S.J. VAZIFDAR, J.

1. In Civil Writ Petition No. 26501 of 2015, respondent Nos.1 to 3 are the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board, Department of Industries and Commerce, Government of Haryana and Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited. In Civil Writ Petition No. 14490 of 2016, the respondents are the Union of India and the Department of Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board. Both the writ petitions are inter-connected and are, therefore, disposed of by this common order and judgment.

2. The petitioner seeks a declaration that Regulation 2(1)(b) of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (Authorizing Entities to Lay, Build, Operate or Expand City or Local Natural Gas Distribution Networks) Regulations, 2008 (hereinafter referred to as the Regulations) is ultra vires the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board Act, 2006 (hereinafter referred to as ‘the 2006 Act’) as it defines the appointed day to mean 01.10.2007 and not 15.07.2010. A writ of mandamus is accordingly sought directing respondent No.2 to treat the appointed day as 15.07.2010 while dealing