Punjab HC issues notice on plea alleging FIRs for bringing paddy from outside state

Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, November 18

Acting on a petition alleging registration of a “large number of FIRs” on the ground of bringing paddy from outside Punjab in an unauthorised manner even though such prohibition was non-existent, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has made it clear that a petitioner-firm may bring its produce within the state’s territory.

The Bench also made it clear that the firm would not be entitled to sell the produce at “any designated grain market, market yard, market place or any other area notified as principal market or sub-market yard of the market, special market or any other place meant and notified for the sale or purchase of agricultural produce”.

The matter was brought to the High Court’s notice after M/s A.K. Enterprises filed a petition seeking directions to the State of Punjab, the Union of India and other respondents not to prohibit it from carrying on lawful trade in the interest of justice.

Taking up the matter, Justice GS Sandhawalia issued notice of motion. The Bench was, subsequently, told that a similar matter pertaining to the State of Haryana was pending for December 9.

Directing the hearing of the case along with the Haryana matter, Justice Sandhawalia directed “interim order in the same terms, as would be applicable to the State of Punjab”. In the Haryana matter, the High Court had ordered that the petitioner may bring his produce within the territory of Haryana or Punjab. But he would not be entitled to sell his produce at “any designated grain market, market yard.”