JUDGMENT

1. The petitioners have filed the present writ application for quashing the Notification No. 616, dated 18.02.2021, as contained in Annexure P-5, issued under the signature of respondent no. 3, the Joint Secretary, Urban Development and Housing Department, Government of Bihar, whereby the State Government has constituted Baruraj Nagar Panchayat with an area and population of the Gram Panchayat Raj Baruraj East and Gram Panchayat Raj Baruraj West.

2. The petitioner nos. 1 and 2 are the Mukhiyas of Gram Panchayat Raj Baruraj East and Gram Panchayat Raj Baruraj West respectively; whereas the petitioner nos. 3 and 4 are the social workers having interest in the Gram Panchayats.

3. The relevant facts brought on record by the petitioners, in brief, is that the Gram Panchayat Raj Baruraj was in existence since pre-independence and subsequently was divided into two Gram Panchayats, namely, Gram Panchayat Raj Baruraj East and Gram Panchayat Raj Baruraj West, in the year 1978. The last Census in the country was conducted in the year 2011 and for the purpose of population under the Municipal Act, the published figure of 2011 Census only is available and according to the figure of 2011 C