PUNJAB FARM LAWS

Subject : Polity

Context : Special session of the Punjab Assembly  passed three farm amendment Bills removing Punjab from the ambit of the central laws. It is sent to governor office.

Concept :

• Bill states that the sale of wheat and paddy shall be valid only if the seller pays a price equal to or greater than the MSP announced by the central government.
• It states that any person or company or corporate house violating the above provision will be punished with imprisonment of not less than three years and a fine.
• The Bills say the state government can notify a fee to be levied on private traders or electronic trading platforms for trade and commerce outside the mandis established under the Punjab Agricultural Produce Markets Act, 1961.
• Apart from the Governor, the Punjab government’s new farm Bills need the assent of the President since they seek to amend laws passed by the central government.

President assent to state bill: When a state bill is reserved by the governor for the consideration of the President, the President has three alternatives:

• He may give his assent to the bill; the bill then becomes an act.
• He may withhold his assent to the bill; the bill then ends and does not become an Act.
• He may return the bill for reconsideration of the House or Houses of the state legislature. When a bill is so returned, the House or Houses have to reconsider it within six months.