Satrucharla Vijaya Rama Raju vs Nimmaka Jaya Raju & Ors

The Supreme Court addressed the eligibility of the appellant to contest elections from a Scheduled Tribe reserved constituency under the Representation of the People Act, 1951, specifically Sections 80, 5, and 100(1)(d)(i). The Court held that the earlier judgment in Election Petition No. 13 of 1983 did not operate as res judicata regarding the appellant's status, as it was not a judgment in rem and did not bind non-parties. The Court affirmed the validity of the community certificate issued under the Andhra Pradesh (Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Backward Classes) Regulation of Issue of Community Certificates Act, 1993, establishing the appellant's eligibility to contest from the constituency.