High Court Sets Aside Centre's Denial of Mann's France Tripਹਾਈ ਕੋਰਟ ਨੇ ਮਾਨ ਦੇ ਫਰਾਂਸ ਦੌਰੇ ਲਈ ਕੇਂਦਰ ਦਾ ਇਨਕਾਰ ਰੱਦ ਕੀਤਾ

The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Friday allowed the Punjab government's petition against the Centre's refusal to give Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann political clearance for a trade visit to France, LiveLaw reported. Justice Tribhuvan Dahiya, after hearing the matter at length, allowed the plea. The court's detailed order was still awaited at the time of the report.

What did the High Court decide?

The Ministry of External Affairs had marked the state's application "denied" on its online political clearance portal. The High Court set that decision aside, according to LiveLaw. ABP Sanjha also reported that the way has been cleared for Mann to travel. The state had planned the delegation's visit from October 15 to 21, and the court heard the matter urgently on Thursday and Friday after the Centre was told to file its reply by Friday morning.

Why did Punjab go to court?

In its 56-page petition, reported by The Tribune, the state said the denial was "non-speaking", with no reason given and no chance to be heard. LiveLaw said the state argued that a mechanism meant for coordination had been turned into a veto over the executive functions of a state. Punjab said it had written to the ministry on September 3 and 8 and applied online on September 9, 36 days before the planned departure, and that cadre clearance for the two officers had come on September 2.

What was the trip for?

The delegation, Mann with the chief secretary and the principal secretary to the chief minister, was to attend SIAL Paris 2026, a food trade show held every two years at Paris Nord Villepinte from October 17 to 21. Markfed, Punjab's apex cooperative marketing body, had been given a stall in the India Pavilion of the commerce ministry's export agency APEDA, and would bear the whole cost, the petition said. The plan included meetings with the Punjabi and Indian diaspora, importers, investors and chambers of commerce, and a meeting with India's ambassador to France.

What did the Centre say?

Additional Solicitor General Satya Pal Jain told the court, in a detailed affidavit, that the Centre had received inputs about security threats to the chief minister. "We don't want anything happens to CM abroad," he said, adding that without a formal invitation the host country cannot make security arrangements, according to LiveLaw. Punjab's counsel replied that the invitation had already come and that the Centre has to coordinate security with the other country. The state also argued that it was being treated differently from Haryana, whose BJP chief minister had also sought permission to travel abroad recently and was allowed.

What has Mann said?

Speaking in Delhi on Thursday, Mann said, "It seems as though only PM Modi can tour the world," according to The Times of India, and added that he hoped for approval from the court. He said the aim of the travel was to bring investment and jobs to Punjab. The state told the court that his recent Japan visit drew about Rs 2,000 crore of investment, LiveLaw reported.

Has the High Court allowed Mann's France visit?

Yes. LiveLaw reported on Friday that Justice Dahiya allowed Punjab's plea against the Centre's denial of political clearance. The written order had not yet been released, so the exact directions are not yet known.

What is SIAL Paris 2026?

It is an international food and agri-products trade exhibition held once every two years in Paris, scheduled from October 17 to 21. Punjab's interest is in opening markets for its farm and food-processing products through the Markfed stall.

Why does a chief minister need political clearance to travel abroad?

The petition describes it as a coordination mechanism run by the Ministry of External Affairs for official foreign visits by state ministers and officials. Punjab argues it should not work as a veto over a state's executive powers.