JUDGMENT :

R.NARAYANA PISHARADI, J.

1. The appellants are the petitioners in the writ petitions, W.P. (C) No.12202 of 2018 and W.P.(C) No.13363 of 2018. They assail the judgment of the learned Single Judge in the above writ petitions.

2. The appellants are persons who conduct petroleum retail outlets on the basis of the dealership agreements executed by them with the oil marketing companies by name Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited, Indian Oil Corporation Limited and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited, who are the second, fourth and the sixth respondents in the writ petitions.

The appellants alleged that, as per Ext.P2 circular, the oil marketing companies mentioned above demanded them to furnish the sales tax returns, bank account statements and income tax returns pertaining to their dealership. They alleged that the oil marketing companies threatened that, on failure to furnish the above information, the supply of petroleum products to them would be discontinued. The appellants contended that they are not bound to furnish the above information to the oil marketing companies and that compelling them to furnish the above information infringes their right to privacy which is a f