(1.) This Full Bench has been constituted by the Hon'ble Chief Justice on a reference made by our learned brother Mr. Justice M. Dhandapani, vide an order dtd. 19/1/2022 in W.P.No.25247 of 2021 (batch), to answer the following questions:
(2.) At the outset, it is necessary to briefly set out the circumstances under which these matters have come up before us:
(3.) We have heard the learned counsel for the various petitioners in these batches of cases on the questions forming the subject matter of the reference. We have also heard Mr. R. Neelakandan, learned Additional Advocate General assisted by Mr. V. Ravi and Ms. Geetha Thamaraiselvam, Special Government Pleaders. Having regard to the various legal questions that have cropped up for consideration, we requested Mr. Sharath Chandran, Advocate, to assist this Court as Amicus Curiae.