These petitions having been heard and reserved on 16.09.2009 and coming on for pronouncement of orders this day, the Court delivered the following:

These petitions are heard and disposed of together having regard to the common issues that arise for consideration notwithstanding some variance on facts in each of the cases:

2. The facts of each of the cases are briefly narrated hereunder:

WP 37175/1999: The petitioners are retail outlet dealers of petroleum products. The said products are sold at their Filling and Service Stations.

Respondents 2 to 5 are companies registered under the Companies Act, 1956 and are all Government Companies within the meaning of Section 617 of the Companies Act, 1956. The objectives of the said respondents is to sell and distribute petroleum products through retail outlets such as that of the petitioners. In most cases, the said respondents themselves develop and provide the necessary infrastructure at the retail outlets.

The petitioners had entered into independent dealership agreements with respondent No.2. They are Standard Form Contracts. The petitioners have no say as regards the terms and conditions of the said contracts. The Union o