The supreme court on Wednesday said the union cabinet can take a decision on impementing the recommendations of the Majithia Wage Board for journalists and non-journalists.

A Bench of justices Dalveer Bhandari and Deepak Verma, however, clarified that the government's decision will be subject to the final outcome of the case filed by different media houses seeking to restrain it from implementing the recommendations of the Wage Board.

"Cabinet can always consider the issue. No one is preventing you to take decision," the court said after it was mentioned that the cabinet has not been able to take a decision because of the pendency of the case before the apex court.

The court observation came after senior advocate Colin Gonsalves appearing for Employees' Unions made the submission.

The apex court had on July 18 asked the government to refrain from taking any decision on the implementation of the recommendations of the Wage Board for two weeks.

Earlier in May, it had issued notice to the centre on the petition challenging the recommendations of Majithia Wage Board, without granting any injunction.

After Anand Bazar Patrika Pvt Ltd (ABP), which first challenged the recommendations of the Board, several other media houses including Bennett Coleman Co.Ltd, publisher of The Times of India and news agency United News of India (UNI), filed the petitions opposing the award of the Wage Board.

A petition filed by ABP Pvt Ltd, publishers of prominent English and Bengali dailies, had sought a declaration that the Wage Board Award and its recommendations submitted to the government in December last be declared as arbitrary and illegal.

The petitioner has urged the apex court to declare constitution of the Wage Board as ultra vires and grant an injunction restraining the Union of India and others from giving any effect to the Award and recommendations made therein.