K. Narayana Kurup, J.

The dispute highlighted in this batch of Writ Petitions which have been referred to us by a learned Single judge relates to the de-novo de-limitation of wards in the various Grama Panchayats in the State by the State Election Commission (for short'Election Commission') in the purported exercise of his power under S.10A of the Kerala Panchayat Raj Act (for short 'the Act') in flagrant violation of his own guidelines and well settled principles of law resulting in upsetting the de-limitation of wards ordered by the District Collector - who is the delegate of the Election Commission - after an elaborate exercise of local inspection, publication of preliminary notification, final notification, hearing of affected parties etc. Petitioners allege that the Election Commission has done so with the mala-fide intention of dancing to the tune of the political parties in power which amounts to gerrymandering and which is objectionable in law. It is, therefore, prayed that the orders of de-limitation passed by the Election Commission under S.10A of the

Act be quashed as utterly mala-fide, totally introducing new boundaries which are not there at all. In some case