Mann’s France visit denied clearance by India’s Ministry, Punjab moves HC
Chandigarh: The State of Punjab has moved the Punjab and Haryana High Court challenging the decision of the Indian Ministry of External Affairs to deny political clearance “without assigning any reason” for the official visit of a delegation led by the Chief Minister to France.
According to Kashmir Media Service, as the matter came up for hearing before Justice Tribhuvan Dahiya’s Bench, Additional Solicitor-General of India Satya Pal Jain sought a “short accommodation” to get instructions and file an affidavit “with an advance copy to counsel representing the petitioner”.
Petition describes denial as non-speaking, arbitrary
In its 56-page civil writ petition against the government of India and other respondents, the State has sought quashing of the decision denying political clearance for the visit of the Chief Minister, the Chief Secretary to the Government of Punjab and the Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister. Among other things, the petition has described the denial as “non-speaking, arbitrary, without authority of law and violative of the federal structure of the Constitution”.
Giving details, the State insisted that the visit was proposed in connection with the participation of the Punjab State Cooperative Supply and Marketing Federation Ltd (MARKFED), the State’s apex cooperative, in SIAL Paris 2026, an international food trade show scheduled to be held from October 17 to 21.
The plea stated: “The stall of MARKFED has been allotted under the APEDA India Pavilion by the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), which is a body under the Indian Ministry of Commerce and Industry itself.”
Ministry approached for clearance five weeks in advance
It was added that the State’s Department of Cooperation approached the Ministry of External Affairs for clearance through letters dated September 3 and 8, while the online application for political clearance was submitted on September 9, more than five weeks in advance.
The State sought a direction to grant political clearance during the pendency of the petition, subject to its final outcome. “Since the delegation is scheduled to leave, the matter requires urgent consideration,” it was added.
