JUDGMENT :

Heard the learned counsel for the appellant, the Special Standing Counsel on behalf of respondent Nos.1 to 3 and the learned counsel on behalf of respondent Nos.4 and 5.

2. The brief facts is that the petitioners belong to Bedar caste and all the petitioners hail from the same family and that they are permanent residents of Bijaguppi village, Savadatti taluk, Belgaum district. That they and their forefathers belong to Bedar caste which is categorized as a Schedule Tribe. That in the certificate issued by the school and other authorities, the caste of the petitioners is described as Hindu Bedar/Barda. That the words Bedar and Barda are synonymous. That Bedar and Barda are classified as Scheduled Tribe both by the State and Central Government.

3. That on an application by the petitioners the Tahsildar, Savadatti after following due procedure issued caste certificate certifying the petitioners as belonging to the Hindu Bedar caste which is categorized as a Scheduled Tribe.

4. That respondent Nos.4 and 5 who are in no way aggrieved and having no locus-standi are said to have lodged a complaint with the 3rd respondent and on receipt of the complaint the 3rd respondent has initiat