ANANT S. DAVE, J. In this petition under Arts. 226 and 227 of the Constitution of India, the following prayers are made :

"(A) Your Lordships may be pleased to issue a writ of certiorari or a writ in the nature of certiorari or any other appropriate writ, order or direction quashing and setting aside order dated 26-12-2008 passed by respondent No.

2-authority whereby disqualifying the present petitioners under the provisions of the Act [at Annexure 'AA' hereto]";

(B) Pending admission, hearing and final disposal of the petition, Your Lordships may be pleased to stay further operation, implementation and execution of order dated 26-12-2008 passed by respondent No.2-authority whereby disqualifying the present petitioners under the provisions of the Act (at Annexure 'AA' hereto");

2. Thus, order dated 26-12-2008 is passed by the Designated Authority while exercising powers under Sec. 3 of the Gujarat Provision for Disqualification of Members of Local Authorities for Defection Act, 1986 (for short, 'the Act') read with Rule 3 of Gujarat Provision for Disqualification of Members of Local Authorities for Defection Rules, 1987 (for short, 'the Rules').

3. The brief facts giving rise to