(1.) Leave granted.
(2.) The background facts leading to filing of the writ petitions giving rise to these appeals are as follows:-
(3.) We have heard Shri Kapil Sibal and Shri Salman Khurshid, learned senior counsel appearing for the appellants. We have heard Shri K.K. Venugopal, learned Attorney General for the Union of India. Shri Ranjit Kumar, learned senior counsel has been heard for the respondents.