G. Anupama Chakravarthy, J.—As identical issues are involved in all the Writ applications, they were heard and considered together and as such common order is being passed.

2. However, there is a slight variation of Certificate Case number in each of the Writ petition hence, for better appreciation of the case, the reliefs prayed for by one of the petitioners are quoted herein below:

3. The petitioner of CWJC No. 12411 of 2016 has filed the present Writ petition for the following reliefs:—

(I) To issue a writ of certiorari for quashing the entire proceeding of Certificate case no. 06/15-16 initiated under the provisions of Bihar & Orissa Public Demand Recovery Act (hereinafter referred to as the “PDR Act”) including the notice issued under Section 7 of the PDR Act.

(II) To issue writ of prohibition, prohibiting respondent Certificate Officer from proceeding any further or taking any steps in Certificate Case no. 06/15-16 pending before him.

(III) To grant any other relief or reliefs for which petitioner is entitled.

4. As stated above, the variation of only Certificate Case Number in each of the Writ petition, which are mentioned as below:—

In CWJC No. 12414 of 2016 : Certificate Case No. 05/15-16

In CWJC No. 12434 of 2016 : Certificate Case No. 9/15-16

In CWJC No. 12441 of 2016 : Certificate Case No. 07/15-16

In CWJC No. 12444 of 2016 : Certificate Case No. 10/15-16

In CWJC No. 12458 of 2016 : Certificate Case No. 8/15-16

In CWJC No. 12525 of 2016 : Certificate Case No. 11/15-16

5. The brief facts culled out of Writ petition(s) are that the petitioner in all the Writ petitions are registered Companies registered under the Companies Act and are licensed by the Insurance Regulatory Development Authority of India (in short referred to as ‘the IRDA”) as a non life Insurance Company and are leading General Insurance Companies in private sector.

6. It is submitted on behalf of petitioner(s) that the Govt. of India for the benefit of the farmers and to compensate loss of agriculture, due to adverse weather condition like deficit or excess rainfall, high and low temperature, humidity etc. initiated Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme through Department of Agriculture & Cooperation, Govt. of India, for protection and benefit of farmers and Pilot Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme (hereinafter referred to as WBCIS) was to be implemented in States of Union of India including Bihar. In Bihar, WBCIS was to be implemented by Bihar State Government through Department of Cooperative. It is further submitted that the Automatic Weather Stations (hereinafter referred to as AWS) were to be installed through third party vendors who were approved by the Department. Third party vendor for installing Automatic Weather Station were engaged by the petitioner(s).

7. It is further contended by the Learned Senior counsel for the petitioner(s) that WBCIS was for Kharif 2013 and Rabi 2013-14. Pilot WBCIS aimed to mitigate hardship of the insured farmers against likelihood of financial loss, on account of anticipated losses of crop resulting from incidence of adverse condition of weather parameters like deficit or excess rainfall, unseasonal rains, temperature, frost, humidity and all farmers, (loanee or non-loanee) cultivating paddy and maize crops were eligible for coverage under Pilot WBCIS. The Pilot scheme was compulsory for loanee farmers for the crop notified by the State Govt. in selected areas and optional for non loanee farmers. In case of loanee farmers, respective Bank of the farmers used to collect premium and those were transmitted to the Insurance Companies. Declaration/Proposal form is received through the Bank and the list of farmers is annexed to the declaration/ proposal form sent by the Bank. Several Insurance Companies including that of the petitioner(s) were empanelled for implementation of the said scheme vide Notification/letter no. 13011/01/2008- Credit II, Govt. of India, Ministry of Agriculture, Department of Agriculture and Cooperation, Krishi