1. Heard Mr. N. Dutta, learned senior counsel appearing for the petitioner. Also heard Mr. R.K. Bora, learned Government Advocate who appears for respondents 1, 2 and 10. Mr. P.J. Saikia, learned advocate appears for the respondents 4, 5 and 6. The contesting respondent No. 7 is represented by Mr. M.K Choudhury, learned senior counsel. Mr. P. Bayan, learned advocate appears for respondents 8 and 9, respondent No. 11 have intervened in the matter and filed counter affidavit.

2. This matter pertains to selection for allotment of an LPG dealership to be commissioned at Chaygaon under the Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd. ('BHPL') and only schedule tribe category persons were eligible to be considered for the said LPG Distributorship. The petitioner Anjali Medhi claiming herself to be a "Rabha", who are recognized as Scheduled Tribe (P) in the State, offered her candidature along with a certificate dated 11.11.1990 certifying her status.

There were other 21 applicants including respondent No. 7 and following the selection by the Dealer selection board, the list of successful candidates were notified on 30.8.2001, where the petitioner was enlisted at merit position 1 and the respondent No

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