( 1 ) THIS writ petition has been filed for a writ of certiorari for quashing the pricing policy parameters for the viith and VIIIth pricing periods issued by the respondent and communicated to the petitioners by letter dated 4-6-2002 vide annexure 1 to the petition as well as the impugned fixation of the retention price by communication dated 19-8-2002 vide annexure 2 to the petition particularly in respect of the parameters/norms mentioned in para 32 of the petition as null and void. The petitioners have prayed for a direction that the pricing policy parameters for the vllth and Vlllth pricing periods cannot be given retrospective operation, and have prayed for a mandamus directing the respondents to continue to determine and notify the retention prices of the petitioners in accordance with the pricing policy parameters for the VIth pricing period as communicated to the petitioners vide letter dated 24-7-1997/5-8-1997 Annexure 4 to the petition and to continue to make monthly payments to the petitioners on that basis. They have also prayed for a direction restraining the respondents from recovery of any amount from the petitioner and doing any act in furtherance of t