JUDGMENT

RAY, C.J.I. :—The first petitioner is the minor daughter of the second petitioner. The petitioners in this writ petition challenge the Government Order dated 2 May, 1966 on the ground that it offends Article 15 (4) of the Constitution. The petitioners also ask for an order directing the respondents, viz., the State and the Principal of the Medical College at Trivandrum to allot a seat to the first petitioner.

2. The first petitioner applied for admission to the M.B.B.S. Course for 1975-76 in one of the Medical College at Trivandrum in the State of Kerala. Clause 9 sub-clause (vi) in the prospectus for admission provided among other things that the applicant should produce certificate of community and income (from all sources) in the prescribed form in the case of candidates belonging to the communities recognised by the Government as socially and educationally backward classes.

3. The petitioner produced the certificate from the Tahsildar, showing that the total income of her family from all sources is Rs. 11,752/- for the year 1975-76 and that she is an Ezhava.

4. The minimum marks prescribed for admission for candidates belonging to Ezhava community in the State is 363 in t