Dr. B.P. SARAF, J.:---By these writ petitions, the petitioners seek to challenge the power project agreement entered into between the Maharashtra State Electricity Board and the Dabhol Power Company on 8th November 1993 as amended from time to time . Writ Petition No. 2456 of 1996 has been filed by the Center of Indian Trade Unions, a federation of registered trade unions, and Shri Abhay Mehta, a resident of Mumbai and a citizen of India. This writ petition has been filed by way of public interest litigation. The Union of India, the State of Maharashtra, the Maharashtra State Electricity Board, the Central Electricity Authority, Mr. Nizamuddin Patel (Deputy Secretary, Department of Energy, Government of Maharashtra), the Dabhol Power Company with which the Maharashtra State Electricity Board has entered into the power project agreement and the Enron Power Development Corporation have been arrayed as respondent Nos. 1 to 7 respectively. Writ Petition No. 2912 of 1996 has been filed by Shri P. B. Samant and two others. The subject matter of challenge in both these writ petitions being the same, both the petitions were heard together and are being disposed of by this common