Amrita Sinha, J.:- Facts of the case

1. The petitioner no. 1 company is running a tea estate and the petitioner no. 2 claims to be one of the Directors of the petitioner no. 1. The petitioners seek subsidy under the ‘Tea Development & Promotion Scheme’, 2014 for the XII Plan, hereinafter referred to as ‘the Scheme, 2014’. They are aggrieved by the sudden nullification and invalidation of their pending claim under the Tea Development & Promotion Scheme under the 15^th Finance Commission 2021-26, hereinafter referred to as ‘the new Scheme’.

2. The Government of India approved the Scheme, 2014 during the XII Five Year Plan (2012 - 2017). The Scheme was valid from 12th December, 2014 to 31st March, 2017. There were seven major components in the Scheme which were further divided into sub-components.

3. In response to the Scheme, 2014 the petitioners applied for subsidy under various components. In the instant writ petition adjudication is restricted only to grant of subsidy under component-1, sub- component- 1.1- Re-plantation, Replacement planting and Rejuvenation of old tea bushes. The schedule for disbursement of subsidies under the Scheme, 2014 mentions that, there will be two instalmen