Centre Accused of Overstepping Federal Limits in Denying Approval for International Agricultural Expo

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has asked the Union government to explain its decision to rescind political clearance for Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s participation in a high‑profile food exhibition in Paris. The petition asserts that the Ministry of External Affairs’ portal displayed a simple ‘rejected’ status for the online request, offering no justification. The delegation, led by senior state officials K.A.P. Sinha and Ravi Bhagat, was to represent Punjab’s Markfed at the October 15‑21 event, aiming to market farm produce and open export channels for local growers. The state government points out that APEDA had already allocated a stall, the expenses were covered by Markfed, and the centre’s action violates the constitutional balance between Centre and states. Following the hearing, the court instructed the centre to file its response, with the next hearing slated to resume the debate.