Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 5: In a major relief to farmers/agriculturists of Akhnoor, who were asked by the administration to shift 25 years old Akhnoor Mandi to Daskal Mandi, High Court has ordered status-quo as exists today till next date of hearing.
In the petition filed by Advocate Vishal Kapur seeking quashment of Section 41 of Jammu & Kashmir Agricultural Produce Marketing (regulation) Act 1997 for being ultra-vires to the Article 14 & 19(g), of Constitution of India, it has been submitted that the petitioners are petty local farmers (Agriculturists as defined in Section 2.4 of Agricultural Produce Marketing (regulation) Act 1997 who have been selling their agricultural produce at Fruit and Vegetable Mandi Akhnoor for the last more than twenty-five years.
“The petitioners are being forced to sell their agricultural produce at Daskal Mandi only because Section 41 of the Agriculture Produce Marketing (Regulation) Act, 1997, prohibits selling of agricultural produce at any place than markets created under the Act”, the counsel for the petitioner said, adding “the Act applies only to the vendors who are registered under the Registration Act but the petitioners are petty local farmers/agriculturists who have been selling their agricultural produce at Fruit and Vegetables Mandi Akhnoor for the last more than 25 years”.
After hearing Advocate Vishal Kapur in length, Justice Alok Aradhe directed that status-quo as exists today shall be maintained till next dale of hearing.
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