( 1 ) SIMILAR questions of law being involved in these two writ petitions they were heard analogously and are disposed of by this common order. The facts in each case shall be separately set out for the sake of clarity,

( 2 ) IN W. P. No. 183/2001 the facts as have been unfolded are that in the month of January, 2000 an election for the post of Sarpanch of Gram Panchayat Gunkhed was to be held. The respondent No. 2, Smt. Gangabai, submitted her nomination form to contest the election of Sarpanch of the said Gram Panchayat. The said seat of the Sarpanch was reserved for Scheduled Tribe candidate. The respondent No. 2 belongs to other Backward Class and, therefore, objection was raised by the petitioners before the Returning Officer seeking rejection of her nomination papers. The respondent No. 2 was given an opportunity of hearing by the Returning Officer. It has been putforth that the respondent No. 2 submitted certain documents in support other submission that she belongs to Scheduled Tribe. After due enquiry the Returning Officer rejected the nomination papers of the respondent No. 2. Peeling aggrieved by the aforesaid order of rejection of nomination form the resp