JUDGMENT :

(Kalyan Rai Surana, J.)

1. Heard Mr. N.K. Singh, learned counsel for the petitioners. Also heard Mr. R.H. Nabam, learned Additional Advocate General for the State, assisted by Ms. P. Pangu, learned Junior Government Advocate, representing respondent nos. 1, 3, 4 and 5, Mr. A. Apang, learned senior counsel, assisted by Ms. N. Anju, learned standing counsel for the respondent no.2 and Mr. M. Kato, learned counsel for the respondent no. 6.

2. The 9 (nine) petitioners herein claim themselves to be members of Chakma and Hajong communities, who are residing in the State of Arunachal Pradesh since birth. They claim themselves to be citizens of India. It is also claimed that although the petitioners are voters for Parliamentary and Assembly Constituencies, the State respondents are adopting discriminatory attitude against the petitioners and other members of their community and thereby the petitioners have been illegally deprived of their right to participate in Panch-ayat Elections in the State in respect of their respective villages. Accordingly, by filing this PIL under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, the petitioners have prayed, inter alia, for a direction to the re