JUDGMENT :

MRIDUL KUMAR KALITA, J.

1. Heard Mr. W.R. Ngullie, learned counsel for the petitioners. Also heard Ms. V. Suokhrie, learned Additional Advocate General for the State of Nagaland and Mr. L. Iralu, learned counsel for the respondent No. 5.

2. This writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India has been filed by the petitioners impugning the selection of respondent No. 5, as Village Council Chairman of Lakhuti Village Council by appointment order bearing No. DCW-COUN-1/2020-21/698-4 dated 26th July, 2021.

3. The petitioners’ case, in brief, is as follows:

(i) That the petitioners as well as respondent No. 5 are the residents of Lakhuti Village in Wokha District. On 9th March, 2021, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Wokha, Nagaland had issued a circular bearing No. SNS-GEN/VC/2020-21/581-21 dated 9th March, 2021 informing that all the recognized villages under Sanis Sub- Division were dissolved w.e.f. March, 2021 and that the Head GB shall resume the charge of village administration till the constitution of New Village Council. It was also notified by the said circular that the process of selection/election of new Village Council Members for the next tenure in accorda