Agencies

Chandigarh, October 20:

“I have made clear that the Bills will go to the governor, who may or may not approve it. Similarly, if the Bills go to President, he may or may not approve too. But we have our legal experts to take it forward in courts,” said the CM, drawing parallel with the annulment of river waters agreements with neighbouring states by his government in 2004.

Two of the four Bills introduced by the state government provide that no sale/purchase should be done below the MSP and the violation of the provisions shall invite imprisonment not less than three years and fine.

The provision on punishment for sale/purchase below the MSP has been incorporated in The Farmers” (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services (Special Provisions and Punjab Amendment) Bill, 2020.

The Bill seeks to amend Sections 1(2), 19 and 20 of the Centre”s Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020. It also proposes to add Sections 4, 6 to 11.

The Farmers” Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) (Special Provisions and Punjab Amendment) Bill, 2020 too sought to amend Sections 1(2), 14 and 15 the Farmers” Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020 to ensure that the sale or purchase of wheat or paddy in the state is not allowed below the MSP.

The amendment Bill also seeks to provide for punishment for harassment of farmers or payment of less price to them by inserting Sections 6 to 11.

To prevent hoarding and black-marketing of agricultural produce, the state government brought the Essential Commodities (Special Provisions and Punjab Amendment) Bill, 2020.

It seeks to amend the Centre”s Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020 by amending Sections 1(2) and 3(1A) of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955.

In the three bills moved by the CM, as per their provisions, notwithstanding any judgment, decree, or order of any court or any other instrument or any other law inconsistent therewith, status quo as on June 4, 2020 shall be maintained qua the provisions of the Punjab Agricultural Produce Markets Act, 1961.

The Code of Civil Procedure (Punjab Amendment) Bill, 2020 moved by Manpreet Singh Badal aimed at “protecting farmers from attachment of land”.