ORDER

Learned counsel for the respondent(s) heavily relies upon the Constitution Bench decision of this Court in E.V. Chinnaiah Vs. State of A.P. and others, (2005) 1 SCC 394.

2. On the other hand, learned Additional Solicitor General for the appellants, submits that E.V. Chinnaiah1 has no application on the controversy in hand. Moreover, he submits that E.V. Chinnaiah1 is not in accord with the 9-Judge Bench decision of this Court in Indra Sawhney and others Vs. Union of India and others, 1992 Supp (3) SCC 217.

3. Having heard learned Additional Solicitor General and learned counsel for the parties, we are of the view that E.V. Chinnaiah1 needs to be revisited in light of Article 338 of the Reason: Constitution of India and, inter alia, exposition of law in Indra Sawhney, 1992 Supp (3) SCC 217.

4. Moreover, the matter also involves interpretation and interplay between Article 16(1), Article 16(4), Article 338 and Article 341 of the Constitution of India as well.

5. In this view of the matter, we refer the matter for consideration of the above aspects by the larger Bench.

6. Let the matter be placed before the Chief Justice on administrative side for appropriate order.