New Delhi, Feb. 18 -- The Supreme Court on March 17 will hear a reference before a proposed nine-judge Constitution Bench on the interpretation of the term 'industry' under Section 2(j) of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947.

The reference arises from a reconsideration of the seven-judge Constitution Bench ruling in Bangalore Water Supply v. A. Rajappa, delivered in 1978, which adopted an expansive interpretation of the term 'industry'.

The judgment had extended the definition to include government undertakings, public utilities, hospitals, educational and research institutions, professions and clubs.

A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice Vipul Pancholi observed that several broad legal...