JUDGMENT :

Heard, Mr. U.K. Nair, the learned Senior Counsel assisted by Mr. B. Chatterjee, the counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioners. I have also heard Mr. S.N. Sarma, the learned Senior Counsel assisted by Mr. K. Kalita for Oil India Limited and Mr. K.N. Choudhury, the learned Senior Counsel assisted by Mr. D.J. Das, appearing on behalf of the respondent No. 2.

2. Both the writ petitions along with the Interlocutory Application registered as I.A. (C) No. 2190/2021 are taken up together for final disposal.

3. The brief facts of the instant case is that geologically the Kumchai structure which is a deep seated domal anticline trending NE-SW is located in the extreme eastern part of upper Assam Basin. Presence of commercial hydrocarbon was established in the said structure in the year 1987. Thereupon altogether 14 wells have been drilled so far in the said area and out of which two wells were drilled for Tipam Hydrocarbon prospects and the remaining 12 wells for Girujan and post Girujan prospects. Presently four wells are on production. In the year 2008, a volume of around 80 sq. kms of 3D Seismic Data was acquired covering the present Kumchai structure. All the wells drilled i