The present proceeding records a prayer for a writ of mandamus and/or an appropri­ate direction to the State respondents herein to entrust the investigation of the case being First Information Report No. 36 (3)/2010 of the Lamlai P.S. Imphal East, Manipur, under Section 326 Indian Penal Code 1860 and 25 (1 -C) of Arms Act, 1959, to the Central Bureau of Investigation, New Delhi, (for short hereafter referred to as the 'CBI') and to sub­mit a charge sheet on the completion thereof.

2. We have heard Mr. B. Das, learned Counsel for the petitioners and Mr. N.P. Singh, Sr. Advocate, for the State respon­dents. As at the motion stage the maintain­ability of the instant proceeding has been questioned on behalf of the State respondents, the parties present have been heard on this prefatory facet.

3. The abridged versions from the rival pleadings available would portray the con­tour of the adjudication. The petitioners' claim to be students of law in a local institution at Imphal in the State of Manipur and have in­troduced themselves as socially spirited indi­viduals committed to the espousal of public causes of social justice. Their crusade herein is directed against allege