JUDGMENT :

Heard Mr. R. Bora, learned counsel for the petitioners. Also heard Ms. K. Phukan, learned counsel for the respondent in the Ministry of Human Resource Development Department of Government of Assam, Ms. R.S. Choudhury, learned counsel for the respondents in the Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti, Mr. P. Saikia, learned Junior Government Advocate for the Deputy Commissioner, West Karbi Anglong and Mr. R.M. Das, learned counsel for the respondents in the Social Justice and Empowerment Department of Government of Assam who has entered appearance for the respondent No. 6.

2. Although respondent No. 6 is depicted to be the Commissioner and Secretary to the Government of Assam in the Welfare of Plain Tribes and Backward Classes Development, it is clarified that the Welfare of Plain Tribes and Backward Classes Development Department has been bifurcated and the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment is one of the departments as a result of the bifurcation and the subject matter involved in the present writ petitions regarding the caste certificates of the candidates claiming to be