TASMINA KHATUN Vs. UNION OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Heard Mr. A.R. Bhuyan, learned counsel for the petitioners; Ms. S. Baruah, learned Central Government Counsel [CGC] for the respondent no. 1; Ms. S. Kataki, learned Standing Counsel, Election Commission of India [ECI] for the respondent nos. 2, 4 and 6; and Ms. U. Das, learned Additional Senior Government Advocate, Assam for the respondent nos. 3, 5, 7, 8, 9 and 10.

(2.) The petitioners, 154 in nos., have joined together to institute the present writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India stating that they have a common cause of action to espouse.

(3.) The petitioners have stated that they are residents of villages adjacent to each other, namely, No. 3 Rajapukhuri, Saharia Pam, Gelajan, Naojan, No.2 Dalanipathar, Dalani-pathar, Madhyapathar, under Uriamghat, District - Golaghat, Assam. The petitioners have stated that for a long period of time, they have been casting their votes in both State Legislative Assembly Elections and/or Parliamentary Elections by virtue of enrolment of their names as voters in the concerned electoral rolls, published from time to time. The petitioners have claimed that they had cast their votes in the previous elections to the State Legislative Assembly and/or Parliament as the voters from No. 107 Sarupathar Legislative Assembly Constituency [LAC], District - Golaghat, Assam. All the petitioners were issued Electors Photo Identity Cards [EPICs] by the Election Commission of India.