JUDGMENT :

The issues involved in the two writ petitions are intrinsically connected and are hence heard and disposed of together. The pleadings in the two writ petitions, in short, are as below: W.P.(C)Nos.29210/2020

2. The petitioner claims to be a member of the Hindu Pallan community, which is a Scheduled Caste. She was duly elected as a member of Ward No.5 of Arakulam Grama Panchayat in the general election to the Local Bodies held on 08.12.2020. The post of President of the Arakulam Grama Panchayat was reserved for persons belonging to Scheduled Caste communities. The petitioner proposed to contest for the post of President, the election to which was scheduled to be held on 30.12.2020. The 3rd respondent had issued certificate No.818/20 on 17.12.2020 under Rule 4 of the Kerala (Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes) Regulation of Issue of Community Certificate Rules, 2002 (hereinafter referred to as the Rules for short), showing the status of the petitioner as a member of the Hindu Pallan community. On 23.12.2020, the 3rd respondent issued order No.A2-818/20(ii) whereby the certificate granted on 17.12.2020 was provisionally withdrawn stating that the petitioner had converted to