister in the Lok Sabha on December 9	 1965 and this decision has been communicated to the appellant by the concerned Ministry by Circular letter dated December 21	 1965. There is no controversy that if the Cabinet decision is given effect to	 the claim of the workmen for ex gratia payment of bonus as in previous years will have to be accepted	 unless the appellant is able to establish its plea that the production bonus scheme was introduced with the consent and approval of the Central Government in lieu of ex gratia payments of bonus. As to whether the appellant has succeeded in establishing this plea is an aspect which will be adverted to by us at a later stage. In this case it is not necessary to consider the wider question as to how far	 without anything else	 the workmen would be able to lay any claim on the basis of any decision communicated by the Government to the appellant alone. As pointed out by Mr. Sen	 it is clear that the Central Cabinet 's decision was made known to the workmen who were given the option either to accept the Cabinet decision	 as conveyed to the appellant by the Circular letter of December 21	 1965 or the production bonus scheme as formulated by the appellant Corporation. Mr. Sen	 the learned counsel for the Union	 has invited our attention to the draft of a letter	 dated October 14	 1966	 which was intended to be sent by the workmen to the appellant. That letter	 which is addressed to the appellant Corporation	 states: 719 "You have given us the option of accepting either the Cabinet decision conveyed to you vide Department of Chemical 's letter No. CH/COORD/64/65 dated 21st December 1965	 the terms of which are annexed to this letter	 or the Production Bonus Scheme as formulated by the FCI Board . " That the Circular letter of December 21	 1965 of the Government was made known to the workmen is clear from the evidence of the appellant 's witness R.W. 7 Shri Wadehra. He has categorically stated that he joined the discussions between the representatives of the workmen and the Managing Director of the appellant corporation which took place at Delhi on October 15	 1966. He further states that he came to know at that time that on October 14	 1966	 during the discussions between the labour and the management at which he was not present	 the workmen 's representatives had desired that the Cabinet 's directions may be made applicable to them with regard to bonus. This witness further states that the Managing Director made an offer during the discussions and that offer is contained in the draft letter dated October 14	 1966	 to which we have already referred. The witness further states that the workmen declined to accept the offer of the management to opt for the production bonus scheme. His evidence clearly shows that the management has communicated to the workmen the Cabinet decision	 as conveyed by the Circular letter of the Government dated December 21	 1965. This evidence further makes it clear that the workmen declined to opt for the production bonus scheme	 but	 on the other hand	 insisted that bonus must be paid to them according to the Cabinet 's decision. Mr. Gokhale attempted to explain away the effect of the draft letter of October 14	 1966 by urging that the Cabinet decision has been communicated only after the Union had submitted its charter of demands as early as August 19	 1966. So long as the Cabinet decision has been communicated and option was given to the workmen	 it does not in our opinion matter at what stage the communication was made to the labour. Under the circumstances	 it is idle for the management to contend either that the appellant is not bound to comply with the Cabinet decision or that the workmen are not entitled to make any claim on the basis of that decision. That leaves us with the alternative contention	 raised by the management	 that production bonus scheme was introduced with the consent and approval of the Central Government and that on its introduction the ex gratia payment of bonus stood eliminated. No doubt this is the stand that has been taken in the note attached by the appellant in its Circular letter dated September 9	 1966. 720 we have already adverted to that note in the earlier part of our judgment. No materials	 whatsoever	 have been placed by the appellant in support of this contention. The production bonus scheme itself does not state that it is in lieu of all other ex gratia payments. There is no order of Government on record to show that the Circular letter of December 21	 1965 has been modified by the Government in any manner whatsoever. The only evidence relied on by the appellant in this connection was the statement of R.W. 7	 Shri Wadehra. He says that after a full consideration of all the relevant factors and in consultation and with the approval of the Central Government	 a production bonus scheme was introduced by the appellant with effect from the year 1965 66 and that he was himself present at a meeting in the Ministry when a decision was taken that the Corporation might introduce the production bonus scheme and that the workmen should be paid production bonus in addition to the bonus payable under the Bonus Act. He further speaks to the fact that production bonus scheme replaced the ad hoc ex gratia bonus made in the past years. Excepting this bare statement in the oral evidence	 no order of the Central Government to this effect	 or modifying its previous decision	 has been placed before the Tribunal. Under those circumstances	 the Tribunal was perfectly justified in holding that the appellant has not established that on the introduction of the production bonus scheme	 all payments of ex gratia bonus ceased. The striking down of sub section (2) of section 34 of the Bonus Act	 by this Court	 has no effect	 as rightly held by the Tribunal	 in recognising the claim of the workmen. When once it is established	 as in this case. that the Cabinet decision regarding ex gratia payment of bonus has been communicated to the workmen with an option to accept the said decision or the production bonus scheme and the labour wanted the Cabinet decision to be implemented. it follows that an agreement	 under section 34(3) of the said Act has come into effect and it is valid. Hence we are in agreement with the views expressed by the Tribunal that the ex gratia payments	 claimed by the workmen	 are saved by sub section (3) of section 34 of the Bonus Act. There was a feeble argument	 attempted to be raised by Mr. Gokhale	 that the application of the Cabinet decision is conditional upon the maintenance of the level of performance of the undertaking in individual cases. The Tribunal has held that the level of performance of workmen	 in the years in question	 has been maintained. In this connection	 among other matters	 it has referred to a statement made in the April May 1966 issue of the "FCI News"	 a journal published by the appellant. This journal is issued after the year has come to an end and there is a state 721 ment to the effect that the Nangal Fertilizer factory has exceeded the revised production targets fixed for Calcium Ammonium Nitrate (CAN) and Heavy Water and the said performance	 despite the serious handicap suffered because of the severe power cuts enforced since November 1965	 was commendable. We are satisfied that the finding recorded by the Tribunal	 on this point	 is justified. Once it is held	 as we do	 in agreement with the Tribunal	 that the appellant was bound to implement the Circular of the Central Government	 dated December 21	 1965	 it follows that the appellant was bound to pay the ex gratig	 payment of bonus	 as claimed by the workmen for the years in question and that the appellant is further not entitled to deduct the advance wages of 4 days paid for the year 1965 66. The decision of the Tribunal	 on this aspect is correct and is affirmed. Before we take up the question regarding the wages for the strike period	 it is necessary to give a clarification regarding an observation made by the Tribunal regarding the production bonus scheme. While discussing the claim of the Union regarding ex gratia payment of bonus as per the Cabinet decision	 the Tribunal has observed .that the production bonus scheme introduced by the appellant is in addition to the ex gratia payment which the workmen are entitled to We do not express any opinion regarding the correctness or otherwise of this view of the Tribunal	 excepting to state that the opinion expressed by the Tribunal was uncalled for and outside the scope of the reference. This leaves us with the question of the claim of labour for wages for the strike period from October 17 to October 31	 1966. The Tribunal has held that the strike was both legal and justified and it has awarded the workmen half the wages for that period. This finding of the Tribunal is attacked on behalf of the appellant by Mr. Gokhale. The learned counsel did not urge that the strike was illegal. 	 but on the other hand he pressed before us that the strike was thoroughly unjustified and the finding of the Tribunal was contrary to the evidence on record and also perverse. The counsel urged that various items of evidence which have a very vital bearing on a consideration of this question had not been adverted to at all by the Tribunal. On the other hand Mr. Sen	 learned counsel for the Union	 pointed out that the Union made various attempts 	for having its claim regarding bonus amicably settled with. the management. The management would not even agree to implement the directions given by the Central Government. It was very evasive in its replies when pressed to act upon the Cabinet decision. Several mediation talks were held and conciliation also failed. Therefore	 under those circumstances	 the workmen honestly felt that a responsible body like the appellant was not 722 amenable to reason and hence a sense of frustration set in and in consequence the workmen went on strike to draw the pointed attention of the management to the demands made by the Union. Under those circumstances	 the counsel urged that the workmen 's going on strike was justified and the Tribunal had also awarded only half wages for that period. Counsel urged that this finding had been arrived at on a proper consideration of the materials available before the Tribunal. We are not satisfied that the Tribunal has properly considered and adverted to the relevant evidence on record before it came to a finding in favour of the workmen. The Union submitted a charter of demands on August 19	 1966. One of the demands related to the payment of bonus for the years 1964 65 and 1965 66 at the same rate at which it was paid for the previous years. The Union has stated that the workmen will resort to coercive measures if the demands are not complied with within 15 days. The period of notice given should have expired on September 3	 1966. By that time the Conciliation Officer had intervened and he sent a letter	 dated August 30	 1966 to the management and the Union that he had taken up the dispute for the purpose of conciliation and requested both ' the management and the Union to attend the conciliation proceedings on September 14	 1966. In the meanwhile the Union had started agitation on September 3	 1966 by starting a general hunger strike and actually on September 5	 1966 a 96 hour hunger strike was also resorted to This appears to have continued till September 12	 1966. The appellant announced on September 9	 1966 the introduction of the production bonus scheme with effect from 1965 66 and also indicating the circumstances under which the ex gratia payment of bonus was being made on prior occasions and as to why it was being discontinued. The hunger strike by Shri Ramthirtha	 the President of the Union	 was commenced from September 12 and continued till September 17	 1966. The conciliation proceedings which had been posted to September 14	 1966 could not be taken up on that day as the Officer was on tour. On September 17	 1966 the workmen started a one hour strike in each of the shifts. The Chief Conciliation Officer intervened and he fixed a meeting for September 20	 1966. The appellant management gave a written statement to the said officer on September 21	 1966 setting out its stand in reply to the demand made by the workmen. They referred		 in this written statement	 to the Circular issued by them on September 9	 1966 regarding the principles governing the payment of bonus. The management also stated that the Nancy unit had not received instructions from the Controlling Ministry regarding the Cabinet 723 decision and that it would check up with the Head Office and the Ministry about this matter. Nevertheless	 on October 3	 1966	 Shri Ramthirth	 the President of the Union and his group started an agitation that the management had gone behind its commitments. On October 12	 1966 the Chief Conciliation Officer again visited Nangal and had discussion with the representatives of the management and the Union and this continued till October 15	 1966. Shri Wadehra	 R.W. 7	 speaks to these facts and he also states that Shri Amarnath Vidhyalankar	 a Member of Parliament	 attended the proceedings on October 15	 1966 on behalf of the workmen. Shri Wadehra	 in his affidavit dated June 24	 1967 has again stated that the Chief Conciliation Officer invited representatives of the workmen to come to Delhi to discuss the matter with the higher authorities of the appellant Corporation. Shri Wadehra further states that he himself joined the negotiations which took place at Delhi from October 15	 1966 and that the said negotiations were attended by the Managing Director & Chairman on behalf of the appellant and Mr. Vidhyalankar attended the proceedings along with certain other representatives of the workmen. Mr. Wadehra further states that on the evening of October 15	 1966 the workmen 's representatives intimated that they would discuss the outcome of the negotiations at Delhi with the general body of the workmen at Nangal	 the next day	 and then return to Delhi and report the reaction of the workmen regarding the proposals discussed during the negotiations. But	 instead of keeping this promise the representatives of workmen addressed a public meeting on the evening of October 15	 1966 and incited the workmen to strike work from October 17	 1966. The strike was actually commenced from October 17. Mr. Wadehra also stated that a telegram from the Secretary of the Labour Ministry inviting all the parties to attend the conciliation meeting at Chandigarh on October 17	 1966 was received but the labour did not care to attend that meeting. We have referred to some of the incidents which have taken place prior to October 17	 1966 only to show the attitude that the labour was adopting in respect of their demands. There is a further circumstance that a telegram	 dated October 13	 1966 had been sent by the Labour Commissioner fixing conciliation proceedings for October 17	 1966	 at Chandigarh and a telegram was also sent by Shri Vidhyalankar	 who was representing the workmen	 to the Union President request his to stay the strike for a day. So far as the telegram stated to have been sent by Shri Vidhyalankar	 the receipt of the same is admitted	 but the Union is not prepared to accept the receipt of the telegram	 dated October 13	 1966 stated to have been sent by the Labour Commis 724 sioner. We will presently show that the plea of the Union in this regard cannot be accepted because there is sufficient evidence on record to show that the telegram had been sent by the Labour Commissioner and must have been received by the President of the Union. We have already referred to the statement of Shri Wadehra about the receipt	 by the management	 of the said telegram fixing conciliation proceedings for October 17	 1966. The telegram is Exhibit RW 3/1 which is dated October 13	 1966 and sent from Chandigarh. The telegram is sent to the appellant and to the Union. The Labour Commissioner requests the attendance of the parties to the conciliation meeting on October 17	 at 11 a.m. Exhibit R.W. 14 is a letter dated October 13	 1966 sent ' by the Labour Commissioner to the appellant and the unions concerned	 containing a copy of the telegram sent by him on that date regarding the conciliation proceedings being fixed on October 17	 at Chandigarh and requesting the parties to appear before him. That the said telegram and letter have been sent is proved by the evidence of R.W. 1 who is an Assistant in the Labour Commissioner 's Office at Chandigarh and who has produced the necessary file pertaining to the same. That the telegram sent by the Labour Commissioner has been delivered is also proved by R.W. 3 who has produced the delivery sheets in respect of the telegram. Relying upon these circumstances	 quite naturally Mr. Gokhale strenuously urged that the receipt of the telegram issued by the Labour Commissioner is purposely denied by the Union to profess ignorance about the conciliation proceedings being taken up on October 17	 1966	 because the Union was in no mood to participate in those proceedings. Mr. Sen	 no doubt relied upon the evidence of the workmen 's witness No. 3	 Shri Ramthirtha	 President of the Union	 that no telegram was received from the Labour Commissioner regarding conciliation proceedings to take place on October 17	 1966	 but this witness himself accepts that the telegram sent by Mr. Vidhyalankar was received by him. We are inclined to accept the contention of Mr. Gokhale that the denial by the Union of the receipt of the telegram sent by the Labour Commissioner cannot be accepted. Mr. Gokhale	 learned counsel	 referred us to the decision of this Court in The Managemnt of Chandramalai Estate	 Erna Kulam vs its Workmen (1) and particularly to the following observations at p. 455: (1) ; ' 725 "While on the one hand it has to be remembered that strike is a legitimate and sometimes unavoidable weapon in the hands of labour it is equally important to remember that indiscriminate and hasty use of this weapon should not be encouraged. It will not be right for labour to think that for any kind of demand a strike can be commenced with impunity without exhausting reasonable avenues for peaceful achievement of their objects. There may be cases where the demand is of such an urgent and serious nature that it would not be reasonable to expect labour to wait till after asking the Government to make a reference. In such cases	 strike even before such a request has been made may well be justified ." Mr. Gokhale urged that there was absolutely no urgency in the case before us because the management was prepared to pay the bonus as admitted by them and the controversy was really regarding the additional ex gratia payment. Further	 counsel pointed out that the Conciliation Officer had not made any report about conciliation having failed and in fact the telegram sent by the Labour Commissioner as late as October 13	 1966 clearly showed that he was still 'continuing the proceedings. Counsel also pointed out that after having separated from the Delhi meeting on October 15	 1966	 promising to consider the proposals put before it by the management and communicate the same to the management	 the leaders of the workmen incited them to go on strike at the meeting held the very next day and actually the strike itself commenced from October 17	 1966. No doubt Mr. Sen	 learned counsel	 pointed out that there was nothing for the management to consider in their meeting the demands of the workmen	 because the Cabinet decision was well known. He also urged that the workmen obviously felt that the management was not adopting a reasonable attitude and hence they resorted to a strike	 which was justified under the circumstances. We may also indicate that there is evidence	 let in by the management	 to show that during the strike period and even prior to that	 several of the workmen resorted to violence and other acts of indecency. Evidence has also been let in to show that the workmen continued to strike even after a notification	 dated October 31	 1966 was issued by the President of India prohibiting the strike and requiring the workers to report for duty. We do not propose to dwell on these matters	 because we have only to consider the justification or otherwise of the strike from October 17 to October 31	 1966. The management was prepared to pay at all times the bonus as per the Bonus Act. They had also announced on September 726 9	 1966 the introduction of the production bonus scheme. They were actively taking part in the conciliation proceedings. The appellant also made to the Union certain proposals on October 15	 1966 at the conference held at Delhi which 'proposals ' the representatives of the workmen promised to discuss with the workmen and give a reply to the appellant. But	 on October 16	 1966	 at a meeting of the workmen	 they were incited to go on strike. The receipt of the telegram of October 13	 1966 of the Labour Commissioner	 fixing October 17	 1966 for further discussions and inviting the Union and the management to attend the meeting	 is falsely denied by the Union. The receipt of Sri Vidhyalankar 's telegram requesting the Union to put off going on strike by one day is admitted by the President of the Union	 but that request was not complied with by the workmen. Sri Vidhyalankar	 it must be remembered	 was representing the workmen in certain conciliation meetings. All these circumstances clearly show that the demand of the Union regarding ex gratia bonus cannot be considered to be of an 'urgent and serious nature '. They also show that the launching of the strike was unjustified. It therefore follows that the workmen are not entitled to any wages for the period of the strike viz.	 from October 17 to October 31	 1966. To this extent the award of the Industrial Tribunal will have to be set aside. In the result	 we set aside the award of the Industrial Tribunal in so far as it directs the appellant to pay the workmen half the wages for the strike period from October 17 to October 31	 1966; and	 to that extent	 the appeal is allowed. In other respects the appeal will stand dismissed. As the appellant has failed on the substantial question	 it wilt pay the costs of the respondent workmen. Y.P. Appeal partly allowed.

For the first year of production by a unit of the appellant Corporation (a Central Government Undertaking)	 it granted ad hoc bonus for good performance to the unit 's employees. For the next year	 the appellant granted bonus as recommended by the Bonus. Commission and also made ex gratia payment for good performance. The appellant decided to pay bonus for the third year	 strictly in accordance with the Payment of Bonus Ordinance and the Act	 which had come into force then. The Central Minister announced in the Lok Sabha that with the specific approval of the Central Cabinet ex gratia payments had been allowed in the past by way of bonus to the employees and this was communicated by the Government of India by a letter. In the fourth year the production did not exceed the target	 and the appellant offered to pay only the statutory bonus under the Bonus Ordinance and Act 'and stated that a production scheme had been introduced	 that with the introduction of the production bonus scheme all ex gratia payments were eliminated and that this scheme was approved by the Government of India. The workmen demanded that the bonus should be paid for the third and fourth years at the same rate as it had been paid in previous years and the appellant was bound to act according to the decision of the Central Cabinet and communicated by the letter. The workmen also stated that if their demands were not met within 15 days	 they would be forced to adopt agitation approaches. Conciliation proceedings started. The appellant offered the workmen the option of either accepting the Cabinet decision or the production Bonus Scheme as formulated by the management. The workmen desired that the Cabinet 's directions be made applicable to them	 declined the offer to opt for the production bonus	 and prepared a draft of a letter which was intended to be sent by the workmen to the appellant stating that the offer was also made. The workmen went on strike and the reference to adjudication was made. The Tribunal accepted the claim of the workmen	 and held that the strike was justified. HELD: (i) The appellant failed to establish that production bonus scheme was introduced with the consent and approval of the Central Government and that on its introduction the ex gratia payment of bonus stood eliminated. The evidence established that the Cabinet 's decision was made known to the workmen	 who were given the option either to accept the Cabinet decision or the production bonus scheme as formulated by the 'appellant. So long as the Cabinet decision had been communicated and option was given to the workmen	 it did not matter at what stage the communication was made to the labour. The fact that the communication of the 707 Cabinet decision after the submission of the charter of demands was of no consequence. The striking down of section 34(2) of the Bonus Act by this Court has no bearing in considering the claim of the. respondent in this case. When once it was established	 as this case	 that the Cabinet decision regarding ex gratia payment of bonus had been communicated to the workmen with an option to accept the said decision or the production bonus scheme and the labour wanted the Cabinet decision to be implemented	 it followed that an agreement	 under section 34(3) of the said ' Act had come into effect and it was valid. [720] Therefore	 the workmen were entitled to ex gratia payment of bonus as in the previous years. (ii) The management was prepared to pay at all times the bonus as per the Bonus Act. They had also announced the introduction of the production bonus scheme. They were actively taking part in the conciliation proceedings. The appellant also made to the Union certain proposals at the conference which 'proposals ' the representatives of the workmen promised to discuss with the workmen and give a reply to the appellant. But	 at a meeting of the workmen next day	 they were incited to go on strike. The receipt of the telegram sent by the Labour Commissioner fixing a date for further discussions and inviting the Union and the management to attend the meeting	 was falsely denied by the Union. The receipt of a telegram from a person representing the workmen at conciliation meeting	 requesting the Union to put off going on strike by one day was admitted by the President of the Union	 but that request was not complied with by the workmen. All these circumstances clearly established that the demand of the Union regarding ex gratia bonus could not be considered to be of an 'urgent 'and serious nature '. They also showed that the launching of the strike was unjustified. [725 H] Therefore	 the workmen were not entitled to any wages for the period of strike.