S.S. SUBRAMANI, J.

Parties herein will be referred according to their ranks in the writ petitions.

2. All these writ appeals are placed before this larger Bench under the following circumstances :

Writ petitioners field W.P. No. 6314 to 6317 and 6743 of 1999 for the issuance of order or direction declaring that the reservation of 50% of seats for non service candidates in the selection for Higher speciality courses more particularly D.M. (Rhematology, Nephrology, Cardiology) for the year 1999-2000 course in Tamil Nadu Government Medical Colleges by respondents/appellants as illegal, unconstitutional, null and void and consequently to set aside the selection of candidates made on that basis and select respective petitioners for the above course and for consequential reliefs.

3. In W.Ps. 6314 and 6315 of 1999, petitioners wanted to join D.M. (Cardiology), Writ Petitioner in W.P. 6316 of 1999 applied for the course of D.M. (Nephrology) and writ petitioner in W.P. 6317 of 1999 wanted to join higher speciality course in D.M. (Rhematology). Writ petitioner in W.P. 6743 of 1999 sought admission for the course M. Ch. (Surgical Gastro Enterology).

4. In the month of February, 1999, s