Heard the learned counsel representing the petitioners, learned Government Pleader for Social Welfare and also the learned Assistant Government Pleader for Panchayat Raj.

2. This matter was adjourned to this day, since the learned Assistant Government Pleader for Panchayat Raj requested time to get instructions relating to the position of the gram panchayats in question, till the prior elections.

3. Learned Assistant Government Pleader for Panchayat Raj had stated before this Court that in the prior elections, the general Rules relating to the reservations alone were made applicable and in view of the fact that the District Collector had issued a clarification, which is placed before this Court at present, since these are scheduled areas, all these offices are reserved to the Scheduled Tribe. The proceedings are also placed before this Court.

4. Sri Y.S. Sai Vara Prasad, learned counsel representing the petitioners would submit that the Gram Panchayats in question are not in scheduled area and in fact, in a slightly different context, several persons relating to these areas approached this Court by way of W.P.No.1413 of 1973 with respect of 14 villages, out of 23 villages of the