M/S. Hindustan Agri Innovations vs. The State Of Telangana
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The petitioner, M/s. Hindustan Agri Innovations, engaged in manufacturing and selling bio-products/bio-stimulants, filed a writ petition challenging the action of the 2nd Respondent (Commissioner, Directorate of Agriculture, State of Telangana). The 2nd Respondent, through Memo No.PP.II(1)2085/2005 dated 21.01.2006 and a subsequent letter, interfered with the petitioner's business, stating that bio-products/bio-stimulants were not covered by the Insecticides Act, 1968, or the Fertilizer Control (Order) Act, 1985, and thus their sale from licensed premises would not be permitted. The petitioner possesses a GST Registration Certificate obtained on 25.10.2022. The petitioner sought a writ of mandamus to declare the 2nd Respondent's action illegal and arbitrary and to direct them not to interfere with their business.
Held
The Court held that the Writ Petition is disposed of in terms of the common order passed in W.P.No.4801 of 2021 and batch dated 07.09.2021. This order stipulated that petitioners seeking to market products as bio-nutrients must make applications in compliance with Clause 5 of the Government of India's order dated 23.02.2021 within two weeks of receiving the court's order. Upon such applications being made within the stipulated time, the competent authority shall process them and, if satisfied, issue a Provisional Certificate of Registration in Form G 3 within four weeks thereafter. The competent authority is entitled to collect samples and test the compatibility of products meeting the parameters for marketing as bio-nutrients. The Court also noted that until the exercise is complete, subject to the petitioners submitting applications within time and in compliance with the requirements, they are entitled to manufacture and distribute as contemplated by Clause 4 of the order dated 23.02.2011. The competent authority retains the right to verify compliance and take action as warranted by law. No order as to costs was made.
Key Issues
1. Whether the action of the 2nd Respondent in interfering with the manufacturing, sale, and distribution of bio-products/bio-stimulants by the petitioner, based on Memo No.PP.II(1)2085/2005 dated 21.01.2006 and a subsequent letter, is illegal and arbitrary, particularly in the absence of specific notifications prescribing standards for such products under the Insecticides Act, 1968, and the Fertilizer Control (Order) Act, 1985? The Petitioner argued that the subject matter is covered by previous orders of the High Court, specifically a common order in W.P.No.25293 of 2014 & batch dated 10.07.2015, as modified by a Division Bench in W.A.Nos.1122 and 1136 of 2016 dated 03.11.2016. They also relied on another order in W.P.No.4801 of 2021 & batch dated 07.09.2021, which outlined a procedure for obtaining registration for bio-nutrients. The Respondents (State of Telangana) did not present any arguments against the petitioner's submissions, with the learned Assistant Government Pleader for Agriculture confirming the petitioner's submissions.
Sections Cited
Insecticides Act, 1968, Fertilizer Control (Order) Act, 1985
AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below
Cause title — parties, addresses and appearances
The Court made tt : following: ORDER
THE HON'BLE SMT. JUSTICE P.MADHAVI DEVI WRIT PETITION No.5511 of 2023 ORDER: This Writ Petition has been hled seeking a Writ of Mandamus declaring the action of the 2'a respondent in interfering with the manufacturing, sale and distribution of bio-products/ bio-stimulants of petitioner-Firm, by issuing Memo No.PP.II(l)208512OO5' dated 2l.0L.2006 and Letter No.PP.lI(1)208512005, dated 21.O1.2OO6 as illegal and arbitrary and consequently to direct the 2nd respondent not to interfere with the manufacturing, sale and distribution of bio- products/bio-stimulants of petitioner-Firm and to pass such other order or orders.
Brief facts leading to the filing of the present writ petition are that the petitioner-Firm claims to be engaged in the business of manufacture, sale and supply of bio-products/bio-stimulants without usage of any toxic chemicals. He submitted that the petitioner-ftrm has also obtained GST Registration Certificate bearing No.36AMEPGg6l6J2Z5, dated 25.1C.2022. It is submitted that vide letter dated 2l.Ol.2006, the 2nd respondent has issued proceedings, stating that the bio-products/bio-stimulants are not covered by the Insecticides Act, 1968 or the Fertilizer Control (Order) Act, 1985 and the stocking, storing or the sale of the said products from the licensed
I'N1I),J \\/ l) No :;: I I oi 2()23 premises \\,i11 r ot. tre permitted, therefore, the prese I rt \Vrit Pctition is filed.
Learned :ounsel for the petitioner submittecl that the subject matter of this \/r'it Petition is squarely covered bv .!e r:ommon order passed b1, thi r Court in W.P.No.25293 of 20 t + & batch, dated lO.O7.2Ol5, as modihed by the Division Bench in \/,'.A.Nos.1122 and 1136 of 2016 ( ltei 03.11.2016. Further, this C)ot r':, ri'hile disposing of W.P.No.4B o1 '.202'.1 anrl batch vide common ordel r.lated 07.O9.2021 held as uncler: "l l. In liL.,ertu r thc req, Itttlio, l. tu<:eks appiicat co mpete is-sue p; four (4) Le:tu thereof, the Wit Petitions are dispo;= 7 o1, gran.Ling I th€ petitioners to moke applicatiorts in rtttnpltance uiLh irement oJ Clause 5 of the order ,.tf the (.:ouentment of tairg No.5.O.882(E), dated 23.02.2021, L,tith,n tLuo (2) 'om the date of receipt of copA of tltis crder. lf such )n s are made tuithin the time stiptlLatitl aboue, the tt authoit1l shall process the same and ii sati.sfted, to tuistonal Certifrcate of Registration [n Fr'mt G 3, Luithin eeks there'after. 1 2. It i: ntatie cleor that the competent altthoitg .rs erttitled to collecl : tlnples in compliance of Part-'C' of tL <: orcter dated 23.02.21 il.t. and test the compatibiLitg of the prodtt<t.; m=eting the peromel'r:: to be ntarketed as bio-nutienLs, befor= grc,liing the prctuisiorLL C'zrtificate of Regtstration. lt is in the p tl;lic ulterest. to ensure i nt d. product to be produced and mark<lzd ts a b[o- nutient u.)i.th the object of helping the fatmer to 7eu =lop high cellulose ctstd resi-stttnce pouter in the plants rneels th.- p(rcl.melers to quali_ , a:; bio nutient- '[he petitioners shalt cooperate ln dratuittg lL'e samples. Until the exercise os (lire cted tboue, is corttpl<:le t. subject oJ' course to petittoners st,bmittt tg np,)licatiotts tuithirt ' c' time stipulated aboue and iL ::. ttpl;.ance of requiretrt n.r,s of Clctuse 5 of the order datecl 23.1)2' 20) 1 of the (' ttrcntrn'n.l c,f'India, petitioners are entitled to ntttt tfac-lure trrtd d{:;'.ribul, t1s cotlle mpiated bg Ctause 4 of th,: ord'r dated 23.02.2( 11. Hotueuer, it is atuags open to 'ttt c)tnpetcnt authoril! to uerifg uthether the product:; tnc.tr 1focltlre end
PMD,J W P.No.551I of 2023 distibuted by thc petttioners ctre in compltance with the statutory requirements ond. take q.ction as utarrctnted by law."
Learned Assistant Government Pleader for Agriculture has also confirmed the said submission.
In terms of the aforesaid order and for the reasons alike, this Writ Petition is also disposed of in terms thereof. There shall be no order as to costs. Miscellaneous applications, if any pending, shall also stand closed. 3 /T// .G.SIREESHA ASSISTANT REGIFTRAR ,/ SECTION-OFFICER To ) 4 5 PSK, BS The Principal Secretary, Agriculture and Co-operation Dept , Secretariat, Hvderabad. State of Telangana. iri;-iffi;Gi"nii nno oirector of Agriculture, State of Telangana, opp L B Stadium. Basheerbaqh, Hyderabad, Telangana State. i;;cdi 6CP FodAGdlcuLTURE, Hish court for the State of Telangana, at Hvderabad. [OUT] one'CC io Mis''B.V.APARNA LAKSHMI, Advocate [OPUC] Two CD Copies
HIGH COUF T DATED:01 lC312023 ORDER WP.No.5511 of 2023 DISPOSING OF THE WRIT PETITION WITHOUT C CSTS. / J.-' { l-' / l(, t,) 2 0 lill ?ll?3 \ !:i l" )p
Reproduced from the public record of the Telangana High Court. Verify against the court's own copy before relying on it. Income tax judgments are on bharattax.net.